Trigeminal Neuralgia Caused by Cerebellopontine Angle Arteriovenous Malformation Treated With Gamma Knife Radiosurgery

J Craniofac Surg. 2016 Jan;27(1):e55-7. doi: 10.1097/SCS.0000000000002310.

Abstract

Trigeminal neuralgia is a facial pain syndrome characterized as sudden onset and lightening-like sensation over somatosensorial branch(es) of fifth cranial nerve. Rarely, some underlying diseases or disorders could be diagnosed, such as multiple sclerosis, brain tumors, and vascular malformations. The authors present a 47-year-old man with trigeminal neuralgia over left V2 and V3 dermatomes. He had a previous transarterial embolization and long use of carbamazepine with partial response to treatment. Gamma knife radiosurgery (GKR) was planned. A marginal dose of 15 Gy was given to 50% isodose line. His pain was relieved by GKR in 1.5 years. Treatment of posterior fossa arteriovenous malformations causing trigeminal neuralgia, with GKR has a very limited use in the literature. It, however, is obvious that success rate as pain relief, in a very challenging field of functional neurosurgery, is satisfactory. Large series, however, are in need to make a more comprehensive statement about efficacy and safety of the procedure in these pathologies.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Analgesics, Non-Narcotic / therapeutic use
  • Arteriovenous Fistula / complications*
  • Arteriovenous Fistula / surgery
  • Carbamazepine / therapeutic use
  • Cerebellopontine Angle / blood supply*
  • Cerebellopontine Angle / surgery
  • Embolization, Therapeutic / methods
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Intracranial Arteriovenous Malformations / complications*
  • Intracranial Arteriovenous Malformations / surgery
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neurosurgery / methods
  • Radiosurgery / methods*
  • Trigeminal Nerve / surgery
  • Trigeminal Neuralgia / etiology*
  • Trigeminal Neuralgia / surgery

Substances

  • Analgesics, Non-Narcotic
  • Carbamazepine