LAUSR

BACKGROUND A cavernous malformation (CM) with trigeminal neuralgia (TN) is relatively rare. We report a patient who presented with TN caused by a CM in the cerebellopontine angle. CASE DESCRIPTION A 37-year-old man presented with a history of episodic, shock-like, right facial pain of 2-month duration. Neurologic examination revealed diminished sensation in the distribution of the right trigeminal nerve. Magnetic resonance imaging showed an ipsilateral minimally enhancing lesion affecting the trigeminal nerve with characteristics of a CM and evidence of hemorrhage in the cerebellopontine angle. RESULTS The patient underwent percutaneous balloon compression of the Gasserian ganglion for trigeminal ganglia. The pain improved significantly after completion of this microsurgical method. CONCLUSIONS CMs can damage the trigeminal nerve and cause TN. PBC of the Gasserian ganglion can be undertaken safely, and can relieve the pain due to TN caused by a CM in the cerebellopontine angle.