Intracranial Vertebral Artery Dissection Presenting with Isolated Trigeminal Neuralgia-like Facial Pain

Hanna Choi, Do-Hyung Kim, Sung

Abstract

Headache often accompanies intracranial vertebral artery dissection (IVAD), and infrequently, it is the only symptom. Furthermore, IVAD presenting with isolated facial pain is rarer. Ischemia of the spinothalamic tract caused by IVAD is considered as the cause of facial pain. We present a case of intracranial vertebral artery dissection with trigeminal neuralgia-like facial pain which was successfully treated with antiplatelet agents and Carbamazepine.