Hematoma after pulsed radiofrequency of cervical dorsal root ganglion in a patient with goiter: A case report

ABSTRACT

A 62-year-old woman visited our pain clinic and she presented with radicular pain on her neck, right shoulder and arm. Cervical MRI showed a right subarticular protruded disc with right foraminal stenosis at C6-7 together with multinodular thyroid goiter. She was initially treated with transforaminal steroid injection under C-arm fluoroscopy at the C6-7 level, but the effect didn't last for more than 4 days. Therefore, pulsed radiofrequency (PRF) treatment was done at the right 7th cervical dorsal root ganglion. After 15 minutes, the neck gradually swelled up and then neck pain and dyspnea developed. The CT image revealed cervical hematoma and left sided tracheal shift. These symptoms were spontaneously relieved after 12 hours and then the patient was discharged without any other complications. This case demonstrates the necessity of having thorough knowledge of the anatomical variations and standard anatomy for conducting safe and efficient medical practice.