Certified Neuroscience Registered Nurse (CNRN) Practice Exam

Young patients presenting with trigeminal neuralgia should be evaluated for which condition?

1. Diabetes Mellitus

2. Multiple Sclerosis

3. Carotid Dissection

4. Aneurysms

The correct answer is: Multiple Sclerosis

Young patients presenting with trigeminal neuralgia should be evaluated for multiple sclerosis. This is because trigeminal neuralgia in younger individuals can be an early indicator of underlying neurological conditions such as multiple sclerosis. In this demographic, the occurrence of trigeminal neuralgia often suggests demyelination affecting the trigeminal nerve pathways. Therefore, thorough neurological evaluation, including imaging studies such as MRI, is warranted to investigate the possibility of multiple sclerosis as a contributing factor. The other conditions listed, while serious, are more commonly associated with trigeminal neuralgia in older patients. Diabetes Mellitus, for example, is a more frequent risk factor for neuropathic pain in older adults, and carotid dissection or aneurysms typically present with different symptoms and imaging findings. Consequently, while all these conditions require consideration in a broader clinical assessment, multiple sclerosis stands out when evaluating young patients with trigeminal neuralgia specifically.