Trigeminal neuralgia (TN) is a severe unilateral paroxysmal facial pain, often described by patients as the worst painful condition. The diagnosis of TN is based primarily on a history of characteristic pain. In the large majority of TN patients, the clinical examination, imaging studies, and laboratory tests are unremarkable. In a smaller group, signs and symptoms of TN are secondary to another disease process affecting the trigeminal system. For the diagnosis of TN resulting from another disease process, diagnostic brain imaging studies should be part of the initial evaluation of any patient with TN symptoms. Herein, we report on a patient diagnosed with TN secondary to deep lobe parotid gland adenocarcinoma.

Keywordsadenocarcinoma, magnetic resonance imaging, parotid gland, trigeminal neuralgia.