CT-guided chemical rhizotomy of the C1 root for occipital neuralgia

Summary Sensation in the parasagital occipital region is usually provided by fibres from the second cervical root via the greater occipital nerve. In the case presented occipital neuralgia could be relieved only by coagulation of the C1 nerve root with 96% ethyl alcohol. Possible explanations for this observation are discussed and a technique for CT-guided treatment is described.     

Refractory occipital neuralgia: preoperative assessment with CT-guided nerve block prior to dorsal cervical rhizotomy

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Occipital neuralgia syndrome can cause severe refractory headaches. In a small percentage of people, these headaches can be devastating and debilitating, with the potential for complete relief following surgical rhizotomy. We describe CT fluoroscopy-guided percutaneous C2-C3 nerve block for the confirmation of diagnosis of occipital neuralgia and for demonstrating to patients the sensory effects of intradural cervical dorsal rhizotomy before the definitive surgical procedure. METHODS: Seventeen patients with occipital neuralgia underwent 32 CT fluoroscopy-guided C2 or C2 and C3 nerve root blocks. Of the 17 patients, nine had occipital neuralgia following prior neck or skull base surgeries. On the basis of the positive results of the nerve blocks in terms of temporary pain relief, all 17 patients underwent unilateral (n = 16) or bilateral (n = 1) intradural C1 (n = 9), C2 (n = 17), C3 (n = 17), or C4 (n = 7) dorsal rhizotomies. All patients were followed up for a mean of 20 months (range, 5-37 months) for assessment of pain relief. Sixteen patients were assessed for degree of satisfaction with and functional state after surgery. RESULTS: All patients had temporary relief of symptoms after percutaneous CT-guided block (positive result) and felt that occipital numbness was an acceptable alternative to pain. Immediately after surgery, all patients had complete relief from pain. At follow-up, 11 patients (64.7%) had complete relief of symptoms, two (11.8%) had partial relief, and four (23.5%) had no relief. Seven of eight (87.5%) patients without prior surgery had complete relief of symptoms and one (12.5%) patient had partial relief, as opposed to complete relief in four of nine (44.4%), partial relief in one of nine (11.2%), and no relief in four of nine (44.4%) patients with a history of prior surgery. Because of the small number of patients, this difference was not statistically significant (P =.110). Eleven of 16 (68.8%) patients stated that the surgery was worthwhile. Eight of 16 (50%) patients felt they were more active and functional after surgery, whereas 25% felt they were either unchanged or less functional than before surgery. None of the patients without a history of prior surgery reported a decreased sense of functional activity following rhizotomy. CONCLUSION: CT fluoroscopy-guided percutaneous cervical nerve block is useful for the confirmation of occipital neuralgia, for demonstrating to patients the sensory effects of nerve sectioning, and possibly as a guide for selection of patients for intradural cervical dorsal rhizotomy. Although not statistically significant, there was a trend toward better response to rhizotomy in patients without prior head or neck surgery.     

Evaluation of the effectiveness of CT-guided infiltration in the treatment of Arnold’s neuralgia

Introduction  The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of computed tomography (CT)-guided infiltration in the treatment of Arnold's neuralgia. Methods  A retrospective study included 31 patients suffering from Arnold's neuralgia and having undergone a total of 45 CT-guided infiltrations of the greater occipital nerve (GON), in a proximal site (emergence of the GON, technique 1, n = 24) or in two proximal sites (emergence of the GON and at the site of the first bend of the GON drawn by the GON, technique 2, n = 21). Infiltration was considered to be effective when pain relief was equal to or greater than 50% for at least 1 month. Results  There was no significant difference between the two techniques regarding immediate pain relief effect (53.3% for technique 1 vs. 60.5% for technique 2, p = 0.5), but technique 2 yielded better persistence of pain relief effect (p = 0.01), leading to a significantly higher percentage of effective infiltrations with technique 2 (p = 0.03). Conclusion  Infiltrations carried out in a single site yield results that are comparable to those previously published. Infiltrations in two sites provide significantly better results and should now be preferred to other single-site techniques in order to reduce the rate of failure or recurrence of Arnold's neuralgia.     

CT-guided obturator nerve block via the posterior approach

Objective To describe the technique of obturator nerve block under CT guidance via the posterior approach, and to evaluate the efficacy of the procedure in the short-term and mid-term relief of chronic hip pain. Design and Patients Consecutive patients referred for obturator nerve block were prospectively enrolled in this study. Under CT-guidance, via a posterior approach through the pelvis, local anaesthetic and steroid were infiltrated around the obturator nerve using a 22G spinal needle. Fifty-one patients (19 male, 32 female), mean age 54 years, with hip pain refractory to conventional therapy underwent the procedure. Visual Analogue Scale pain scores were recorded before the procedure and at 30 minutes, 24 hours, 1 week and 3 months thereafter. Results Pain scores within 30 minutes showed a decrease from a mean ± SD score of 8.41±1.22 pre-procedure to 2.86±2.1, p<0.001. At 24 hours, the mean pain score was 2.06±1.76, a decrease of 76% from pre-procedural score, p<0.001. Sustained pain relief at 1 week and 3 months was attained in 92% (mean pain score 2.41±2.2, p<0.001) and 82% (mean pain score 3.80±2.94, p<0.001) of cases respectively. Follow-up data was complete for all 51 patients. No serious side-effects were reported. Conclusions In patients with hip pain refractory to conventional pain control measures, CT-guided obturator nerve block can provide relief from pain in the short to medium term. The posterior approach offers safe, reliable and effective access to the nerve, in a procedure which is well-tolerated by the patient.     

针刀治疗枕大神经卡压综合征的解剖学研究

目的 :为针刀治疗枕大神经卡压综合征提供形态学依据。方法 :在 2 0侧成人尸体头颈标本上 ,对枕大神经的行径、穿斜方肌腱膜和深筋膜以及易发生卡压的部位进行了解剖、观察和测量。结果 :(1)枕大神经在枕外隆凸下方 (2 8± 0 2 )cm ,旁开 (2 6± 0 1)cm处穿斜方肌腱膜和深筋膜至皮下 ;(2 )穿斜方肌腱膜和深筋膜的部位约位于枕外隆凸至乳突尖连线的中、上 1/ 3交界点 ;(3)穿出点有大量腱纤维和筋膜束缠绕枕大神经及枕动静脉 ,是发生卡压的部位。结论 :用针刀在枕大神经穿腱膜和筋膜点的稍内侧进针 ,从外上向内下 ,与后正中线约呈 40°夹角 ,作分离松解 ,便可解除其卡压。     

CT引导下选择性神经根注射治疗多节段腰椎间盘突出症的临床研究

目的 探讨CT引导下选择性神经根注射在多节段腰椎间盘突出症中明确责任节段及疗效评估中的作用.方法 33例多节段腰椎间盘突出症患者,在CT引导下对可疑责任节段进行选择性神经根注射治疗,以疼痛视觉模拟评分(VAS)、日本骨科协会(JOA)评分对患者治疗前后的症状进行评估.结果 选择性神经根注射术明确责任节段33例,其中单节段24例(72.7％),2节段9例(27.3％).26例(78.8％)患者术中疼痛症状再现,伴加重,7例(21.2％)患者术中疼痛症状再现,不伴加重.术后VAS评分,20例(60.6％)显著有效,8例(24.2％)中度有效,5例(15.2％)无效,总有效率占84.8％;JOA评分,改善率优8例(24.2％),良12例(36.4％),中5例(15.2％),差8例(24.2％),优良中率占75.8％.结论 CT引导下选择性神经根注射有利于明确复杂的腰椎间盘突出症的责任节段,具有良好的临床疗效,术中患者疼痛症状再现伴加重有利于术后疗效的预判.     

Scout-guided needle placement—a technical approach for dose reduction in CT-guided periradicular infiltration

Neuroradiology - To develop and evaluate a technical approach for CT-guided periradicular infiltration using quantitative needle access and guidance parameters extracted from CT scout images. Five...     

Belt device for simplified CT-guided puncture and biopsy: A technical note

A new radiolucent device for increased accuracy of CT-guided fine-needle punctures permits precise determination of the optimum angle, depth, and position of the fine needle, which can be preset from the data supplied on the CT monitor. Puncture and repeat scans for controlling the tip of the needle can be performed with the patient in a stationary position. The device is designed as a belt that holds a needle holder sheath and a goniometric scale, both of which can be moved to varying positions around the patient.     

CT引导下栅栏定位器在射频温控热凝术治疗三叉神经痛中的应用

目的 探讨CT引导下应用栅栏定位器射频温控热凝术(RFT)治疗三叉神经痛的疗效.方法 取仰卧位采用Hartel入路穿刺法,利用双栅栏定位器联合CT半冠位扫描,进行卵圆孔及半月神经节定位穿刺.结果 81例患者卵圆孔穿刺手术成功率为100％,80例(98.8％)疼痛即刻消失,1例无效.术后面部明显麻木80例(98.8％),咀嚼无力2例(2.5％),角膜反射减退3例(3.8％).均无严重并发症出现.随访时间1～4年,复发6例,复发率为7.5％.结论 CT引导下应用栅栏定位器使卯圆孔穿刺成功率达100％,治疗三叉神经痛复发率较低,取得了良好的止痛效果,并降低并发症发生率.定位简单易行,值得推广应用.     

A simple training tool for CT-guided spinal pain management

The use of models as training tools to learn and practice medical skills has become an important part of medical education. Image-guided spinal interventions for lower back pain are probably one of the most commonly performed procedures in interventional radiology. Thus, a training model for these types of interventions would be helpful. This article presents a simple training tool for computed tomography guided spinal pain interventions. The model is described, and the potential advantages in training are discussed.     

CT引导下射频热凝治疗原发性三叉神经痛的临床疗效

目的 探讨运用CT引导下射频热凝治疗原发性三叉神经痛的临床效果.方法 选取原发性三叉神经痛患者165例作为研究对象,所有患者采用随机抽签法分成射频热凝组和药物毁损组,射频热凝组患者83例,药物毁损组患者82例.射频热凝组采用CT引导下射频热凝治疗三叉神经痛,药物毁损组采用CT引导下经皮穿刺卵圆孔表阿霉素化学毁损治疗三叉神经痛,于治疗后3个月、6个月、1年、3年进行随访,观察两组患者的VAS评分变化、治疗总有效率及并发症发生率指标.结果 射频热凝组优良率明显优于药物毁损组,两组差异有统计学意义(P＜0.05);两组并发症发生率比较,射频热凝组明显更低,差异有统计学意义(P＜0.05);两组随访期VAS疼痛评分比较,观察组更低,且远期疼痛情况稳定,总体治疗效果突出.结论 采用CT引导下射频热凝治疗原发性三叉神经痛的临床效果显著,值得推广应用.     

CT引导下经皮穿刺卵圆孔行阿霉素阻滞治疗三叉神经痛

目的 探讨CT引导下经皮穿刺卵圆孔注射阿霉素毁损疗法治疗三叉神经痛的技术及临床应用价值。方法 63例三叉神经痛患者，男24例，女39例；年龄43～77岁，平均59岁。右侧疼痛41例，左侧22例。所有患者均有典型的三叉神经支配区域疼痛病史及服用苯妥英钠或卡马西平史，其中27例患者曾接受三叉神经周围分支化学毁损术，7例接受过半月神经节射频热凝毁损术，4例为微血管减压术后复发病例。结果 63例CT引导经皮穿刺卵圆孔全部引导成功。确定针尖在卵圆孔神经节内时，分次缓慢注射阿霉素0．2～0．5ml。治疗后，即刻疼痛完全缓解者61例(96．8％)，明显缓解1例，轻度缓解1例。治疗后行6、12个月随访观察，有效率分别为84．1％，79．4％。并发症少而轻微，无严重并发症。结论 CT引导下经皮穿刺卵圆孔疗法对三叉神经痛具有定位准确，无痛苦，操作简单、安全，并发症少的优点，具有临床推广应用价值。     

Venous angioma adjacent to the root entry zone of the trigeminal nerve: implications for management of trigeminal neuralgia

Detection of a venous angioma at the root entry zone is important for surgical planning, so that the neurosurgeon will be aware that both veins and arteries may require microvascular decompression. In selected cases, alternative treatment may be indicated to avoid the potential surgical complication of a venous infarct. Trigeminal neuralgia typically occurs in the middle-aged to elderly population, usually the result of compression of the trigeminal nerve at its root entry zone by an ectatic, aging artery or, less commonly, a regional vein [1, 2, 3]. When associated with a venous angioma at the root entry zone, trigeminal neuralgia usually presents at a younger age [4, 5, 6]. We review the imaging examinations and clinical data of five patients with trigeminal neuralgia who had a venous angioma adjacent to the root entry zone of the trigeminal nerve, and discuss how the imaging findings affected their management.     

The angiographic features of tumor infiltration of the greater omentum

The angiographic findings of a metastatic neoplasm of the greater omentum are presented, and a survey of the angiographic features of previously reported omental tumors, primary and metastatic, is given. The angiographic pattern seems to be quite uniform with no specific relation to the histologic origin of the tumors and angiography is probably at the present time the best diagnostic modality.     

CT引导下半月神经节射频热凝术

目的 探讨CT引导下半月神经节射频热凝技术中的应用,并观察该技术治疗三叉神经痛病人的临床效果.方法 原发性三叉神经痛病人35例,先行CT斜冠状位扫描,定位定向确定穿刺进针点及方向,然后通过轴位扫描及三维重建精确穿刺针位置及其与卵圆孔关系,连接射频仪调试并进行热凝治疗.结果 所有病人半月神经节穿刺均顺利安全完成,穿刺时间为48~350 s(平均78.6 s±34.6 s),术后疼痛完全消失者29例,疼痛视觉模拟评分(VAS)<3者4例,2例病人VAS>4,所有病人均未出现严重的并发症.结论 CT引导下半月神经节射频热凝术定位定向准确,穿刺时间短,安全性高,临床治疗效果确切.     

CT-guided percutaneous approach for the treatment of peripheral pulmonary artery pseudoaneurysm: A case report

Pulmonary artery pseudoaneurysm is a rare but life threatening complication of pulmonary tuberculosis, considered as a diagnosis and therapeutic emergency. Transarterial embolization approach has become more widespread over the last few decades, and is now considered the first-line treatment over surgery. Percutaneous embolization under computed tomography (CT) or CT scan control has recently been reported by one centre as a first-line treatment for persistent peripheral Pulmonary artery pseudoaneurysm under certain conditions. We report the case of a 23-year-old female patient admitted in emergency for moderate haemoptysis, in a context of relapsing of tuberculosis. CT scan angiogram showed a peripheral pulmonary artery pseudoaneurysm of the lower left lobe, and persisted seven days later. After multidisciplinary meeting, a minimal invasive approach was decided. The patient was treated in first-line treatment by percutaneous transthoracic embolization, under CT-guidance, using N butyl-cyanoacrylate and Lipiodol mixture, without any complication. The percutaneous minimal invasive treatment seems to be a reliable approach to treat persistent peripheral pulmonary artery pseudoaneurysm.Key words: Pulmonary arterial pseudoaneurysm, Glue, Embolization, CT     

CT引导下经臀途径引流盆腔深部脓肿

目的 评价CT引导下经臀途径引流盆腔深部脓肿的安全性和效果.方法 自2000年4月至2007年8月,12例盆腔深部脓肿患者接受了CT导向下经臀途径穿刺引流.回顾性分析患者的临床资料、置管数目、引流量、带管时间、并发症和随访结果.结果 对每例患者均成功经臀置人1根引流管,引流量30～180 ml,平均52 ml;带管6～34 d,平均11 d;无严重并发症发生.结论 CT引导下经臀途径引流盆腔深部脓肿安全可行.