Sphenoidal Sinusitis with Epidural Empyema Presenting as Trigeminal Neuralgia

J Korean Neurol Assoc > Volume 25(2); 2007 > Article

Journal of the Korean Neurological Association 2007;25(2): 222-224.

삼차신경통의 증상을 보인 경막외축농이 동반한 접형동염

이승환, 이서영 원준연a 설호준b 김성훈

강원대학교 의과대학 신경과학교실, 이비인후과학교실a, 신경외과학교실b

Sphenoidal Sinusitis with Epidural Empyema Presenting as Trigeminal Neuralgia

Seung Hwan Lee

Department of Neurology, Otolaryngologya, Neurosurgeryb, College of Medicine, Kangwon National University

Abstract

Trigeminal neuralgia (TN) is a common condition that produces pain in the orofacial area. However, the exact cause of TN is still unknown. Various etiologies such as tumor, multiple sclerosis and other compressive lesions have been implicated as possible causes. A 35-year-old woman was admitted due to right facial pain which was diagnosed as TN. A brain MRI revealed sphenoidal sinusitis with epidural empyema. We report a case of complicated sinusitis with epidural empyema presenting as TN.KeyWords:Trigeminal neuralgia, Sphenoid sinusitis, Epidural empyema