原发性三叉神经痛伽玛刀放射外科治疗的有效性评估

目的:评价伽玛刀放射外科治疗原发性三叉神经痛的安全性、有效性和心理状态。方法:2004年8月~2010年9月,98例经药物和其他方法治疗无效的原发性三叉神经痛患者接受伽玛刀放射外科治疗。放射剂量中位值是80 Gy(75~85 Gy)。采用患者自我报告疼痛的控制、生活满意度指数A(1ife satisfaction index A,LSI-A)的变化进行疗效评估。结果:治疗后89例(90.8%)患者获得随访,平均随访期35个月(13~60个月)。本组病例中治愈51例(57.3%);显效19例(21.3%);有效11例(12.4%);无效8例(9%),总有效率为91%;伽玛刀治疗后LSI-A总分平均值(36.25±3.87)高于治疗前(25.67±3.5);其中67例以往未接受过手术治疗患者中62例获得随访,58例有效,总有效率为93.5%。11例患者感觉患侧面部麻胀感,1例(二次治疗者)张口轻度受限。结论:伽玛刀放射外科治疗三叉神经痛显著缓解疼痛,提高生存质量。     

Pain control by image-guided radiosurgery for solitary spinal metastasis

Precision and accuracy of image-guided spinal radiosurgery has been previously demonstrated. This study was carried out to determine the clinical efficacy of spine radiosurgery for the treatment of solitary spinal metastases with or without cord compression. A total of 49 patients with 61 separate spinal metastases were treated with radiosurgery. All patients had pathologically proven primary cancers and had either synchronous or metachronous metastasis to the spine. The majority of the patients presented with back pain. All patients received single-dose radiosurgery to the involved spine only. The radiosurgery dose ranged from 10 to 16Gy. The primary endpoint was pain control, but outcomes in neurological status and radiological tumor control also were assessed. The median time to pain relief was 14 days and the earliest time of pain relief was within 24hours. Complete pain relief was achieved in 46%, partial relief in 18.9%, and stable symptoms in 16.2%. Relapse of pain at the treated spinal segment was 6.9%. Median duration of pain relief at the treated spine was 13.3 months. Overall pain control rate for one year was 84%. This experience demonstrates that spinal radiosurgery can achieve rapid and durable pain relief. Single-dose radiosurgery has a potential to be a viable treatment option for single spinal metastasis.     

伽玛刀治疗三叉神经痛疼痛缓解时间分析

目的分析和总结采用双靶点伽玛刀治疗三叉神经痛术后疼痛缓解时间规律,为伽玛刀的临床治疗提供参考。方法 2005年1月-2011年1月,共147例原发性三叉神经痛患者于四川大学华西医院接受Leksell C型伽玛刀治疗。使用4 mm准直器在三叉神经根制作2个等中心靶点,中心剂量80～90 Gy,控制脑桥照射剂量<20 Gy。术后定期对患者进行随访,对疼痛缓解时间进行统计分析。结果 130例患者获得随访,随访时间11～64个月,平均28.7个月。术后疼痛完全缓解95例(73.1%),部分缓解29例(22.3%),无效6例(4.6%)。疼痛缓解时间4 h～12个月,平均3.6周,其中疼痛完全缓解患者的疼痛缓解时间明显短于部分缓解患者(P<0.05)。53例(40.8%)患者于术后出现术侧轻度面部麻木。结论患者术后疼痛缓解时间可能是预测伽玛刀治疗效果的重要因素,但疼痛缓解时间个体差异大,应进行长期随访观察。     

Repeat trigeminal nerve radiosurgery for refractory cluster headache fails to provide long-term pain relief

OBJECTIVE/BACKGROUND: Medically refractory cluster headache (MRCH) is a debilitating condition that has proven resistant to many modalities. Previous reports have indicated that radiosurgery for MRCH provides little long-term pain relief, with moderate/significant morbidity. However, there have been no reports of repeated radiosurgery in this patient population. We present our findings from the first reports of repeat radiosurgery for MRCH. METHODS: Two patients with MRCH underwent repeat gamma knife radiosurgery at our institution. Each fulfilled clinical criteria for treatment, including complete resistance to pharmacotherapy, pain primarily localized to the ophthalmic division of the trigeminal nerve, and psychological stability. Both patients previously received gamma knife radiosurgery (75 Gy) for MRCH with no morbidity, but no long-term improvement of pain relief (Patient 1 = 5 months, Patient 2 = 10 months) after treatment. For repeat radiosurgery, each patient received 75 Gy to the 100% isodose line delivered to the root entry zone of the trigeminal nerve, and was evaluated postretreatment. Pain relief was defined as: excellent (free of MRCH with minimal/no medications), good (50% reduction of MRCH severity/frequency with medications), fair (25% reduction), or poor (less than 25% reduction). RESULTS: Following repeat radiosurgery, long-term pain relief was poor in both patients. Neither patient sustained any immediate morbidity following radiosurgery. Patient 2 experienced right facial numbness 4 months postretreatment, while Patient 1 experienced no morbidity. CONCLUSION: Repeat radiosurgery of the trigeminal nerve fails to provide long-term pain relief for MRCH. Given the reported failures of initial and repeat radiosurgery for MRCH, trigeminal nerve radiosurgery should not be offered for MRCH.     

Neurosurgical therapy of facial neuralgias

INTRODUCTION: Neuralgias of the face, especially trigeminal neuralgia and glossopharyngeal neuralgia are indications for surgical interventions after failed medical therapy. In contrast to other forms of headache or atypical facial pain, where surgical measures are considered to be contraindicated, percutaneous procedures or microvascular decompression are able to produce immediate and longstanding pain relief. Careful preoperative evaluation is essential to confirm the clinical diagnosis and to rule out other causes as multiple sclerosis or tumors afflicting the cranial nerves. The following study will summarize the common surgical techniques and their role considering a mechanism-based therapy as well as document long-term results of these measures. METHODS: Between 1977 and 1997 316 thermo-controlled radiofrequency trigeminal rhizotomies (TK) and 379 microvascular decompressions (MVD) were performed in our hospital to treat trigeminal neuralgia; additional 6 MVDs for glossopharyngeal neuralgia and one MVD of the intermediate facial nerve were carried out. Questionnaires were sent out to all patients still living in 1981, 1982, 1992 and 1998. For all other patients, interviews with relatives or the general practitioners were conducted. A retrospective analysis of postoperative pain relief was performed using Kaplan-Meier curves at the latest follow-up. Additionally 80 patients underwent careful quantitative sensory testing with Von-Frey-hairs. RESULTS: 225 patients who underwent microvascular decompression and 206 with radiofrequency trigeminal rhizotomies were further analyzed. There was a 50% risk for pain recurrence two years after radiofrequency rhizotomy. On the other hand 64% of patients who underwent microvascular decompression remained painfree 20 years postoperatively. Patients with microvascular decompression without sensory deficit were painfree significantly longer than patients with postoperative hypesthesia. DISCUSSION: Etiology and pathogenesis of facial neuralgias are far from understood despite several hypotheses. Based on current models there is no explanation for the immediate pain relief especially after microvascular decompression. Some authors even discuss surgical trauma as the only cause for postoperative pain relief.     

影响原发性三叉神经痛伽玛刀治疗效果的相关因素分析

目的探讨伽玛刀治疗原发性三叉神经痛的疗效及影响预后的因素。方法回顾性分析75例原发性三叉神经痛的患者行伽玛刀治疗的效果,均经OUR-XGD旋转式伽玛刀治疗,采用4—8mm准直器,半月节照射采用多靶点,三叉神经根照射采用单靶点或双靶点,中心剂量70—90Gy,脑干表面受量〈15Gy。通过随访患者疼痛发作的频率和程度的减轻评价疗效。结果随访时间为3～72个月,平均37．6个月,总有效率90．7％。4例患者2～3年后复发,6例在伽玛刀治疗后半年出现患侧面部麻木感,无其他并发症。经统计学分析,某些因素与疗效相关。结论伽玛刀治疗原发性三叉神经痛一种安全有效的方法,靶点选择、剂量选择、照射部位是影响预后的因素,而病史长短及疼痛分布与预后无相关性。     

Erfahrungen mit intrathekaler First-line-Therapie mit Ziconotide bei Patienten mit neuropathischen Gesichtsschmerzen

We report on the intrathecal use of ziconotide in three patients with idiopathic facial pain after surgery of the mouth, jaw or face and one patient with neuropathic pain after damage of the lingual nerve. The therapy was successful in three patients but one patient with idiopathic facial pain had pain relief only during the test phase of ziconotide with an external pump and not after implanting the Synchromed? pump. With intrathecal morphine therapy this patient achieved good pain relief. We recommend that patients with neuropathic facial pain should be treated with ziconotide after implementation of guideline-based therapy. In the test phase the ziconotide dose should be increased by 0.6 μg/day per week after an initial dose of 0.6-1.2 μg/day to avoid side-effects.     

Erfahrungen mit der retroganglionären Glycerin-Rhizotomie in der Behandlung der Trigeminusneuralgie

From August 1981 to May 1993 a total of 1263 percutaneous retrogasserian glycerol rhizotomies after Hakanson were performed. The intervention was performed with X-ray monitoring under local anaesthesia and rarely lasted longer than 20 min. It achieved good results in the treatment of idiopathic trigeminal neuralgia (TN) and symptomatic trigeminal neuralgia due to multiple sclerosis (TNMS). Some 97% of the TN patients were completely free of pain after the intervention. The recurrence rate within 5 years was 12.8%. Some 94.7% of the TNMS patients were immediately free of pain, but within 2-5 years they experienced a high recurrence rate of 40.2%. The results in the patients with atypical facial pain were more disappointing: only 66.6% were pain-free immediately after the intervention, and the recurrence rate was 31%. With respect to the side effects immediately postoperatively, herpetic eruptions were found in 43.2% of cases. They occurred on the 3rd postoperative day and persisted for 2-3 weeks before being relieved by local virostatic therapy. Hypaesthesia and hypalgesia were present in the early postoperative follow-up in half of our patients. Both these reductions of sensitivity have a tendency to regress. Later, after 2 years, there was reduction in sensitivity of this type in only 20% of cases. In the follow-up 17.5% of our patients complained of dysaesthesia and in 21.4% corneal sensitivity was reduced or lost. We believe that glycerol rhizotomy, owing to its effectiveness, easy applicability, slight distress for the patients and low side effects, should be recommended as a first measure for non-conservative treatment of idiopathic trigeminal neuralgia as well as trigeminal neuralgia in multiple sclerosis.     

Embolization of a Tentorial Dural Arterio-Venous Fistula Presenting as Atypical Trigeminal Neuralgia

SYNOPSIS
A patient with a tentorial dural AV fistula causing atypical trigeminal neuralgia (TN) successfully treated by embolization is reported. The patient developed persisting throbbing facial pain in the distribution of the secondand third division of the right trigeminal nerve (V2,V3) after a history of typical neuralgia for one year, preceded by a two month spell of TN 6 years previously and accompanied by right-sided pulsatile tinnitus for 10 years. The patient's mother, brother and sister were also said to be affected by typical trigeminal neuralgia.
A right-sided dilated vein of Rosenthal due to a dural AV fistula fed by branches of the meningeal, occipital and meningo-hypophyseal trunk of the internal carotid artery was thought to cause trigeminal nerve compression. Complete resolution of symptoms after partial intra-arterial embolization of the main feeding arteries with N-butyroacrylate is described.     

经皮半月节后根甘油阻滞治疗三叉神经痛3370例临床研究

目的:分析半月节后根甘油阻滞术(PRGR)治疗三叉神经痛的长期随访结果,评价疗效、复发率及主要并发症面部感觉障碍的恢复预后.方法:1983-2003年完成的PRGR手术3370例,随访3-23年,平均13.1年.结果:短期疼痛完全缓解率99.79%,随访2750例,死于其他疾病112例,失访508例,总复发率35%,1年内复发率0.3%,1～5年21%,5～10年7%,10～15年4%,15～23年3%.并发症主要为面部感觉迟钝,触觉重于痛觉,痛觉先于触觉恢复,除34例(1%)遗留永久性轻度感觉迟钝外,面部感觉半年内恢复.其他并发症包括失明1例,角膜炎6例,因角膜溃疡致失明1例,动脉性出血5例,咀嚼肌无力2例,继发于感染的面部畸形1例,无痛性感觉缺失和死亡病例.结论:半月节后根甘油阻滞治疗三叉神经痛是一种微创的外科治疗手段,操作简单,疼痛缓解快,主要并发症绝大多数呈损害可逆性,复发时限不一,可作为首次外科治疗推荐给药物治疗无效患者.     

伽玛刀治疗原发性三叉神经痛疗效观察

目的 探讨伽玛刀治疗原发性三又神经痛的疗效.方法 2003年1月至2008年3月,我院应用伽玛刀治疗原发性三又神经痛120例;治疗靶点为三叉神经根,用4 mm准直器,靶点中心计量为80～90 Gy.疗效评估采用患者自我报告疼痛的控制程度及药物用量的变化.结果 所有患者进行了随访,平均随访期(20.0±4.5)个月.本组病例中治愈69例(57.5%);显效34例(28.3%)、有效12例(10.0%)、无效5例(4.2%);总有效率为95.8%.5例患者疼痛复发后行其他治疗.83例患者(69.2%)曾出现一过性、局限性的面部麻木.14例患者(11.7%)在疼痛缓解后留下持续性的面部麻木;部分患者还伴有味觉减退、口嚼无力等主诉.结论 伽玛刀治疗原发性三又神经痛能够显著缓解疼痛、提高生活质量,不良反应发生率较低:是一种较为理想的治疗方法.     

Studies on the operative outcomes and mechanisms of microvascular decompression in treating typical and atypical trigeminal neuralgia

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the operative outcomes and mechanisms of microvascular decompression in treating typical and atypical trigeminal neuralgia. METHODS: A group of 45 patients with typical trigeminal neuralgia and 17 patients with atypical trigeminal neuralgia treated by micro-vascular decompression from 2000 to 2002 were reviewed, including their clinical presentations, operative findings, and outcomes. RESULTS: Of 45 patients with typical trigeminal neuralgia, the mean duration was 3.1 years, and the mean age of pain onset was 60.3 years. Single trigeminal division was involved in 20 patients (44.4%), and 2 or 3 divisions were involved in the other 25 patients (55.6%). During the operation, artery compression was found in 39 patients (86.7%), and the combined artery and venous compression was found in 6 patients (13.3%). Postoperatively, complete pain relief was achieved in 44 patients (97.8%), and significant pain relief was achieved in 1 patient (2.2%). As for 17 patients with atypical trigeminal neuralgia, the mean duration and the mean age of pain onset was 8.7 years and 55.5 years, respectively. Two or 3 trigeminal divisions were involved in all of these patients. During operation, artery compression occurred in 10 patients (58.8%), and the combined artery and venous compression was found in 7 patients (41.2%). Postoperatively, complete pain relief was achieved in 5 patients (29.4%), and partial pain relief was achieved in 10 patients (58.8%), and 2 patients showed no response to microvascular decompression. CONCLUSIONS: The operative outcome of microvascular decompression in patients with typical trigeminal neuralgia was better than that of patients with atypical trigeminal neuralgia, which perhaps related to short duration, late onset of pain, limited distribution, artery compression, and complete operative decompression.     

γ-knife therapy in acoustic neuroma

Summary

During 1992–95 79 patients suffering from acoustic neuromas were treated by radiosurgery at the Department of Neurosurgery of the University Medical School at Graz. Fifty-one patients underwent γ-knife treatment as primary therapy, 28 patients after neurosurgical operation because of remaining or recurrent tumour. The tumour diameter ranged from 5.3 to 37.7 mm and patient follow-up was 3–6 years. In all patients contrast-enhanced CT (until 1993) or MRI was performed, with the stereotactic head-frame applied to determine the target. The total central tumour dose varied from 14 to 50 Gy, the total peripheral dose ranged from 9 to 18 Gy, respective to the 30–70% isodose. Tumour shrinkage was seen in 10.1% of the neuromas and 57.0% showed variable changes in morphology, due to a partial necrosis. There was no increase in tumour size during the study. The overall hearing preservation rate was approximately 85%. Seven patients became deaf after radiosurgery, six patients (7.6%) developed facial neuropathies after stereotactic treatment and two patients (2.5%) trigeminal symptoms. Three patients developed a post-therapeutic perifocal oedema, two of them asymptomatic, the other one with neurological signs, including vertigo, nausea and dizziness. All patients returned to their preoperative function level within a couple of days. Stereotactic radiosurgery using the Leksell γ-knife is a safe, non-invasive therapy for acoustic neuromas and is a good alternative to microsurgery in cases of inoperable patients and those who refused surgery. For recurrent or partially removed tumours, radiosurgery seems to be the therapy of choice.     

伽玛刀对神经根与毗邻血管不同解剖关系的原发性三叉神经痛的治疗疗效分析

目的探讨原发性三叉神经痛患者三叉神经根与毗邻血管的不同解剖关系对伽玛刀治疗疗效的影响。方法回顾性分析2004年1月至2009年1月山西医科大学第二医院伽玛刀中心治疗原发性痛患者82例，依据MR定位影像显示三叉神经根与毗邻血管的不同解剖关系（无接触、可疑接触、明确接触、推移），评估对伽玛刀治疗疗效的影响。结果随访6～18个月，平均随访12．5个月，依据BNI疼痛量表评分Ⅲ级以上70例，总有效率85．4％，三叉神经根与血管无接触组有效率89．7％，可疑接触组有效率86．4％，明确接触78．9％，推移组81．8％，复发8例（9．7％）。结论三叉神经根与毗邻血管的不同解剖关系对伽玛刀治疗疗效差别无统计学意义，推移组复发率较其他组高，远期疗效有待进一步评估。     

Efficacy and safety of high concentration lidocaine for trigeminal nerve block in patients with trigeminal neuralgia

AIMS: Local anaesthetics, which act as neurolytics and Na(+) channel blockers, have been used for disrupting the neural firings in certain neuropathic pain conditions. This study was undertaken to investigate the clinical outcome of trigeminal nerve block with 10% lidocaine in the management of trigeminal neuralgia (TN). METHODS: Thirty-five patients with primary TN received trigeminal nerve blocks with 10% lidocaine. Success was defined as complete pain relief or mild pain without medication 1 day after the treatment. We followed the patients up every 2 months assessing for pain recurrence, sensory changes and other complications for a total of 37-45 months (median 43 months). RESULTS: Twelve of the 35 patients (34.3%) responded favourably to the treatment and were considered as success. Eleven patients experienced complete pain relief and one could tolerate pain without medication 1 day after the blocks, which lasted for 3-172 weeks. Four patients experienced mildly decreased sensation in the region of the face supplied by the nerve 1 day after the blocks; however, all recovered normal skin sensation in 6 months. There was neither allodynia nor other sensory discomfort. The pain intensity and current pain duration before treatment were significantly different between the two groups. CONCLUSION: Trigeminal nerve block with high concentration lidocaine (10%) is capable of achieving an intermediate period of pain relief, particularly in patients with lower pain intensity and shorter pain duration prior to the procedure.     

3D CT‐Guided Pulsed Radiofrequency Treatment for Trigeminal Neuralgia

Trigeminal neuralgia (TN) is a pain syndrome characterized by pain in the trigeminal area often accompanied by a brief facial spasm or tic. The purpose of our study was to investigate the efficacy and clinical utility of CT‐guided pulsed radiofrequency (PRF) for treatment of TN. Patients who were diagnosed with severe TN between September 2010 and October 2010 at Beijing Tiantan Hospital were included. Pulsed radiofrequency treatment (PRFT) was employed to treat TN. To verify the accurate needle position, a thin‐section cranial CT scan was performed by using a multidetector CT scanner. Three‐dimensional reconstruction was performed to visualize the location of the needle and the foramen ovale. A total of 20 patients were included in the study. Seven patients (35%) had favorable outcome 1 year after the PRFT. The numeric rating scale in the 7 patients with good outcome was significantly lower than the 13 patients with bad outcome at 1 day, 1 week, and 2 weeks after the treatment. The remaining 13 patients had residual pain 2 weeks after the PRFT and had to receive radiofrequency thermocoagulation (RFTC). In conclusion, the results of our study demonstrate that CT‐guided PRFT is not an effective method of pain treatment for idiopathic TN as compared with conventional RFTC. However, CT‐guided PRFT is associated with less complication than RFTC.     

Pulsed radiofrequency treatment for idiopathic trigeminal neuralgia: A retrospective analysis of the causes for ineffective pain relief

We retrospectively analyzed the reasons for ineffective pain relief in patients with idiopathic trigeminal neuralgia (TN) who had undergone pulsed radiofrequency (PRF) treatment guided by computed tomography scan. We found that intraoperative PRF output voltage and electrical field intensity was significantly higher (p < 0.05) in the group who had received effective treatment than in the ineffective group. These findings suggest that optimizing PRF parameters and increasing the intraoperative output voltage (electric field intensity) may therefore, provide better pain relief in patients with TN.     

Comparison of clinical symptoms and magnetic resonance angiographic (MRA) results in patients with trigeminal neuralgia and persistent idiopathic facial pain. Medium-term outcome after microvascular decompression of cases with positive MRA findings

Neurovascular compression (NC) seems to have been confirmed as the major cause of classical trigeminal neuralgia (TN). In spite of the large number of surgically positive cases, however, there are still cases where no vascular compression of the trigeminal nerve can be found. To evaluate whether NC could be demonstrated preoperatively, high-resolution magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) was performed in 287 consecutive patients with TN and persistent idiopathic facial pain (PIFP) on a 0.5-T and a 1-T MR unit. Depending on the clinical symptoms, the TN cases were divided into typical TN and trigeminal neuralgia with non-neuralgic interparoxysmal pain (TNWIP) groups. Microvascular decompression (MVD) was performed in 103 of the MRA-positive cases. The patients were followed up postoperatively for from 1 to 10 years. The clinical symptoms were compared with the imaging results. The value of MRA was assessed on the basis of the clinical symptoms and surgical findings. The outcome of MVD was graded as excellent, good or poor. The clinical symptoms were compared with the type of vascular compression and the outcome of MVD. The MRA image was positive in 161 (56%) of the 287 cases. There were significant differences between the clinical groups: 66.5% of the typical TN group, 47.5% of the TNWIP group and 3.4% of the PIFP group were positive. The quality of the MR unit significantly determined the ratio of positive/negative MRA results. The surgical findings corresponded with the MRA images. Six patients from the MRA-negative group were operated on for selective rhizotomy and no NC was found. Venous compression of the trigeminal nerve was observed in a significantly higher proportion in the background of TNWIP than in that of typical TN on MRA imaging (24.1% and 0.8%, respectively) and also during MVD (31.2% and 1.2%, respectively). Four years following the MVD, 69% of the patients gave an excellent, 23% a good and 8% a poor result. The rate of some kind of recurrence of pain was 20% in the typical TN and 44% in TNWIP group. The rate of recurrence was 57% when pure venous compression was present. The only patient who was operated on from the PIFP group did not react to the MVD. The clinical symptoms and preoperative MRA performed by at least a 1-T MR unit furnish considerable information, which can play a role in the planning of the treatment of TN.     

Efficacy of opioid analgesia at the superior cervical ganglion in neuropathic head and facial pain

The efficacy of ganglionic local opioid analgesia (GLOA) at the superior cervical ganglion (SCG) was retrospectively investigated in 74 consecutive patients with neuropathic pain in the head and face region. It was possible to retrospectively analyze the short-term and medium-term treatment results in 64 of 74 patients. The long-term effect was subsequently determined using a standardized questionnaire. The short-term analgesic effect of the first blockade by GLOA was significant with a mean pain reduction of 52% (p < 0.001). Within a span of 20 min the mean pain intensity decreased from 65 to 28 on a visual analogue scale. A clinically relevant pain reduction (> or = 30%) was observed in 73% of the patients. The proportion of responders (pain reduction > or = 50%) was 59% after the first blockade. Patients with zoster or trigeminal neuralgia experienced greater pain relief than patients with atypical facial pain or longer lasting postzoster neuralgia. During the course of the blockade series with an average duration of 33 days, a significant medium-term pain reduction of 30% was noted. In the first 3 treatment days, the level of continuous pain declined from 6.3 to 4.3 on a numerical rating scale. Short-term responders reported a better medium-term pain reduction than nonresponders. After 3 years (range: 5 months to 6 years), 21% of 52 patients remained free of pain. The other patients reported often only minimal residual pain or a decrease of pain severity and duration. According to these results, GLOA at the SCG can represent a suitable and simple treatment option for neuropathic facial pain.     

A prospective cost-effectiveness study of trigeminal neuralgia surgery

OBJECTIVES: Approximately 8000 patients with trigeminal neuralgia undergo surgery each year in the United States at an estimated cost exceeding $100 million. We compared 3 commonly performed surgeries (microvascular decompression, glycerol rhizotomy, and stereotactic radiosurgery) to evaluate the relative cost-effectiveness of these operations for patients with idiopathic trigeminal neuralgia. METHODS: Prospective nonrandomized trial at a tertiary referral center from July 1999 to December 2001. One hundred twenty-six consecutive patients underwent 153 operations (microvascular decompression, n=33; glycerol rhizotomy, n=51; stereotactic radiosurgery, n=69). Preoperative characteristics were similar between the groups with respect to sex, pain location, duration of pain, and atypical features. Facial pain outcomes were classified as excellent (no pain, no medications), good (no pain, reduced medications), fair (>50% pain reduction), and poor. The cost per quality adjusted pain-free year was compared between the groups. Mean follow-up was 20.6 months. RESULTS: Patients having microvascular decompression more commonly achieved and maintained an excellent outcome (85% and 78% at 6 and 24 months) compared with glycerol rhizotomy (61% and 55%, P=0.01) and stereotactic radiosurgery (60% and 52%, P<0.01). No difference was detected between glycerol rhizotomy and stereotactic radiosurgery (P=0.61). The cost per quality adjusted pain-free year was $6,342, $8,174, and $8,269 for glycerol rhizotomy, microvascular decompression, and stereotactic radiosurgery, respectively. Reduction in the average cost of morbidity and additional surgeries to zero did not make either microvascular decompression or stereotactic radiosurgery more cost-effective than glycerol rhizotomy. Both microvascular decompression and stereotactic radiosurgery would be more cost-effective than glycerol rhizotomy if the cost of additional surgeries after glycerol rhizotomy increased 79% and 83%, respectively. DISCUSSION: This analysis supports the practice of percutaneous surgeries for older patients with medically unresponsive trigeminal neuralgia. At longer follow-up intervals, microvascular decompression is predicted to be the most cost-effective surgery and should be considered the preferred operation for patients if their risk for general anesthesia is acceptable. More data are needed to assess the role that radiosurgery should play in the management of patients with trigeminal neuralgia.