Internal carotid artery agenesis associated with trigeminal neuralgia.

摘要

Agenesis of the internal carotid artery (ICA) is an extremely rare developmental anomaly, and the association of ICA agenesis and trigeminal neuralgia is even rarer. The abnormality and its associated collateral flow are of great clinical significance, since any manipulation disturbing the compensatory collateral circulation leads to irreversible neurological deficits. A 27-year-old, right-handed man, presented at our clinic with a complaint of lancinating pain in the third division of the left trigeminal nerve territory. Short-lasting electric shock-like pain lasting for 30-40 s was provoked by light touch to the buccal gingiva of the left mandibularmolar region. Other neurological examinations revealed no abnormalities.