原发性三叉神经痛患者脑结构和功能连接改变

Objective: To explore changes of brain structures and functional connectivity (FC) in patients with primary trigeminal neuralgia (PTN). Methods: Totally 38 PTN patients (PTN group) and 38 matched healthy volunteers (control group) underwent 3.0T MR scanning. The abnormalities of gray matter volume (GMV) were detected using voxel-based morphometry, while changes of FC were analyzed with resting-state functional MRI (rs-fMRI). Results: Compared with control group, widespread GMV reductions were observed in PTN group, including anterior and mid-cingulate cortex (ACC and MCC), right insula (Ins), right secondary somatosensory cortex (S2), left primary motor cortex, left premotor area and several portions of the temporal lobe. In addition, enhanced FC was revealed between the right Ins/S2 and ACC, medial prefrontal cortex, posterior cingulate cortex and bilateral dorsal lateral prefrontal cortex in PTN group. FC of right Ins/S2 and ACC was negatively correlated with pain intensity of PTN patients (r=-0.552, P<0.01). Conclusion: Multiple lines evidences of altered structural and functional patterns were observed in the brain of patients with PTN. Enhanced FC of right Ins/S2 and ACC may be alternative imaging markers for evaluation of PTN.