- Unit of Gamma Knife Radiosurgery, CDD Las Mercedes, Hospital de Clinicas Caracas, Caracas, Venezuela
Correspondence Address:
Salvador Somaza
Unit of Gamma Knife Radiosurgery, CDD Las Mercedes, Hospital de Clinicas Caracas, Caracas, Venezuela
DOI:10.4103/2152-7806.148056
Copyright: © 2014 Somaza S. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.How to cite this article: Somaza S, Hurtado W, Montilla E, Ghaleb J. Gamma knife radiosurgery to the trigeminal ganglion for treatment of trigeminal neuralgia secondary to vertebrobasilar ectasia. Surg Neurol Int 30-Dec-2014;5:
How to cite this URL: Somaza S, Hurtado W, Montilla E, Ghaleb J. Gamma knife radiosurgery to the trigeminal ganglion for treatment of trigeminal neuralgia secondary to vertebrobasilar ectasia. Surg Neurol Int 30-Dec-2014;5:. Available from: http://sni.wpengine.com/surgicalint_articles/gamma-knife-radiosurgery-trigeminal-ganglion-treatment-trigeminal-neuralgia-secondary-vertebrobasilar-ectasia/
Abstract
Background:We report the result obtained using Gamma knife stereotactic radiosurgery on the trigeminal ganglion (TG) in a patient with trigeminal neuralgia (TN) secondary to vertebrobasilar ectasia (VBE).
Case Description:Retrospective review of medical records corresponding to one patient with VBE-related trigeminal pain treated with radiosurgery. Because of the impossibility of visualization of the entry zone or the path of trigeminal nerve through the pontine cistern, we proceeded with stereotactic radiosurgery directed to the TG. The maximum radiation dose was 86 Gy with a 8-mm and a 4-mm collimator. The follow-up period was 24 months. The pain disappeared in 15 days, passing from Barrow Neurological Institute (BNI) grade V to BNI grade IIIa in 4 months and then to grade I. The patient did not experience noticeable subjective facial numbness.
Conclusions:This experience showed that Gamma knife radiosurgery was effective in the management of VBE-related trigeminal pain, using the TG as radiosurgical target.
Keywords: Gamma knife radiosurgery, trigeminal neuralgia, trigeminal ganglion, vertebrobasilar ectasia
INTRODUCTION
Trigeminal neuralgia (TN) consists of brief and severe paroxysms of pain in the facial distribution of the trigeminal nerve, which is often triggered by facial movements or stimulation of sensory endings in the trigeminal area. TN can be caused by tumors involving the trigeminal nerve, ganglion, or divisions, as well as by demyelinating plaques in the dorsal nerve root entry zone, descending trigeminal tracts, or brainstem nuclei due to multiple sclerosis. It is often associated with neurovascular compression of the trigeminal nerve root entry zone. In most cases, the vascular compression is related to arterial compression from the superior cerebellar artery or anterior inferior cerebellar artery, or less commonly, from prominent draining veins of the brainstem or cerebellum.[
Vascular compression of the trigeminal nerve secondary to basilar artery ectasia is an unusual cause of TN.[
Several treatment options for TN are available including microvascular decompression, radiofrequency rhizotomy, glycerol rhizolysis, microballoon compression, and alcohol block. All of these procedures, except for microvascular decompression, are ablative procedures, which are associated with a risk of facial numbness. Patients with decompression of a tortuous VEB have a higher risk of trigeminal dysfunction, diplopia and hearing loss than standard microvascular decompression.[
We report a case of severe TN secondary to vertebrobasilar ectasia (VBE), where the trigeminal nerve could not be properly visualized on neuroimaging studies. It was decided to treat Gasser ganglion to relieve his painful condition.
CASE REPORT
A 60-year-old male nondiabetic, nonsmoker, hypertensive, obese, presented with intermittent right-sided, severe, sharp, and lancinating facial pain for the past 4 years, with an identifiable trigger area located at upper right canine teeth. The patient had difficulties for chewing, eating, drinking, shaving, washing his face, altering his daily activities. The pain used to come in sudden bursts lasting 1-5 min and recurs more than 15 times a day. On physical examination, arterial hypertension and obesity were found. Neurologic examination showed facial trigger points in the right maxillary region and nasogenian fold without other neurological findings. Patient had longstanding pain resistant to medical management with agents such as carbamazepine (1200 mg/day), alone or in combination with gabapentin or pregabaline. The patient underwent multiple punctures and local infiltration with alcohol and steroids without improvement. He did not have previous surgical procedures. No sensory loss over a particular nerve division was reported by the patient at any time. Facial sensory exam with pin or light touch was normal before the radiosurgical procedure. Corneal blink reflex was normal.
METHODS
Radiosurgical technique
Leksell Gamma Knife model 4C was used (Elekta Instruments, Inc.). Under mild sedation and local anesthesia, the Leksell Model G stereotactic frame (Elekta Instruments) was applied. The patient underwent stereotactic magnetic resonance (MR) imaging to identify the trigeminal nerve. The MR imaging (MRI) was performed using contrast-enhanced, short repetition time sequences and axial phase volume acquisitions of 256 × 256 matrices divided into 1-mm slices. A long relaxation time MR imaging study was obtained. A treatment plan was implemented using the Leksell Gamma Plan treatment planning system (Elekta AB).
MRI findings
A three-dimensional time-of-flight (3D-TOF) sequence was performed using a 1.5-Tesla MRI scanner (General Electric Signa HD) to visualize the trigeminal nerve and its relationship with the VBE. A fast imaging employing steady state acquisition sequence (FIESTA) provides images included in the MR protocol [
The affected trigeminal root was not recognized in the MRI scan at the entry zone neither at the pontine cistern. A large, elongated, and tortuous vertebrobasilar artery was causing mechanical compression at the right trigeminal nerve root with displacement and marked deformity of brainstem by compression of pons [
Dose selection
Based on the successful experience in treating our patients with typical TN, focusing the radiation at the entry zone, we decided to apply the same dose of 43 Gy prescribed to the 50% isodose. Two isocenters were used, one 8-mm isocenter placed on the Meckel's Cavum and a 4-mm at the exit zone of the trigeminal nerve from the trigeminal ganglion (TG).
Clinical follow-up
Patient's records are updated every 4 months. The patient continued medical treatment for 4 months, when the dose was gradually tappered. We evaluated the degree of pain relief, latency interval to pain relief, drugs used, development of new symptoms or signs, and the need and response to additional surgical procedures. The follow-up period was 24 months after radiosurgery procedure. Outcome was assessed using the scoring criteria BNI pain intensity.[
RESULTS
Clinical response
Treatment outcomes were obtained during follow up visits or telephone contact. The BNI pain score at baseline was V (severe pain despite medication). Fifteen days after the procedure, the patient was pain-free (BNI grade IIIb), and 24 months after the procedure, the patients is pain-free without medication (BNI grade I). No paresthesias have been reported.
DISCUSSION
Vertebrobasilar ectasia
Secondary TN is mainly related to tumors of the middle or posterior fossa. Meningiomas and neurinomas are the most common tumors in this area.[
VBE is defined when this arterial system is elongated and the basilar artery lies lateral to the margin of the clivus or dorsum sellae or if it bifurcates above the plane of the suprasellar cistern.[
Direct compression by Vertebro Basilal Dolico Ectasia (VBD) is an uncommon cause of TN with an estimated incidence of 1%.[
In patients with VBD, the compression has a slowly progression, which let the brainstem can tolerate severe distortion without functional disturbances, which explain most patients with VBD are asymptomatic as in our case.[
Many patients with VBE are poor candidates for a major posterior fossa surgical procedure because of advanced age or the presence of other medical comorbidities. In such patients, other less invasive options are necessary.
Criteria for choosing the gasser ganglion
In April 20, 1953, Leksell performed the first “stereotaxic radiogangliotomy.”[
Rand et al.[
Recently, Chen et al.[
In our case, the patient had a very intense and acute pain. He did not desire a surgical solution for the VBE and he had severe arterial hypertension and obesity. The entry zone was not accurately visualized by T1-, T2-weighted images, or FIESTA. The only well-defined and visible target was the TG and a small portion of the exit zone.
Park et al.[
Alpert et al.[
Determination of treatment dose
The doses used by Leksell,[
GKS is associated with high rates of pain control. Patients report excellent or good pain relief in more than 70% of the cases.[
Kim et al.[
There is no dose established to be used over the TG. Chen et al.[
Follow-up
A stretch follow-up of the patient is being accomplished with clinical examinations routinely each 4 months and with a continuous communication by phone each month. So far, the clinical status is normal after 2 years of the radiosurgical treatment. Moreover, this period is still short and we will continue observing the case on time. In addition, concern has been present in relation to the appearance of complications as anesthesia dolorosa. In a review of results and complications of percutaneous ablative techniques made by Taha and Tew,[
Kondziolka et al.[
In this case, the patient did not have any kind of alteration in facial sensation until this moment.
CONCLUSION
Our case describes a male patient, diagnosed with TN 4 years prior to treatment. After GKS, there was resolution of symptoms within 15 days, without relapse for at least 2 years. This reports show that stereotactic radiosurgery for treatment of TN by targeting the Gasser's ganglion is a safe and effective treatment for TN secondary to compression by vertebrobasilar artery ectasia where neither the entry zone nor its path through the pontine cistern were truthfully seen in MRI studies. We will continue following-up this case to examine any possible complications later on. The developments of new case studies are necessary to support the results given in this case.
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