What are the features of classical trigeminal neuralgia due to neurovascular compression
The annual incidence of trigeminal neuralgia is 4-13/100,000, with most cases starting after age 50 and a gradually increasing incidence with older age (although teens and young adults and rarely children may be affected).
The male:female ratio is 1:1.7.
According to ICHD-3, the facial pain is unilateral with at least three of the following four characteristics: recurring in paroxysmal attacks lasting from a fraction of a second to 2 minutes; severe intensity; electric shock-like, shooting, stabbing, or sharp in quality; precipitated by innocuous stimuli to the affected side of the face. There is no clinically evident neurologic deficit.
TN is most commonly caused by compression of the nerve by the superior cerebellar artery.
Imaging, preferably MRI, should be done, to exclude secondary causes such as multiple sclerosis (especially in patients under the age of 40 years), neoplasm, and basilar artery aneurysm.
