DTI metrics suggest microstructural tissue changes in symptomatic nerves in the setting of trigeminal neuralgia compared with asymptomatic nerves and may be useful for making treatment decisions [68,86-93]. Advanced MRI techniques have also detected structural alterations in gray matter and white matter in patients with trigeminal neuralgia [94-97]. MR neurography is an emerging technique that may be useful in characterizing the etiology of peripheral trigeminal neuropathy [98]. FDG-PET/CT Skull Base to Mid-Thigh There is no relevant literature to support the use of FDG-PET/CT skull base to mid-thigh in the evaluation of isolated trigeminal mononeuropathy or isolated unilateral trigeminal neuralgia. US Neck There is no relevant literature to support the use of US neck in the evaluation of isolated trigeminal mononeuropathy or isolated unilateral trigeminal neuralgia. Cranial Neuropathy Variant 3: Unilateral isolated weakness of the facial expression, paralysis of the facial expression, hemifacial spasm, or Bell palsy (facial nerve, CN VII). Initial imaging. The facial nerve (CN VII) is one of the most complex CNs and contains branchial motor (innervation to the muscles of facial expression), visceral motor (parasympathetic innervation to most of the glands of the head), general sensory (surface innervations to a small portion of the external ear and tympanic membrane), and special sensory (taste to the anterior two-thirds of the tongue) functions [2,99]. From its nucleus in the pons, the intraparenchymal fascicular or attached segment courses superiorly along the surface of the pons after which it turns anteriorly exiting the brainstem at the pontomedullary sulcus, which is referred to as the root exit point. Its parenchymal fascicular or attached segment courses superiorly along the surface of the pons after which it turns anteriorly, detaching from the pons at the root detachment point [5,100,101].
Cranial Neuropathy. DTI metrics suggest microstructural tissue changes in symptomatic nerves in the setting of trigeminal neuralgia compared with asymptomatic nerves and may be useful for making treatment decisions [68,86-93]. Advanced MRI techniques have also detected structural alterations in gray matter and white matter in patients with trigeminal neuralgia [94-97]. MR neurography is an emerging technique that may be useful in characterizing the etiology of peripheral trigeminal neuropathy [98]. FDG-PET/CT Skull Base to Mid-Thigh There is no relevant literature to support the use of FDG-PET/CT skull base to mid-thigh in the evaluation of isolated trigeminal mononeuropathy or isolated unilateral trigeminal neuralgia. US Neck There is no relevant literature to support the use of US neck in the evaluation of isolated trigeminal mononeuropathy or isolated unilateral trigeminal neuralgia. Cranial Neuropathy Variant 3: Unilateral isolated weakness of the facial expression, paralysis of the facial expression, hemifacial spasm, or Bell palsy (facial nerve, CN VII). Initial imaging. The facial nerve (CN VII) is one of the most complex CNs and contains branchial motor (innervation to the muscles of facial expression), visceral motor (parasympathetic innervation to most of the glands of the head), general sensory (surface innervations to a small portion of the external ear and tympanic membrane), and special sensory (taste to the anterior two-thirds of the tongue) functions [2,99]. From its nucleus in the pons, the intraparenchymal fascicular or attached segment courses superiorly along the surface of the pons after which it turns anteriorly exiting the brainstem at the pontomedullary sulcus, which is referred to as the root exit point. Its parenchymal fascicular or attached segment courses superiorly along the surface of the pons after which it turns anteriorly, detaching from the pons at the root detachment point [5,100,101].