Stereotactic radiosurgery for trigeminal neuralgia secondary to vertebrobasilar dolichoectasia: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
Clin Neurol NeurosurgMay 18, 2026 (epub)
Clinical ResearchNeurosurgery
Bardia Hajikarimloo, Salem M Tos, Ibrahim Mohammadzadeh et al.
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In 30 seconds
This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated the efficacy and safety of stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) for trigeminal neuralgia (TN) secondary to vertebrobasilar dolichoectasia (VBD) in 90 patients. The study found an initial complete pain relief rate of 68% and adequate pain relief in 95% of cases, although pain recurrence occurred in 44% of patients at final follow-up.
Key findings
- Initial complete pain relief rate was 68% (95% CI: 6%-100%).
- At final follow-up, complete pain relief was reported in 28% (95% CI: 0%-72%).
- Pain recurrence occurred in 44% (95% CI: 7%-85%).
- Transient facial sensory disturbance was 19% (95% CI: 0%-97%).
Why it matters
Understanding the outcomes of SRS for VBD-related TN is crucial for clinicians managing this challenging condition, as it offers a minimally invasive alternative to traditional surgical approaches with varying success rates.