title: Chemical ablation of stellate ganglion for head and neck cancer pain.
abstract: We present a case of patient with orofacial cancer having pain on one side of face affecting her ability to speak, chew, swallow and sleep leading to emotional and behavioral deterioration. A diagnostic stellate ganglion block was performed followed by chemical neurolysis using phenol under ultrasound guidance, to prevent complications due to inadvertent spread of drug. Her pain scores decreased drastically, she was able to chew and swallow. Weighing the risk of permanent Horner's syndrome or motor paralysis with benefit of improvement in basic functioning of debilitated patients chemical neurolysis of stellate ganglion can be performed with advanced imaging modalities.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ghai
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kaushik
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wadhera
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001340:Autonomic Nerve Block / Q000379:methods*; D005157:Facial Pain / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D010147:Pain Measurement; D019800:Phenol / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D013233:Stellate Ganglion / Q000187:drug effects*; D018084:Ultrasonography, Interventional / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D019800:Phenol