Treatment of Severe Trigeminal Headache in Patients With Pituitary Adenomas

Abstract

Abstract BACKGROUND: The incidence of headache in patients with pituitary adenomas is high, and the underlying pathological mechanisms are not completely understood. OBJECTIVE: We tested the efficacy of percutaneous ganglion block and trigeminal rhizotomy in the treatment of severe trigeminal/autonomic headache associated with pituitary tumors. METHODS: Eleven patients treated surgically for pituitary adenomas in whom intractable trigeminal headaches developed were enrolled in the study and underwent ictal cerebral single-photon emission computed tomography before starting treatment. Initially, all patients underwent a 6-month medical treatment trial. Patients who did not experience improvement in headache severity, addressed by the Headache Impact Test-6 scale, underwent trigeminal percutaneous ganglion blockade. Two patients subsequently underwent trigeminal balloon rhizotomy. RESULTS: Among the 11 patients, 6 did not have improved Headache Impact Test-6 scale scores after 6 months of treatment with medications and underwent trigeminal ganglion blockade. Significant improvement in headache severity was noted in 3 of them. Long-term response was obtained in 1 patient, and the other 2, in whom the response was transient, were then successfully treated with trigeminal rhizotomy. Cerebral single-photon emission computed tomography showed increased uptake in the thalamus/hypothalamus region in patients who responded well to manipulation of the trigeminal-hypothalamic system. CONCLUSION: Percutaneous ganglion blockade and trigeminal rhizotomy may be promising alternative options for the treatment of severe headache in selected patients with pituitary adenomas.