Arachnoid fibrosis in the cerebellopontine angle of primary trigeminal neuralgia: a histopathological study

ObjectiveThis study aimed to evaluate differences in the arachnoid membrane of the cerebellopontine angle (CPA) cistern between patients with trigeminal neuralgia (TN) and trauma patients without TN, providing novel insights into the pathogenesis of TN.MethodsArachnoid specimens were collected from...

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Main Authors: Siqiang Tang, Mufang Huang, Jiajie Wu, Yexin Li, Kaiyuan Jiang, Peng Deng
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-04-01
Series:Frontiers in Neurology
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fneur.2025.1536649/full
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author Siqiang Tang
Mufang Huang
Jiajie Wu
Yexin Li
Kaiyuan Jiang
Peng Deng
author_facet Siqiang Tang
Mufang Huang
Jiajie Wu
Yexin Li
Kaiyuan Jiang
Peng Deng
author_sort Siqiang Tang
collection DOAJ
description ObjectiveThis study aimed to evaluate differences in the arachnoid membrane of the cerebellopontine angle (CPA) cistern between patients with trigeminal neuralgia (TN) and trauma patients without TN, providing novel insights into the pathogenesis of TN.MethodsArachnoid specimens were collected from patients with primary TN undergoing their first microvascular decompression at the Neurosurgery Department of Shaoyang Central Hospital between January 2021 and September 2024 (study group) and from patients with posterior cranial fossa trauma undergoing surgery during the same period (normal control group). Specimens from both groups were subjected to hematoxylin–eosin (HE) staining and picric acid-Sirius red staining. Morphological thickness and collagen fiber thickness in the arachnoid membrane were measured under polarized light microscopy and then compared and statistically analyzed.ResultsThe study included 41 patients with primary TN and 38 normal control subjects. In the TN group, the mean thickness of the entire arachnoid layer in the CPA cistern was 87.86 ± 9.34 μm, and the mean thickness of collagen fibers was 53.95 ± 8.90 μm. In the control group, these values were 62.55 ± 1.55 μm and 33.50 ± 3.60 μm, respectively. The differences in both arachnoid thickness (p < 0.001) and collagen fiber thickness (p < 0.001) between the groups were statistically significant.ConclusionPatients with TN exhibited significant arachnoid fibrosis and thickening in the CPA cistern, primarily due to an increase in collagen fibers. These findings suggested a potential pathological mechanism underlying TN.
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spelling doaj-art-9cc7f6d0ed6e40e8a4d45349f6bcd3222025-08-20T03:09:09ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Neurology1664-22952025-04-011610.3389/fneur.2025.15366491536649Arachnoid fibrosis in the cerebellopontine angle of primary trigeminal neuralgia: a histopathological studySiqiang TangMufang HuangJiajie WuYexin LiKaiyuan JiangPeng DengObjectiveThis study aimed to evaluate differences in the arachnoid membrane of the cerebellopontine angle (CPA) cistern between patients with trigeminal neuralgia (TN) and trauma patients without TN, providing novel insights into the pathogenesis of TN.MethodsArachnoid specimens were collected from patients with primary TN undergoing their first microvascular decompression at the Neurosurgery Department of Shaoyang Central Hospital between January 2021 and September 2024 (study group) and from patients with posterior cranial fossa trauma undergoing surgery during the same period (normal control group). Specimens from both groups were subjected to hematoxylin–eosin (HE) staining and picric acid-Sirius red staining. Morphological thickness and collagen fiber thickness in the arachnoid membrane were measured under polarized light microscopy and then compared and statistically analyzed.ResultsThe study included 41 patients with primary TN and 38 normal control subjects. In the TN group, the mean thickness of the entire arachnoid layer in the CPA cistern was 87.86 ± 9.34 μm, and the mean thickness of collagen fibers was 53.95 ± 8.90 μm. In the control group, these values were 62.55 ± 1.55 μm and 33.50 ± 3.60 μm, respectively. The differences in both arachnoid thickness (p < 0.001) and collagen fiber thickness (p < 0.001) between the groups were statistically significant.ConclusionPatients with TN exhibited significant arachnoid fibrosis and thickening in the CPA cistern, primarily due to an increase in collagen fibers. These findings suggested a potential pathological mechanism underlying TN.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fneur.2025.1536649/fullprimary trigeminal neuralgiamicrovascular decompressionarachnoid fibrosiscerebellar pontine horn cisternaSirius red staining
spellingShingle Siqiang Tang
Mufang Huang
Jiajie Wu
Yexin Li
Kaiyuan Jiang
Peng Deng
Arachnoid fibrosis in the cerebellopontine angle of primary trigeminal neuralgia: a histopathological study
Frontiers in Neurology
primary trigeminal neuralgia
microvascular decompression
arachnoid fibrosis
cerebellar pontine horn cisterna
Sirius red staining
title Arachnoid fibrosis in the cerebellopontine angle of primary trigeminal neuralgia: a histopathological study
title_full Arachnoid fibrosis in the cerebellopontine angle of primary trigeminal neuralgia: a histopathological study
title_fullStr Arachnoid fibrosis in the cerebellopontine angle of primary trigeminal neuralgia: a histopathological study
title_full_unstemmed Arachnoid fibrosis in the cerebellopontine angle of primary trigeminal neuralgia: a histopathological study
title_short Arachnoid fibrosis in the cerebellopontine angle of primary trigeminal neuralgia: a histopathological study
title_sort arachnoid fibrosis in the cerebellopontine angle of primary trigeminal neuralgia a histopathological study
topic primary trigeminal neuralgia
microvascular decompression
arachnoid fibrosis
cerebellar pontine horn cisterna
Sirius red staining
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fneur.2025.1536649/full
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