Review of the treatment of trigeminal neuralgia with gamma knife radiosurgery.
BACKGROUND
Trigeminal neuralgia is a debilitating condition caused by compression of the trigeminal nerve, ganglions, or divisions. Gamma knife radiosurgery has been increasingly used in the treatment of trigeminal neuralgia as a non-invasive alternative to microvascular decompression and rhizotomies.


METHODS
We reviewed the medical literature regarding outcomes, time course, and prognostic factors for successful pain control in gamma knife radiosurgery. The dosimetry, target, complications of treatment, as well as perceived quality of life in treatment were also reviewed.


CONCLUSIONS
The growing body of literature suggests that the low rates of complications of gamma knife radiosurgery, coupled with the high success rates and patient satisfaction, allow it to be increasingly used as primary intervention for trigeminal neuralgia for appropriate patients.
Guo
Susan
S
College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA.
Chao
Samuel T
ST
Reuther
Alwyn M
AM
Barnett
Gene H
GH
Suh
John H
JH
D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000379:methods; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology; D016634:Radiosurgery / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014277:Trigeminal Neuralgia / Q000473:pathology / Q000523:psychology / Q000601:surgery*