Stereotactic radiosurgery for patients with trigeminal neuralgia associated with petroclival meningiomas.
BACKGROUND
The management of trigeminal neuralgia in patients with associated skull base meningiomas is complex.


OBJECTIVE
We evaluated the pain management needs and outcomes in patients with petroclival meningiomas associated with medically refractory trigeminal neuralgia.


METHODS
During a 21-year period, 168 patients underwent stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) for meningiomas involving the petroclival region. We identified 12 patients (10 females; median age 54 years) who had trigeminal neuralgia in association with an ipsilateral petroclival meningioma. The median tumor volume was 3.8 cm(3) (1.0-15.9 cm(3)). The median prescription dose for tumor margins was 13 Gy (11-16 Gy).


RESULTS
Initial pain control [Barrow Neurological Institute (BNI) grades I-IIIb] was obtained in 10 of 12 patients (83%). However, 3 patients with initial adequate relief later developed pain. Follow-up imaging revealed control of tumor growth in all patients at a median follow-up of 68 months. No patient developed any new sensory dysfunction. The tumor shrinkage was not associated with pain relief. At the final follow-up, 5 patients had pain of BNI grade I (2 after surgery), 4 had grade IIIb and 3 had grade IV.


CONCLUSIONS
SRS provided effective tumor control, but trigeminal neuralgia persisted to varying degrees in most patients. Multimodality pain management strategies were required in most patients with skull base meningiomas associated with trigeminal neuralgia.
Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA.
Hideyuki
H
Kano
Nasir R
NR
Awan
Thomas J
TJ
Flannery
Aditya
A
Iyer
John C
JC
Flickinger
L Dade
LD
Lunsford
Douglas
D
Kondziolka
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008577:Meningeal Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D008579:Meningioma / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011859:Radiography; D016634:Radiosurgery / Q000379:methods*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D019292:Skull Base Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014277:Trigeminal Neuralgia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*