Abstract | BACKGROUND: Stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) is one option for treatment of trigeminal neuralgia, after unsuccessful conservative approaches. OBJECTIVES: METHODS: Fifty-two patients were treated between January 1998 and December 2009 and were followed for more than 6 months (median: 26.6 months). Forty-seven patients (90%) had undergone previous surgery before SRS. The target dose ranged from 50 to 80 Gy. RESULTS: After SRS, 9 patients presented complete remission of the pain, and 21 were pain free but still under medication. Eleven patients reported a relief of more than 50% in crisis frequency. In 9 patients, no significant improvements were seen, and 2 presented an exacerbation of the pain. After an average period of 20 months, 15 patients reported pain recurrence. Results were better in patients older than 60 years (p = 0.019). Nineteen patients presented facial numbness after SRS, with a trend toward favorable treatment response (p = 0.06). CONCLUSION: SRS is an effective alternative to the treatment of essential trigeminal neuralgia, with long-lasting pain relief in more than 50% of the patients. Better results were seen with patients aged more than 60 years.
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Authors | Marcos Antonio Dos Santos, José Bustos Pérez de Salcedo, José Angel Gutiérrez Diaz, Gorka Nagore, Felipe A Calvo, José Samblás, Hugo Marsiglia, Kita Sallabanda |
Journal | Stereotactic and functional neurosurgery
(Stereotact Funct Neurosurg)
Vol. 89
Issue 4
Pg. 220-5
( 2011)
ISSN: 1423-0372 [Electronic] Switzerland |
PMID | 21613807
(Publication Type: Journal Article)
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Copyright | Copyright © 2011 S. Karger AG, Basel. |
Topics |
- Adult
- Aged
- Female
- Follow-Up Studies
- Humans
- Male
- Middle Aged
- Prognosis
- Radiosurgery
(instrumentation)
- Retrospective Studies
- Treatment Outcome
- Trigeminal Neuralgia
(surgery)
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