title: Percutaneous CT-guided cryoablation for the treatment of refractory pudendal neuralgia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the safety and efficacy of percutaneous CT-guided cryoablation of the pudendal nerve for the treatment of refractory pudendal neuralgia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eleven patients were selected to undergo percutaneous CT-guided cryoablation of the pudendal nerve based on established diagnostic criteria. Brief Pain Inventory questionnaires were administered prior to the procedure, during the immediate 24 h post procedure, and 45 days and 6 months following the procedure.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Prior to treatment, the average level of pain on a scale from 0 (no pain) to 10 (worst pain imaginable) was 7.6, with pain described as "burning" (80%), "pulling" (37.5%), "crushing" (50%), "pressure" (84.5%), "throbbing" (50%), "knife-life" (52%), and "other" (60%). At 24 h, 45 days, and 6 months post-treatment, pain intensity dropped to 2.6, 3.5, and 3.1, respectively (p < 0.005). There were no procedure-related complications.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CT-guided percutaneous cryoablation may represent a safe and efficacious option for selected patients with refractory pudendal neuralgia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences Division of Interventional Radiology and Image-Guided Medicine, Emory University Hospital, 1364 Clifton Road, NE Suite D112, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA, john.david.prologo@emory.edu.
authors.forename: J David
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Prologo
authors.forename: Roger C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Roger
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Corn
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003452:Cryosurgery / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010147:Pain Measurement; D060545:Pudendal Neuralgia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D025321:Surgery, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome