Trigeminal Schwannoma simulating orofacial pain: differential diagnosis and treatment. Case report

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES:Orofacial pain is a major diagnostic challenge for the most experienced clinicians. Due to the complexity regarding the trigeminal-cervical joint, orofacial pain with the same etiology may present different symptoms, and pain with similar symptomatology may have different causes. The objective of this study was to alert health professionals about the importance of differential diagnosis in the hypothesis of trigeminal neuralgia, where the inclusion of the dentist in the medical-hospital team is of paramount importance in establishing the correct diagnosis. CASE REPORT: Twenty-nine-year-old female patient complained of electric shock and pulsatile orofacial pain that covered the third division of the fifth cranial nerve on the right side. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed the presence of trigeminal Schwannoma, causing neuralgia due to its neural compressive nature. Two different neurosurgery departments suggested tumor resection. However, after the evaluation by a third neurosurgery department, in which a dentist, specialized in orofacial pain was part of the team, the complete evaluation established the final diagnosis of right lower first molar odontalgia, with irreversible acute pulpitis as the cause of the symptoms and the expansive lesion was only a radiological finding. CONCLUSION: Interdisciplinary evaluation among physicians and dental surgeons is necessary to obtain the correct diagnosis when considering the hypothesis of trigeminal neuralgia.