Microvascular Decompression vs. Gamma Knife Radiosurgery for Typical Trigeminal Neuralgia: Preliminary Findings

2006 ◽  
Vol 85 (2-3) ◽  
pp. 94-98 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ronald Brisman
Keyword(s):  
Trigeminal Neuralgia ◽  
Gamma Knife ◽  
Microvascular Decompression ◽  
Gamma Knife Radiosurgery

scholarly journals Comparison of Microvascular Decompression and Two Isocenters Gamma Knife for the Treatment of Trigeminal Neuralgia Caused by Vertebrobasilar Dolichoectasia

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhen Zhao ◽  
SongShan Chai ◽  
JiaJing Wang ◽  
XiaoBing Jiang ◽  
ChuanSheng Nie ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Trigeminal Neuralgia ◽  
Treatment Outcomes ◽  
Gamma Knife ◽  
Microvascular Decompression ◽  
Gamma Knife Radiosurgery ◽  
Therapeutic Effects ◽  
Imaging Data ◽  
Vertebrobasilar Dolichoectasia ◽  
Surgical Methods ◽  
Facial Numbness

Background: Vertebrobasilar dolichoectasia (VBD) is one of the rare causes of trigeminal neuralgia (TN). The common surgical treatments for patients with TN caused by VBD (VBD-TN) are microvascular decompression (MVD) and Gamma Knife radiosurgery (GKRS). However, the therapeutic effects of the two methods have not been clinically compared, so this study was performed to evaluate the treatment outcomes of MVD and GKRS for patients with VBD-TN.Methods: The retrospective study was performed from March 2011 to March 2019 in Wuhan Union Hospital. A total of 80 patients diagnosed with VBD-TN were included in this study, and they were divided into the MVD group (n = 46) and GKRS group (n = 34) according to the surgical methods. The imaging data, intraoperative findings, treatment outcomes, and complications of the two groups were analyzed and compared. Meanwhile, the influencing factors of the treatment effect are also explored on the two groups.Results: Patients who underwent MVD were younger than patients who underwent GKRS (median ages were 61.1 and 65.4 years old, respectively, p = 0.03). The median follow-up was 61.1 months for the MVD group and 56.8 months for the GKRS group. The favorable outcomes [Barrow Neurological Institute (BNI) pain score, BNI scores I–II] occurred in 97.8% of patients treated with MVD and in 78.9% of patients treated with GKRS (p = 0.009). The favorable outcomes in the percentage of patients after MVD 1, 3, 5, and 7 years were 95.7, 85.1, 74.2, and 74.2%, respectively, whereas the corresponding percentages after GKRS were 76.5, 66.2, 56.6, and 47.2%, respectively (p = 0.031). The postoperative complications (except facial numbness) in the MVD group were higher than those in the GKRS group (p = 0.036), but the incidence of new and worsening facial numbness was lower in the GKRS group (p < 0.001).Conclusions: MVD is superior to GKRS in obtaining and maintaining favorable outcomes for patients with VBD-TN, but it also comes with more complications other than facial numbness. Thus, the treatment program can be tailored to a patient's unique condition and wishes.

scholarly journals Comparison of microvascular decompression and two isocenters gamma knife for the treatment of trigeminal neuralgia caused by vertebrobasilar compression

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhen Zhao ◽  
Songshan Chai ◽  
Jiajing Wang ◽  
Xiaobing Jiang ◽  
Chuansheng Nie ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Trigeminal Neuralgia ◽  
Gamma Knife ◽  
Microvascular Decompression ◽  
Gamma Knife Radiosurgery ◽  
Therapeutic Effects ◽  
Imaging Data ◽  
Vertebrobasilar Dolichoectasia ◽  
Surgical Methods ◽  
Union Hospital ◽  
Facial Numbness

Abstract Objective: Vertebrobasilar dolichoectasia (VBD) is one of the uncommon causes of trigeminal neuralgia (TN). The main surgical treatments for TN caused by VBD (VBD-TN) are invasive microvascular decompression (MVD) and mini-invasive Gamma Knife radiosurgery (GKRS). However, the therapeutic effects of the two methods have not been clinically reported, so this study evaluated the outcomes of MVD and GKRS for patients with VBD-TN.Methods: The retrospective study of patients diagnosed with VBD-TN in Wuhan Union Hospital was performed from March 2011 to March 2019. A total of 80 patients were included in this study, and they were divided into the MVD group (n = 46) and GKRS group (n = 34) according to the surgical methods. Among patients in the GKRS group, all performed by two isocenters gamma knife. The imaging data, intraoperative findings, outcomes, and complications of the two groups were analyzed and compared.Results: Patients who underwent MVD were younger than patients who underwent GKRS (median ages were 61.1 and 65.4 years old, p=0.03). The average follow-up was 61.1 months for the MVD group and was 56.8 months for the GKRS group. The favorable outcomes (BNI score I-II) occurred in 97.8% of patients treated with MVD and in 78.9% of patients treated with GKRS (P=0.009). The favorable outcomes in the percentage of patients after MVD 1,3,5 and 7 years were 95.7%, 85.1%, 74.2%, and 74.2%. The corresponding percentages after GKRS were 76.5%, 66.2%, 56.6% and 47.2%, respectively (P=0.031). The postoperative complications (except facial numbness) in the MVD group were higher than those in the GKRS group (P=0.036), but the incidence of new and worsening facial numbness was higher in the GKRS group (P<0.001).Conclusions: For VBD-TN, MVD is superior to GKRS in obtaining and maintaining favorable outcomes, but it also comes with more complications other than facial sensation. Treatment choice can be tailored to a patient’s unique condition and wishes.

Temporal disconnection between pain relief and trigeminal nerve microstructural changes after Gamma Knife radiosurgery for trigeminal neuralgia

2020 ◽  
Vol 133 (3) ◽  
pp. 727-735
Author(s):  
Peter Shih-Ping Hung ◽  
Sarasa Tohyama ◽  
Jia Y. Zhang ◽  
Mojgan Hodaie
Keyword(s):  
Pain Relief ◽  
Trigeminal Neuralgia ◽  
Pain Intensity ◽  
Gamma Knife ◽  
Trigeminal Nerve ◽  
Diffusion Tensor ◽  
Gamma Knife Radiosurgery ◽  
Time Points ◽  
Microstructural Effect

OBJECTIVEGamma Knife radiosurgery (GKRS) is a noninvasive surgical treatment option for patients with medically refractive classic trigeminal neuralgia (TN). The long-term microstructural consequences of radiosurgery and their association with pain relief remain unclear. To better understand this topic, the authors used diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) to characterize the effects of GKRS on trigeminal nerve microstructure over multiple posttreatment time points.METHODSNinety-two sets of 3-T anatomical and diffusion-weighted MR images from 55 patients with TN treated by GKRS were divided within 6-, 12-, and 24-month posttreatment time points into responder and nonresponder subgroups (≥ 75% and < 75% reduction in posttreatment pain intensity, respectively). Within each subgroup, posttreatment pain intensity was then assessed against pretreatment levels and followed by DTI metric analyses, contrasting treated and contralateral control nerves to identify specific biomarkers of successful pain relief.RESULTSGKRS resulted in successful pain relief that was accompanied by asynchronous reductions in fractional anisotropy (FA), which maximized 24 months after treatment. While GKRS responders demonstrated significantly reduced FA within the radiosurgery target 12 and 24 months posttreatment (p < 0.05 and p < 0.01, respectively), nonresponders had statistically indistinguishable DTI metrics between nerve types at each time point.CONCLUSIONSUltimately, this study serves as the first step toward an improved understanding of the long-term microstructural effect of radiosurgery on TN. Given that FA reductions remained specific to responders and were absent in nonresponders up to 24 months posttreatment, FA changes have the potential of serving as temporally consistent biomarkers of optimal pain relief following radiosurgical treatment for classic TN.

Unusual causes of trigeminal neuralgia treated by gamma knife radiosurgery

2002 ◽  
Vol 97 ◽  
pp. 533-535 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jin Woo Chang ◽  
Jae Young Choi ◽  
Young Sul Yoon ◽  
Yong Gou Park ◽  
Sang Sup Chung
Keyword(s):  
Trigeminal Neuralgia ◽  
Gamma Knife ◽  
Fourth Ventricle ◽  
Gamma Knife Radiosurgery ◽  
Brain Magnetic Resonance Imaging ◽  
Resonance Imaging ◽  
Segmental Demyelination ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Clinical Responses ◽  
Fine Print

✓ The purpose of this paper was to present two cases of secondary trigeminal neuralgia (TN) with an unusual origin and lesion location. In two cases TN was caused by lesions along the course of the trigeminal nerve within the pons and adjacent to the fourth ventricle. Both cases presented with typical TN. Brain magnetic resonance imaging revealed linear or wedge-shaped lesions adjacent to the fourth ventricle, extending anterolaterally and lying along the pathway of the intraaxial trigeminal fibers. The involvement of the nucleus of the spinal trigeminal tract and of the principal sensory trigeminal nucleus with segmental demyelination are suggested as possible causes for trigeminal pain in these cases. It is postulated that these lesions are the result of an old viral neuritis. The patients underwent gamma knife radiosurgery and their clinical responses have been encouraging to date.

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