Summary

A 33-year-old Vietnamese man with a history of superior sagittal sinus thrombosis secondary to tuberculous meningitis presented with severe recurrent trigeminal neuralgia. A complex compensatory cerebral venous drainage system developed, and a varix, in direct contact with the root entry zone of the trigeminal nerve, was the trigger for his pain. The patient's symptoms are presently controlled with a combination of medications for neuropathic pain, however he continues to experience frequent severe exacerbations and may very well require more invasive means to manage his condition in future.