IADR Abstract Archives
Does Grey Matter Really Change in Classical Trigeminal Neuralgia?
Objectives: Trigeminal neuralgia has been reported as one of the worst pain in human. Unfortunately, the mechanism and its pathology remains unclear. Digital imaging integrated with neuroscience has been unraveling novel insights of this intractable neuropathic orofacial pain. A number of evidences indicated that central nervous system plays a crucial role in neuropathic pain. Specifically, grey matter change in volume, thickness or density value have been interested by neuroscientists. Our study aims to investigate the alteration of grey matter cortical thickness (GMCT) in trigeminal neuralgia patient in compare with healthy control by using voxel-based morphometry method.
Methods: Thirty classical trigeminal neuralgia(TN) patients were compared to 30 healthy control (HC), matched for age and sex. Patients was recruited according to the International Classification of Headache Disorders, 3rd beta edition. All subjects were right-handed. Pain intensity was scored by Visual analogue scale (VAS from 0 to 10). Duration of pain was recorded in months. Psychological conditions were also evaluated using Self-depression scale (SDS). High-resolution 3D T1-weighted images were obtained with a MRI 3Tesla scanner. Image pre-processing and the GMCT calculating were implemented using SPM12 with Matlab R2016b. We applied a t-test to compare GMCT between 2 groups using VBM method (p < 0.001uncorrected). The region of interest (ROI) analysis was performed (p < 0.05) on the anatomic structures related with central pain processing in order to correct for multiple comparison.
Results: There was no significant difference in GMCT between TN patients and healthy control in VBM analysis. ROI analysis indicated the similar result.
Conclusions: Cortical thickness of grey matter does not change in classical trigeminal neuralgia patient in compared with healthy control. Further studies are needed to evaluate the change of grey matter in trigeminal neuralgia patient.
Methods: Thirty classical trigeminal neuralgia(TN) patients were compared to 30 healthy control (HC), matched for age and sex. Patients was recruited according to the International Classification of Headache Disorders, 3rd beta edition. All subjects were right-handed. Pain intensity was scored by Visual analogue scale (VAS from 0 to 10). Duration of pain was recorded in months. Psychological conditions were also evaluated using Self-depression scale (SDS). High-resolution 3D T1-weighted images were obtained with a MRI 3Tesla scanner. Image pre-processing and the GMCT calculating were implemented using SPM12 with Matlab R2016b. We applied a t-test to compare GMCT between 2 groups using VBM method (p < 0.001uncorrected). The region of interest (ROI) analysis was performed (p < 0.05) on the anatomic structures related with central pain processing in order to correct for multiple comparison.
Results: There was no significant difference in GMCT between TN patients and healthy control in VBM analysis. ROI analysis indicated the similar result.
Conclusions: Cortical thickness of grey matter does not change in classical trigeminal neuralgia patient in compared with healthy control. Further studies are needed to evaluate the change of grey matter in trigeminal neuralgia patient.