Previous studies on
trigeminal neuralgia (TN) have mainly focused on peripheral nerve damage, but
little is known about the structural and functional changes in central nervous
system (CNS) that can occur following trigeminal nerve dysfunction. In this
study, we used diffusion kurtosis imaging (DKI) and functional
connectivity density (FCD) mapping in TN
patients to investigate both structural and
functional changes in CNS. We found TN patients have correlated white
matter and FCD reorganization that may
contribute to pathologic algogenic system. Our
findings may be helpful guidance for systematic therapeutics in both peripheral and central nerves.