Trigeminal Neuralgia

Diagnosis

No single test can help a physician diagnose trigeminal neuralgia. The condition must be distinguished from other forms of facial pain that may be caused by diseases of the teeth, jaw or sinuses. An examination by a dentist may reveal whether a problem with the teeth or gums is causing the pain. Other conditions, such as tumors, aneurysms or multiple sclerosis, must also be eliminated as the cause of the patient's pain.

Mayo Clinic has many tools to help confirm a correct diagnosis, including magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or computed tomography (CT) scans of the brain.

To confirm the diagnosis, Mayo specialists will record a description of the patient's pain — its severity, what part of the face it affects, and what seems to trigger pain episodes. A neurologic examination that involves touching parts of the face is conducted to determine exactly where the pain is occurring and, if trigeminal neuralgia is suspected, which branches of the trigeminal nerve may be affected.