Computerized tomography cisternography of the trigeminal nerve for stereotactic radiosurgery

A-60-year-old man with medically intractable left-sided maxillary division trigeminal neuralgia had severe cardiac disease, was dependent on an intern al defibrillator and could not undergo magnetic resonance imaging. The pati ent was successfully treated using computerized tomography (CT) cisternogra phy and gamma knife radiosurgery. The patient was pain free 2 months after GKS. Contrast cisternography with CT scanning is an excellent alternative i maging modality for the treatment of patients with intractable trigeminal n euralgia who rue unable to undergo MR imaging.