title: Gamma knife radiosurgery using 90 Gy for trigeminal neuralgia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this paper was to assess the treatment of trigeminal neuralgia (TN) with the higher than normal dose of 90 Gy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-two patients with typical TN were treated over a 3-year period with gamma knife radiosurgery. Every patient received a maximum dose of 90 Gy in a single 4-mm isocenter targeted to the root entry zone of the trigeminal nerve. Thirty of 42 patients had undergone no prior treatments. The median follow-up period was 14 months (range 2-30 months). Thirty-one patients (73.8%) achieved complete relief of pain. Nine patients (21.4%) obtained good pain control. Complications were limited to increased facial paresthesia in seven patients (16.7%) and dysgeusia in four patients (9.5%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The authors conclude that the use of 90 Gy is a safe and effective dose for the treatment of TN.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Medicine, University of Kentucky, Lexington, 40506, USA. bnico0@pop.uky.edu
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Nicol
authors.forename: W F
authors.initials: WF
authors.lastname: Regine
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Courtney
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Meigooni
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sanders
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Young
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016634:Radiosurgery; D012086:Reoperation; D013126:Spinal Nerve Roots / Q000601:surgery; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014277:Trigeminal Neuralgia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*