Differential Diagnoses: Trigeminal Neuropathy

Differential Diagnoses for Trigeminal Neuropathy using the VITAMINS ABCDEG mnemonic

Vascular

Infectious

  • Herpes Zoster (most common)

Trauma/Toxin

Autoimmune/Allergic

Iatrogenic/Idiopathic

Neoplastic/nutritional

  • Trigeminal Neuralgia (from neoplasm)

  • Meningioma (from compression)

  • Vestibular Schwannomas (from compression)

  • Cholesteatomas (from compression)

  • Chordomas (from compression)

  • Metastatic Disease (from infiltration)

  • Squamous cell carcinoma (Perineural infiltration)

  • Paraneoplastic neuropathy or ganglionopathy

Anatomic/Structural

  • Cavernous Sinus Syndrome

  • Foix Syndrome (Sphenoidal Fissure)

  • Gradenigo-Lannois (Apex of the petrous temporal bone)

  • Jaccoud (retrosphenoidal space fossa)

  • Orbital Apex Syndrome

  • Pontocerebellar angle tumor

  • Superior Orbital Fissure Syndrome

Congenital

  • Congenital trigeminal neuropathy