Percutaneous trigeminal thermorhizotomy in treatment of malignant facial pain

Fifty-eight patients suffering from intractable pain in the trigeminal distribution due to neoplasms of the intracranial or facial regions underwent controlled percutaneous coagulation of the Gasserian ganglion (trigeminal thermorhizotomy). Of them, 35 were evaluated at varying time intervals from the intervention (mean: 7 months). While pain was completely relieved in 71 per cent of cases at discharge, the follow-up examination was consistent with 49 per cent of analgesias. The rationale of percutaneous thermocoagulation in malignant facial pain is given and the pertinent literature summarized.