title: Review of the treatment of trigeminal neuralgia with gamma knife radiosurgery.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: Samuel T
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Chao
authors.forename: Alwyn M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Reuther
authors.forename: Gene H
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Barnett
authors.forename: John H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Suh
mesh_terms: 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*