title: Three-dimensional computed tomography-guided radiofrequency trigeminal rhizotomy for treatment of idiopathic trigeminal neuralgia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the effectiveness of three-dimensional computed tomography (3D-CT) guided radiofrequency trigeminal rhizotomy (RF-TR) in treatment of idiopathic trigeminal neuralgia (ITN).
  
  
  METHODS
  From 1999 to 2001, 18 patients with ITN were treated with percutaneous controlled RF-TR. Intraoperative 3D-CT scanning was performed to guide the trajectory of the puncture. After correction of the needle tip according to the CT scans and stimulation effects, 2 to 5 lesions were made for a duration of 60-90 seconds at a temperature of 60 degrees C to 75 degrees C depending on the pain distribution and the age of patient.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The needles located in foramen ovale. Pain alleviated immediately with no serious complication in all patients. The patients were followed up for an average of 31.5 months (range 24-41 months). Acute pain relief was experienced by 17 patients after the procedure, reaching an initial success rate of 94.4%. Early (< 6 months) pain recurrence was observed in 2 patients (11.1%), whereas late (> 6 months) recurrence was reported in 3 patients (16.7%). Thirteen patients had complete pain control, with no need for medication thereafter. Five cases experienced partial pain relief, but required medication at a lower dose than in the preoperative period.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  3D-CT foramen ovale locations can raise the successful rate of puncture, enhance the safety, and reduce the incidence rate of complication.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan 250012. liumengqilu@vip.sina.com
authors.forename: Meng
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Cheng-Yuan
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Yu-Guang
authors.initials: YG
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Hong-Wei
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Fan-Gang
authors.initials: FG
authors.lastname: Meng
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D017115:Catheter Ablation; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012008:Recurrence; D019051:Rhizotomy / Q000379:methods*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014277:Trigeminal Neuralgia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*