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
• dávka záření MeSH
• dospělí MeSH
• fluoroskopie metody   MeSH
• ganglion trigeminale chirurgie   diagnostické zobrazování   MeSH
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• neuralgie trigeminu * chirurgie   diagnostické zobrazování   radioterapie   MeSH
• počítačová rentgenová tomografie * metody   MeSH
• radiační expozice * prevence a kontrola   MeSH
• retrospektivní studie MeSH
• rizotomie * metody   MeSH
• senioři MeSH
• výsledek terapie MeSH
• Check Tag
• dospělí MeSH
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• senioři MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH