Percutaneous computed tomography-guided transdiscal low cervical cordotomy for cancer pain as a method to avoid sleep apnea

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17 Scopus citations

Abstract

Objective: Study of percutaneous computed tomography (CT)-guided transdiscal low cervical cordotomy undertaken to treat pain in cancer patients. Methods: At the Department of Neurosurgery, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt, 8 cancer pain patients, with either impaired pulmonary function or a previous cordotomy on an opposite side (sleep apnea was a feared complication) that prevented the possibility of undergoing a C1-2 cordotomy, underwent a percutaneous CT-guided transdiscal low cervical cordotomy (C4-5 or C5-6) to treat cancer pain. Results: Seven patients experienced initial improvement. One patient re-experienced pain within 2 weeks and 1 patient experienced no pain relief. In 6 patients in whom the cordotomy procedure was completed, satisfactory or complete pain relief, throughout a 6-month follow-up period was reported. In contrast, in 2 patients in whom the cordotomy was not completed there was no persistent pain relief. Conclusion: Percutaneous CT-guided cordotomy remains a successful procedure to control pain in cancer patients, and is an affordable viable option under circumstances where economic disadvantage is an overriding determinate.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)159-164
Number of pages6
JournalStereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery
Volume83
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 2005

Keywords

  • Cancer pain
  • Cervical cordotomy
  • Percutaneous computed tomography-guided cervical cordotomy
  • Sleep apnea

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Surgery
  • Clinical Neurology

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