title: Merged imaging and expanded target selection in gamma knife radiosurgical ablation of the sphenopalatine ganglion.
abstract: Sphenopalatine neuralgia, or Sluder's neuralgia, refers to a consistent clustering of clinical symptoms: intermittent episodes of vasomotor hyperactivity causing conjuctival injection, lacrimation, serous nasal discharge and unilateral nasal mucosal inflammation, sensory disturbances of the palate and oropharynx with distorted gustatory sensations, and lancing, unilateral pain most often located in the area of the inferomedial orbit and nasal base or at the region of the mastoid process. This particular clinical entity has also proven difficult to manage effectively, especially when not clearly secondary to other medical conditions such as paranasal sinus infection or bony nasal deformities. This condition has been treated with success using Gamma Knife radiosurgery in at least 1 other case reported in the literature. We present a second patient whose sphenopalatine neuralgia was treated successfully with stereotactic radiosurgery and discuss the possibilities of this modality as an option for patients with a refractory condition.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurological Surgery, Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210, USA.
authors.forename: Chris
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Karas
authors.forename: Mirza N
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Baig
authors.forename: Timothy
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Larson
authors.forename: Wayne
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Slone
authors.forename: Reinhard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gahbauer
authors.forename: John M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: McGregor
mesh_terms: D005154:Facial Nerve / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D005156:Facial Neuralgia / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008875:Middle Aged; D016634:Radiosurgery / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D013238:Stereotaxic Techniques; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014276:Trigeminal Nerve / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*