Stereotactic radiofrequency ventral posterolateral thalamotomy for cancer pain
Palliative neuroablative procedures are often performed for medication-refractory cancer pain. A 57-year-old female with lung carcinoma and metastases to the brachial plexus and cervical spine with severe neuropathic pain affecting the right upper limb was referred to the authors’ functional neurosurgery service. This video shows her treatment with an awake stereotactic radiofrequency thalamotomy targeting the left ventral posterolateral nucleus. Postoperatively, she experienced immediate and complete resolution of the pain. Palliative radiofrequency thalamotomy can be a viable and effective procedure for somatotopically distributed regional cancer pain. Abteen Mostofi, PhD, MRCS,1,2 Ali Rezaei Haddad, MBChB, MRCS,1,2 Fotios Bourlogiannis, MD,2 and Erlick A. C. Pereira, DM, FRCS(SN)1,2 1Neurosciences Research Centre, St. George’s, University of London; and 2St. George’s University Hospital, London, United Kingdom
