Skip to content
DraconiticResearch
Search Sources API
203,203 studies31 sourcesUpdated 52 min ago
Peer-reviewedCC BY-NC-NDJournal of neurosurgery. Case lessons

Recurrent trigeminal neuralgia caused by an anomalous cerebellar artery arising from the persistent primitive trigeminal artery: illustrative case.

  • Hiroki Narita1
  • Nobuyuki Watanabe1
  • Kentaro Watanabe2
  • Ryoto Wachi1
  • Kohei Ishikawa2
  • Michihiro Tanaka1
  • Yuichi Murayama2
  1. 1Department of Neurosurgery, Kameda Medical Center, Kamogawa, Chiba.
  2. 2Department of Neurosurgery, Jikei University School of Medicine, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan.
Read full textPDFDOICite

Abstract

Background

Persistent primitive trigeminal artery (PTA) and its related variants-the PTA family-are rare vascular anomalies that can cause trigeminal neuralgia through atypical neurovascular compression patterns, requiring careful anatomical evaluation. The authors describe a rare case of recurrent trigeminal neuralgia caused by an anomalous cerebellar artery arising from a PTA and further complicated by a long-standing Teflon granuloma.Observations

A 79-year-old man developed recurrent trigeminal neuralgia 19 years after microvascular decompression. Imaging revealed an anomalous anterior inferior cerebellar artery (AICA) arising from a PTA and compressing the trigeminal nerve, along with a Teflon granuloma obscuring the vessel's course. Three-dimensional multimodal reconstruction clarified the neurovascular conflict. During surgery, dense adhesions due to the granuloma were encountered, and maximal granuloma removal enabled successful transposition of the anomalous AICA.Lessons

PTA family anomalies can produce trigeminal neuralgia through atypical patterns of neurovascular compression. In complex or recurrent cases, preoperative 3D reconstruction imaging can enhance understanding of aberrant vascular anatomy. Maximal safe removal of a Teflon granuloma is crucial to create sufficient space and facilitate adequate decompression of the offending vessel. https://thejns.org/doi/10.3171/CASE2699.

Related

  1. Cerebellar lobular morphometry in trigeminal neuralgia: cross-sectional and exploratory postoperative analyses
    Huaiyi Li, Jinying Chen, Xiaoqian Wang +3
    Frontiers in NeurologyPeer-reviewedCC BY 4.0Full textNeurologyCrossrefPMC
  2. Mechanical Thrombectomy of a Combined Persistent Primitive Trigeminal Artery and Basilar Artery Occlusion: A Case Report and Literature Review
    Louis Deprez, Géraldine Dasnoy-Sumell, Rayan Abdellaoui +2
    JNET Journal of Neuroendovascular TherapyPeer-reviewedCC BY-NC 4.0Full textEpidemiology & public healthPMCEurope PMC
  3. Tumor-Related Trigeminal Neuralgia: Clinical Features, Pathophysiology, and the Contemporary Role of Radiosurgery in Tumor Control and Pain Relief
    Jesus Antonio Rodriguez Santos, Jennifer De Alas, Eduardo E Lovo
    CureusPeer-reviewedCC BYFull textGeneral medicineEurope PMC
  4. Statistical analysis plan for the feasibility trial assessing external trigeminal nerve stimulation versus sham stimulation for ADHD in children and adolescents aged 7 to 17 years (the eTNS4ADHD trial)
    S. Juul, M. H. Olsen, S. K. Nestved +15
    medRxivPreprintLicence not statedFull textPsychiatry & mental healthmedRxiv
  5. Clinical Efficacy of Trigeminal Nerve Stimulation in Pediatric ADHD: A Double-Blind Randomized Controlled Trial
    Sandra Loo, Andrea Dillon, Giulia Salgari +6
    Research SquarePreprintCC BY 4.0Full textPsychiatry & mental healthPMC

Cite

BibTeXRIS
BibTeX
@article{narita2026recurrent,
  title = {{Recurrent trigeminal neuralgia caused by an anomalous cerebellar artery arising from the persistent primitive trigeminal artery: illustrative case.}},
  author = {Hiroki Narita and Nobuyuki Watanabe and Kentaro Watanabe and Ryoto Wachi and Kohei Ishikawa and Michihiro Tanaka and Yuichi Murayama},
  journal = {Journal of neurosurgery. Case lessons},
  year = {2026},
  month = oct,
  doi = {10.3171/case2699},
  url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42896238},
  note = {CC BY-NC-ND},
}
RIS
TY  - JOUR
TI  - Recurrent trigeminal neuralgia caused by an anomalous cerebellar artery arising from the persistent primitive trigeminal artery: illustrative case.
AU  - Hiroki Narita
AU  - Nobuyuki Watanabe
AU  - Kentaro Watanabe
AU  - Ryoto Wachi
AU  - Kohei Ishikawa
AU  - Michihiro Tanaka
AU  - Yuichi Murayama
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/10/19
JO  - Journal of neurosurgery. Case lessons
DO  - 10.3171/case2699
UR  - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42896238
AB  - Background  Persistent primitive trigeminal artery (PTA) and its related variants-the PTA family-are rare vascular anomalies that can cause trigeminal neuralgia through atypical neurovascular compression patterns, requiring careful anatomical evaluation. The authors describe a rare case of recurrent trigeminal neuralgia caused by an anomalous cerebellar artery arising from a PTA and further complicated by a long-standing Teflon granuloma.Observations  A 79-year-old man developed recurrent trigeminal neuralgia 19 years after microvascular decompression. Imaging revealed an anomalous anterior inferior cerebellar artery (AICA) arising from a PTA and compressing the trigeminal nerve, along with a Teflon granuloma obscuring the vessel's course. Three-dimensional multimodal reconstruction clarified the neurovascular conflict. During surgery, dense adhesions due to the granuloma were encountered, and maximal granuloma removal enabled successful transposition of the anomalous AICA.Lessons  PTA family anomalies can produce trigeminal neuralgia through atypical patterns of neurovascular compression. In complex or recurrent cases, preoperative 3D reconstruction imaging can enhance understanding of aberrant vascular anatomy. Maximal safe removal of a Teflon granuloma is crucial to create sufficient space and facilitate adequate decompression of the offending vessel. https://thejns.org/doi/10.3171/CASE2699.
SN  - 2694-1902
ER  -