A Case of Trigeminal Neuralgia in an Adult Patient With Lambdoid Synostosis

TL;DR

This paper reports the first case of trigeminal neuralgia in an adult with lambdoid synostosis, suggesting a possible link between cranial deformities and nerve compression.

Contribution

The first documented case of trigeminal neuralgia in an adult with unilateral lambdoid synostosis.

Findings

A 56-year-old woman with trigeminal neuralgia and unilateral lambdoid synostosis was identified.

The case suggests a potential association between posterior cranial fossa deformities and neurovascular compression-related trigeminal neuralgia.

Mild lambdoid synostosis may be more common in adults with NVC-related TN.

Abstract

Trigeminal neuralgia (TN) is characterized by sudden, brief intense pain in the distribution of the unilateral trigeminal nerve (TGN). Neurovascular compression (NVC) of the TGN is the most common cause of TN. Recent studies have suggested that a structural anomaly of the posterior cranial fossa might be involved in the development of TN, and several studies have documented the association between NVC-related TN and congenital posterior cranial deformities in adults. We present the case of a 56-year-old woman with NVC-related TN and unilateral lambdoid synostosis (ULS), along with a literature review, to investigate the relationship between TN and structural anomalies of the posterior fossa. This is the first report of TN in an adult with ULS. Mild and asymptomatic cases of lambdoid synostosis might have a higher incidence of NVC-related TN in association with posterior cranial fossa deformities.

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