Trigeminal nerve ; Motor neuropathy ; Fatty degeneration
Abstract
Pure trigeminal motor neuropathy is a trigeminal motor dysfunction, unaccompanied by trigeminal sensory signs and without affecting other cranial nerves. A 61-year-old woman was found to have left hemifacial swelling and trigeminal motor paralysis without sensory symptoms. Blink reflex and trigeminal nerve somatosensory evoked potentials were normal. Needle electromyographic examination showed neurogenic changes in the left temporalis and masseter muscles. Brain MRI revealed wasting and fatty degeneration of muscles innervated by trigeminal nerve. We report here on a case of pure trigeminal motor neuropathy with a review of the literature.