title: Long-term outcomes of percutaneous radiofrequency thermocoagulation for glossopharyngeal neuralgia: A retrospective observational study.
abstract: The aim of this study was to investigate the long-term results of computed tomography (CT)-guided percutaneous radiofrequency thermocoagulation (PRT) for glossopharyngeal neuralgia (GPN).A retrospective review of medical records for patients with GPN who were treated with CT-guided PRT between 2003 and 2014 was performed to investigate baseline characteristics and immediate outcomes during the hospitalization. Long-term pain relief outcomes and complications were obtained via telephone survey. Duration of pain-free was assessed by Kaplan-Meier analysis.Eighty patients with GPN were treated with CT-guided PRT, and 71 patients could be contacted for the follow-up. The mean length of follow-up after PRT was 56.2 ± 43.3 months. Pain relief occurred in 63 patients (78.8%) immediate after the PRT procedure. The percentage of patients who remained in an "excellent" or "good" pain relief condition was 73.2%, 63.0%, 53.2%, and 43.0% at 1, 3, 5, and 10 years. Postprocedure complication included dysesthesias, dysphagia, and diminished gag reflex. No mortality was observed during or after PRT procedures.This study indicates that CT-guided PRT is a safe and effective method for patients with GPN and should be considered as an alternative treatment for these patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pain Management, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Xicheng Zone, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Xiaoping
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Yuanzhang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: Yuanjie
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zeng
authors.forename: Jiaxiang
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ni
mesh_terms: D004564:Electrocoagulation / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D020435:Glossopharyngeal Nerve Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome