BACKGROUND: Percutaneous rhizotomy of the Gasserian ganglion is a well-established intervention for patients suffering from refractory trigeminal pain, not amenable to pharmacological management or microvascular decompression. Traditionally conducted under fluoroscopic guidance using Hartel's technique, this study investigates a modified approach employing low-dose CT guidance to achieve maximal procedural precision and safety with the emphasis on minimizing radiation exposure. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of patients undergoing percutaneous rhizotomy of the Gasserian ganglion at our institution was undertaken. Procedures were divided into fluoroscopy and CT-guided foramen ovale (FO) cannulation cohorts. Radiation doses were assessed, excluding cases with incomplete data. The study included 32 procedures in the fluoroscopy group and 30 in the CT group. RESULTS: In the CT-guided group, the median effective dose was 0.21 mSv. The median number of CT scans per procedure was 4.5, and the median procedure time was 15 min. Successful FO cannulation was achieved in all 30 procedures (100%). In the fluoroscopy group, the median effective dose was 0.022 mSv, and the median procedure time was 15 min. Cannulation of FO was successful in 31 of 32 procedures (96.9%). The only complications in the CT-guided group were three minor cheek hematomas. Immediate pain relief in the CT-guided group was reported in 25 of 30 procedures (83.3%), 22 of 30 (73.3%) provided relief at one month, and 10 of 18 (55.6%) procedures resulting in pain relief at one month continued to provide relief after two years. CONCLUSION: Low-dose CT-guided percutaneous rhizotomy conducted in the radiology suite carries negligible radiation exposure for patients and eliminates it for personnel. This method is fast, simple, precise, and carries a very low risk of complications.

• MeSH
• Radiation Dosage MeSH
• Adult MeSH
• Fluoroscopy methods   MeSH
• Trigeminal Ganglion surgery   diagnostic imaging   MeSH
• Middle Aged MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Trigeminal Neuralgia * surgery   diagnostic imaging   radiotherapy   MeSH
• Tomography, X-Ray Computed * methods   MeSH
• Radiation Exposure * prevention & control   MeSH
• Retrospective Studies MeSH
• Rhizotomy * methods   MeSH
• Aged MeSH
• Treatment Outcome MeSH
• Check Tag
• Adult MeSH
• Middle Aged MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Male MeSH
• Aged MeSH
• Female MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH

Neuralgie trojklaného nervu je onemocnění, jehož léčba bývá v mnoha případech obtížná. Metodou první volby je farmakoterapie, avšak ta je u značné skupiny pacientů neúspěšná. Vzhledem k tomu, že se o pacienty s neuralgií trojklaného nervu starají lékaři hned několika odborností (neurologové, algeziologové, stomatologové, ORL či neurochirurgové), vzniká nejednota v terapeutickém postupu, což mnohdy vede k neadekvátní léčbě. Leksellův gama nůž (LGN) má v léčbě neuralgie trojklaného nervu (TN) významné uplatnění. Z dosavadních zkušeností a výsledků klinických studií vyplývá, že radiochirurgická léčba pomocí LGN je vhodnou a efektivní metodou u pacientů s idiopatickou, klasickou i sekundární TN, u kterých selhala farmakoterapie. Nejvyšší úspěšnost má tato metoda u idiopatické a klasické TN, kdy se redukuje bolest v průměru u 80 % případů. U sekundárních TN je efekt nižší (50 %). Při klasické TN (neurovaskulární konflikt) je LGN preferován zejména u pacientů starších, polymorbidních či u těch, kteří odmítají otevřený neurochirurgický výkon. Předchozí otevřená operace není kontraindikací k provedení radiochirurgické léčby. Při rekurenci bolesti po ozáření na LGN lze léčbu opakovat. Při druhé rekurenci je možné nabídnout radiochirurgickou talamotomii. V případě ostatních trigeminálních bolestí (postherpetická, iatrogen- ní) se v některých případech přistupuje rovnou k provedení talamotomie. Dominantně kontinuální bolest či dysestezie jsou negativním prediktivním faktorem efektu radiochirurgické léčby.

Treatment of trigeminal neuralgia is challenging in many cases. Pharmacotherapy is the method of first choice, but it is unsuccessful in a significant group of patients. Due to the fact that patients suffering from trigeminal neuralgia are treated by physicians of several specialties (neurologists, algesiologists, dentists, ENT, or neurosurgeons), there is an inconsistency in the therapeutic procedure, which often leads to inadequate treatment. The Leksell Gamma Knife (LGN) has significant applications in the treatment of trigeminal neuralgia (TN). Based on the experience and results of clinical studies to date, radiosurgical treatment using LGN is a suitable and effective method for patients with idiopathic, classic, and secondary TN in whom the pharmacotherapy has failed. This method has the highest success rate in idiopathic and classic TN, where the pain is reduced in an average of 80% of cases. For secondary TN, the effect is lower (50%). In classical TN (neurovascular conflict), LGN is preferred especially in elderly, polymorbid patients or in those who refuse classical neurosurgical operation (microvascular decompression). Previous surgery is not a contraindication to radiosurgical treatment. In the case of recurrence of pain after irradiation to the LGN, the treatment can be repeated. At the second recurrence, it is possible to offer radiosurgical thalamotomy. In the case of other trigeminal pain (postherpetic, iatrogenic), in some cases, a thalamotomy is performed directly. Dominantly continuous pain or dysesthesia is a negative predictive factor of the effect of radiosurgical treatment.

• MeSH
• Radiotherapy Dosage MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Trigeminal Neuralgia * diagnostic imaging   radiotherapy   therapy   MeSH
• Radiosurgery * methods   instrumentation   MeSH
• Recurrence MeSH
• Treatment Outcome MeSH
• Check Tag
• Humans MeSH
• Publication type
• Review MeSH