Functional Brain Imaging of Facial Pain: Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (FMRI) Studies of the Trigeminal System

Abstract

Objectives. Facial pain encompasses a number of disorders thought to have a variety of pathophysiological mechanisms. Neuropathic facial pain is poorly understood and is often difficult to diagnose and treat. Functional brain imaging using functional magnetic resonance imaging technology (fMRI) has shown to be a useful tool in studying chronic neuropathic pain disorders. The purpose of our fMRI studies has been to (1) map the trigeminal sensory pathways in normal and neuropathic pain states, (2) evaluate fMRI as a distinct diagnostic tool for facial pain disorders, and (3) investigate the utility of fMRI for treatments and drug development.