2Marmara Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi, Radyasyon Onkolojisi Anabilim Dalı
3Marmara Üniversitesi Nörolojik Bilimler Enstitüsü OBJECTIVES
We evaluated the effectiveness of gamma knife radiosurgery in the treatment of trigeminal neuralgia.
STUDY DESIGN
Eleven patients (6 females, 5 males; mean age 60 years; range 25 to 82 years) underwent gamma knife radiosurgery for primary trigeminal neuralgia. The mean duration of complaints was 6.5 years (range 2 to 13 years). Pain was localized on the right side in seven patients, and on the left side in four patients. All the patients but two had undergone surgical or percutaneous interventions (mean 2.3; range 1 to 5 procedures) before presentation. The highest dose administered was 75 Gy in four patients and 80 Gy in seven patients. No subsequent interventions were performed. The patients were evaluated with the use of a visual analog scale before, and 6 weeks, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months af ter, the treatment. The mean follow-up period was 18.1 months (ran ge 3 to 41 months).
RESULTS
The severity of pain decreased in 10 patients (90%), three of whom became pain-free. Improvement was observed after two weeks to four months following radiosurgery. In three patients, the severity of pain increased in the following months. One patient who had had radiofrequency and glycerol rhizotomy developed permanent trigeminal sensory deficit in the face.
CONCLUSION
Gamma knife radiosurgery seems to be effective especially in patients with recurrent trigeminal neuralgia, resulting in low complication rates.