Trigeminal Neuralgia Caused by Cerebellopontine Angle Tumors: Surgical Series

Introduction Cerebellopontine angle (CPA) tumors represent an important cause of persistent and refractory trigeminal neuralgia (TN). It is believed that between 1 and 9.9% of the cases of patients presenting with TN painful manifestation are caused by space-occupying lesions. Objective The objective of the present study is to describe the clinical and surgical experience of the operative management of patients presenting with secondary type TN associated with CPA tumors. Method An observational investigation was conducted with data collection from patients with secondary type TN associated with CPA tumors who were treated with surgical resection of the space-occupying lesion and decompression of the trigeminal nerve from January 2013 to November 2016 in 2 different centers in the western region of the state of São Paulo, Brazil. Results We operated on 11 consecutive cases in which TN was associated with CPA during the period of analysis. Seven (63.6%) patients were female, and 4 (36.4%) were male. Seven (63.6%) patients presented with right-side symptoms, and 4 (36.4%) presented with left-side symptoms. After 2 years of follow-up, we observed that 8 (72.7%) patients showed a complete improvement of the symptoms, with an excellent outcome, and that 3 (27.3%) patients showed an incomplete improvement, with a good outcome. No patient reported partial improvement or poor outcome after the follow-up. There was no operative mortality. Conclusion Cerebellopontine angle tumors represent an important cause of TNandmust be included in the differential diagnosis of patients presenting with refractory and persistent symptoms. Surgical treatment with total resection of the expansive lesion and effective decompression of the trigeminal nerve are essential steps to control the symptoms.

Alternative option for osteogenesis imperfecta and trigeminal neuralgia / Opção alternativa em tratamento da neuralgia do trigêmeo com osteogênese imperfeita

Summary Osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) is a bone disorder that can lead to skull base deformities such as basilar invagination, which can cause compression of cranial nerves, including the trigeminal nerve. Trigeminal neuralgia in such cases remains a challenge, given distorted anatomy and deformities. We present an alternative option, consisting in cannulation of the foramen ovale and classical percutaneous treatment. Percutaneous balloon microcompression was performed in a 28 year-old woman with OI and severe trigeminal neuralgia using computed tomography (CT) and radiographic-guided cannulation of the Gasserian ganglion without neuronavigation or stereotactic devices. The patient developed hypoesthesia on the left V1, V2 and V3 segments with good pain control. This alternative technique with a CT-guided puncture, using angiosuite without the need of any Mayfield clamp, neuronavigation systems, frame or frameless stereotactic devices can be a useful, safe and efficient alternative for patients with trigeminal neuralgia with other bone deforming diseases that severely affect the skull base.

Resumo Osteogênese imperfeita (OI) é uma doença óssea que pode levar a deformidades de base de crânio, como invaginação basilar que pode provocar compressão de nervo craniano, incluindo o nervo trigêmeo. Nestes casos, a neuralgia do trigêmeo permanece como um desafio, pela anatomia distorcida e pelas deformidades. Apresentamos uma alternativa que consiste na canulação do forame oval e no tratamento percutâneo clássico. A microcompressão percutânea por balão foi realizada em uma paciente de 28 anos apresentando OI e grave neuralgia do trigêmeo, sendo realizadas tomografia computadorizada (CT) e canulação guiadas do gânglio gasseriano sem neuronavegação ou dispositivos estereotáxicos. A paciente apresentou hipoestesia à esquerda dos segmentos V1, V2 e V3, com bom controle da dor. Essa técnica alternativa com punção orientada por CT utilizando o angiosuite sem a necessidade de qualquer grampo de Mayfield, sistemas de neuronavegação, ou dispositivos com ou sem arcos estereotáxicos, pode ser uma opção útil, segura e eficiente para pacientes com neuralgia do trigêmeo cursando com outras doenças deformativas que afetem a base craniana de modo grave.

Radiología simple en la microcompresión del ganglio de Gasser. Un método alternativo y económico / Simple radiology in the microcompressión of Gasserian ganglion. An alternative and economic method

Considerado uno de los dolores más intensos que puede soportar el ser humano, la neuralgia trigeminal ha sido tratada con innumerables métodos. Entre ellos, los percutáneos surgieron como variantes poco agresivas e igualmente eficaces que aquellos métodos a cielo abierto. El más reciente de los métodos percutáneos: la compresión de las fibras del ganglio trigeminal de Gasser, se utiliza en el Servicio de Neurocirugía del Hospital Universitario "General Calixto García", guiado por radiología simple(AU)

Considered one of the most intense pains that the human being, the neuralgia trigeminal can support has been treated with countless methods. Among them, the percutáneos arose as not very aggressive and equally effective variants that those methods to open sky. The most recent in the methods percutáneos: the compression of the fibers of the ganglion trigeminal of Gasser, is used in the Service of Neurosurgery of the General University Hospital Calixto García", guided by simple radiology(AU)

Percutaneous Radiofrequency retrogasserian rhizotomy for trigeminal neuralgia

One hundred and twenty-seven patients with trigeminal neuralgia were treated by percutaneous radiofrequency rhizotomy after the drug treatment had failed or various side effects were noted. Majority of patients were in the age group of 51-60 years and predominantly males. Pain was on the right side in 89 and on the left in 38 patients. Sixty-three percent of cases had pain in the distribution of maxillary and mandibular division. The procedure was done under local anaesthesia with a success rate of 86%.This is an excellent procedure with a low cost, fewer complications [16.5%], low morbidity and no mortality