Gamma Knife Radiosurgery of the Superior Laryngeal Neuralgia: A Report of 3 Cases.

BACKGROUND: Superior laryngeal neuralgia (SLN) is a relatively rare disorder that is characterized by neck pain. There are only a few reported cases and treatment options for SLN to date. In this study, we report 3 patients with SLN who were treated with Gamma Knife radiosurgery (GKRS) at the time of diagnosis.

CASE DESCRIPTION: For all 3 patients, GKRS was administered using a 4-mm collimator to deliver a single shot of 80 Gy of radiation (100% isodose line). The target was set at the jugular foramen where the vagus and glossopharyngeal nerves emerge from the skull. Follow-up assessments were performed at 32, 31, and 30 months after GKRS. The 3 patients described pain relief at 3 months, 2 days, and 6 weeks. None of the patients developed neurologic deficits during the follow-up period.

CONCLUSIONS: This preliminary report provides encouraging evidence that GKRS represents an effective, safe, and relatively durable noninvasive treatment option for patients with SLN.