Percutaneous radiofrequency Gasserian ganglion coagulation in the treatment of trigeminal neuralgia

Fifty-three patients with trigeminal neuralgia were treated with percutaneous radiofrequency Gasserian ganglion coagulation. An individually adjusted degree of coagulation was applied. The procedure was successful in 45 patients (85%). The median follow-up was two years; only two of the remaining 45 patients had relapse of symptoms. Four patients experienced side effects consisting of troublesome facial dysaesthesia. Our data indicate that percutaneous radiofrequency coagulation of the Gasserian ganglion is a safe and reliable procedure in the treatment of medication resistant trigeminal neuralgia.     

Percutaneous trigeminal ganglion balloon compression: experience in 40 patients

Forty patients of trigeminal neuralgia were treated with percutaneous trigeminal ganglion balloon compression. Symptoms had been present since six months to twenty years. The age ranged between 23 years and 73 years. All the patients had immediate relief from pain. Two had already undergone trigeminal cistern rhizolysis. One patient had foramen ovale stenosis. After the procedure, all the patients had mild to moderate degree of ipsilateral facial sensory loss which included buccal mucosa and anterior 2/3rd of the tongue. Facial dysaesthesia (anaesthesia dolorosa) was seen in only one case, who had mild involvement lasting one week. Thirty patients had altered taste sensation, probably due to general somatic sensory loss. Five patients had herpes perioralis. In this study group, two patients had already undergone microvascular decompression. All the patients were followed for a period ranging from one to eighteen months. Balloon compression technique seems to be better than injection of alcohol, glycerol or radio frequency lesion. Recurrence of pain was noted in 3 patients after one year.     

Carotid-cavernous fistula following percutaneous trigeminal ganglion approach

A case of carotid-cavernous fistula following percutaneous trigeminal ganglion approach is presented. The case was treated by a combination of trapping and emobilsation of the carotid artery.Percutaneous approach to the trigeminal ganglion via the foramen ovale was described by taptas (1911) and hartel (1914). Since then this procedure has been used in large series, for the injection of alcohol (harris. 1940), electrocoagulation (kirschner, 1942) or the injection hot water (jeager, 1957) to the trigeminal ganglion for the treatment of trigeminal neuralgia.In 1965 white and sweet used the percutaneous trigeminal ganglion approach for the radio-frequency (R.F.) thermocoagulation of the trigeminal ganglion. This procedure is a simple and safe method. It has been used in large series in the treatment of trigeminal neuralgia.In our department we have performed 252 R.F. thermocoagulation of the gasserion ganglion in 228 patients since 1975. In 252 interventions using the percutaneous trigeminal ganglion approach, via the foramen ovale, we observed only one carotid-cavernous fistula following the procedure. This is the second report in the literature of a carotid-cavernous fistula following the percutaneous trigeminal ganglion approach.     

Dyna-CT引导下经皮穿刺三叉神经半月节微球囊压迫术治疗三叉神经痛

目的 探讨Dyna-CT引导下经皮穿刺三叉神经节微球囊压迫术（PBC）治疗三叉神经痛的临床效果。方法 对2017年9月至2018年11月采用Dyna-CT 引导下PBC治疗的17例三叉神经痛的临床资料进行回顾性分析。在Dyna-CT引导下穿刺，颅底3D-CT重建证实穿刺针抵达卵圆孔。通过穿刺针将带导丝CTZ-14球囊导入Meckel腔，球囊压迫三叉神经半月节。结果 住院时间3~9 d，平均5.6 d。术后随访6~12个月。术后症状完全消失14例，明显缓解2例，无缓解1例；总有效率为94.2%（16/17）。术后出现面部麻木15例、咀嚼略乏力9例、眼角干涩2例、口角疱疹5例，均经治疗后痊愈。结论 Dyna-CT 引导下PBC，是针对复发三叉神经痛、高龄、不愿或不能耐受开颅手术的三叉神经痛的有效微创手术方法，具有良好的临床应用价值。     

Percutaneous radiofrequency thermocoagulation of the semilunar ganglion for treating trigeminal neuralgia. Report of 325 cases

325 cases of trigeminal neuralgia were treated by percutaneous semilunar ganglion radiofrequency thermocoagulation from March 1982 to March 1985. All patients were followed-up for more than one year. The effective rate was 98% and the recurrence rate was 20%. 46 recurred cases were successfully treated by reoperation. There were no severe complications and mortality. In this article, the operative method, advantages and prevention of complication are discussed.     

Osteopontin-immunoreactivity in the rat trigeminal ganglion and trigeminal sensory nuclei

Osteopontin-immunoreactivity (OPN-ir) was examined in the oro-facial tissues and trigeminal sensory nuclei (principal sensory nucleus and spinal trigeminal nucleus) to ascertain the peripheral ending and central projection of OPN-containing primary sensory neurons in the trigeminal ganglion (TG). No staining was observed using mouse monoclonal anti-OPN antibody preabsorbed with recombinant mature OPN. OPN-immunoreactive (ir) peripheral endings were classified into two types: encapsulated and unencapsulated types. Unencapsulated endings were subdivided into two types: simple and complex types. Simple endings were characterized by the thin neurite that was usually devoid of ramification. These endings were seen in the hard plate and gingiva. The complex type was characterized by the thick ramified neurite, and observed in the vibrissa, hard palate, and molar periodontal ligament. Encapsulated endings were found only in the hard palate. The trigeminal sensory nuclei contained OPN-ir cell bodies and neuropil. The neuropil was devoid of ir in laminae I and II of the medullary dorsal horn (MDH), and had various staining intensities in other regions of the trigeminal sensory nuclei. Transection of the infraorbital and inferior alveolar nerves caused an increase of OPN-ir intensity in ipsilateral TG neurons. The staining intensity of the neuropil also increased in the trigeminal sensory nuclei ipsilateral to the neurotomy excepting laminae I and II of the MDH. The present study indicates that OPN-ir primary sensory neurons in the TG innervate encapsulated and unencapsulated corpuscular endings. Such neurons probably project their central terminals to the trigeminal sensory nuclei except for the superficial laminae of the MDH.     

Aspergillus granuloma of the trigeminal ganglion

A patient is described with aspergillus flavus granuloma of the trigeminal ganglion. The patient was effectively treated by surgical excision of most of the infected tissue followed by intensive chemotherapy with amphotericin B and flucytosine.     

Ovarian steroids regulate neuropeptides in the trigeminal ganglion

Women are more than three times as likely as men to experience migraine headaches and temporomandibular joint pain, and painful episodes are often linked to the menstrual cycle. To understand how hormone levels may influence head and face pain, we assessed expression of pain-associated neuropeptides and estrogen receptor alpha (ERalpha) during the natural estrous cycle in mice. Gene expression was analyzed in the trigeminal ganglia of cycling female mice at proestrus, estrus and diestrus using RT-PCR. Peptide/protein expression in trigeminal neurons was analyzed using immunohistochemistry. ERalpha mRNA was present at all stages and highest at estrus. ERalpha protein was present in the cytoplasm of medium-sized and small trigeminal neurons. ERalpha immunoreactive neurons were most common at diestrus. CGRP and ANP mRNAs did not change across the estrous cycle, while expression of galanin and NPY mRNAs were strongly linked to the estrous cycle. Galanin mRNA levels peaked at proestrus, when expression was 8.7-fold higher than the diestrus levels. Galanin immunoreactivity also peaked at proestrus. At proestrus, 7.5% of trigeminal neurons contained galanin, while at estrus, 6.2% of trigeminal neurons contained galanin, and at diestrus, 4.9% of trigeminal neurons contained galanin. NPY mRNA peaked at estrus, when levels were 4.7-fold higher than at diestrus. Our findings suggest that estrogen receptors in trigeminal neurons modulate nociceptive responses through effects on galanin and NPY. Variations in neuropeptide content in trigeminal neurons across the natural estrous cycle may contribute to increases in painful episodes at particular phases of the menstrual cycle.     

A procedure to deliver herpes simplex virus to the murine trigeminal ganglion

Although initial herpes simplex virus (HSV) infections of the cornea are relatively easily treated, recurrent infections following reactivation of latent virus in the sensory ganglion cells are more difficult to treat. Untreated infections may result in severe consequences, including corneal scarring, glaucoma, and encephalitis. To develop such treatments, an experimental in vivo model was needed in which HSV can be applied directly to trigeminal ganglion cells. We have previously developed such a model to examine the mechanisms of HSV spread from trigeminal neurons to corneal epithelial cells. The current paper describes in detail the technical steps required for implementation of that model. Immunocytochemistry and electron microscopy have been used to validate the efficacy of the described procedures. This technique will be useful for future in vivo studies of neurotrophic viral infections of trigeminal ganglion cells.     

Treatment of trigeminal neuralgia by glycerol gangliolysis of the trigeminal ganglion

Sixteen cases are reported treated with glycerol gangliolysis of Gasser's ganglion for trigeminal neuralgia. Glycerol was injected into Meckel's cavum from the percutaneous approach of H?rtel with radiological monitoring. In the follow-up from 6 months to 2 years in 75% of cases no recurrence of neuralgia was observed. No complications were noted. The method seems to be particularly indicated in elderly patients and those with concomitant internal diseases in whom a decompressing operation in the area of the cerebellopontine angle is connected with greater risk.     

神经导航引导经皮穿刺三叉神经半月节射频热凝治疗三叉神经痛的研究

目的 探讨神经导航引导下经皮穿刺三叉神经半月节射频热凝术在治疗三叉神经痛中的应用.方法 选取我科神经导航引导下经皮穿刺三叉神经半月节射频热凝治疗的156例患者资料.所有患者术前均经头部3D-CT薄层连续平扫,并将影像资料导入SteahhStation Tria Plus手术导航系统,图像经三维重建后,确认患侧卵圆孔作为靶点,在导航实时引导下进行卵圆孔穿刺,并行电生理测试,再次确认靶点的位置无误后,进行射频热凝治疗.结果 所有患者顺利穿刺成功,射频热凝术后,患者原有的面部疼痛均明显缓解或消失,术前患者VAS评分为9.67±0.47,术后VAS评分为0.22±0.57,差异有明显的统计学意义,且所有患者术后均无严重并发症.结论 神经导航引导下经皮穿刺三叉神经半月节射频热凝术是一种微创,安全和疗效显著的三叉神经痛外科治疗手段.     

Ascending multisynaptic pathways from the trigeminal ganglion to the anterior cingulate cortex

By means of retrograde transneuronal transport of rabies virus, ascending multisynaptic pathways from the trigeminal ganglion (TG) to the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) were identified in the rat. After rabies injection into an electrophysiologically defined trigeminal projection region of the ACC, transsynaptic labeling of second-order neurons via the medial thalamus (including the parafascicular nucleus) was located in the spinal trigeminal nucleus pars caudalis. Third-order neuron labeling occurred in the TG. Most of these TG neurons were medium- or large-sized cells giving rise to myelinated Aδ or Aβ afferent fibers, respectively. By contrast, TG neurons labeled transsynaptically from the orofacial region of the primary somatosensory cortex contained many small cells associated with unmyelinated C afferent fibers. Furthermore, the TG neurons retrogradely labeled with fluorogold injected into the mental nerve were smaller in their sizes compared to those labeled with rabies. Our extracellular unit recordings revealed that a majority of ACC neurons responded to trigeminal nerve stimulation with latencies of shorter than 20 ms. Thus, somatosensory information conveyed to the ACC by multisynaptic ascending pathways derived predominantly from myelinated primary afferents (i.e., the medial nociceptive system) and may be used to subserve affective-motivational aspects of pain. Lack of overlap with the lateral nociceptive system is notable and suggests that the medial and lateral nociceptive systems perform separate and non-overlapping functions.     

Aspartate-immunoreactive primary sensory neurons in the mouse trigeminal ganglion

Aspartate-immunoreactivity (ir) was examined in the mouse trigeminal ganglion (TG). The ir was detected in 34% of TG neurons and their cell bodies were of various sizes (mean +/- S.D. = 1,234 +/- 543 microm(2)). A triple immunofluorescence method revealed the co-expression of aspartate with calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) and parvalbumin; 22% and 14% of aspartate-immunoreactive (ir) neurons were also immunoreactive for CGRP and parvalbumin, respectively. The co-expression of aspartate with both CGRP and parvalbumin was very rare in the TG. By retrograde tracing method, half and 66% of TG neurons which innervate the vibrissa and palate, respectively, contained aspartate-ir. The co-expression of aspartate with CGRP was more common among palatal neurons (36%) compared to vibrissal neurons (22%). Aspartate-ir neurons which co-expressed parvalbumin-ir were numerous in the vibrissa (17%) but not in the palate (4%). These findings may suggest that the function of aspartate-containing TG neurons is correlated with their peripheral receptive fields.     

Lateral asymmetries in the trigeminal ganglion of the male rat

We have applied stereological methods to estimate the number and perikaryal size of primary sensory neurons in celloidin-embedded trigeminal ganglia of male albino rats, specifically looking for inter-individual and side variability. The mean total number of neurons per ganglion was 35,300, with a moderate variability among ganglia. On average, 66% of the neurons were classified as A-type and 34% as B-type. Although for individual cases there could be notable side differences in the number of neurons of each type, on a population basis these differences were not significant. Mean neuronal volume was four times larger for A- than for B-cells, and both populations exhibited a moderate variability among individuals. High intra-animal side differences were found for A-cells, which were on average a significant 23.5% larger in the right ganglia. B-cells did not show significant side differences. The distribution of individual volumes around the mean value was consistently skewed to the right, particularly in the case of A-cells, which partially overlapped with the largest B-cells. In the right ganglion the distribution of A-cells, but not of B-cells, showed a rightward bias, revealing the increase in bigger neurons. The existence of larger A-type neurons in the right trigeminal ganglion may provide a structural substrate for some somesthetically based complex behaviors which are best performed by rats using their right vibrissae.