Journal of neuroimaging : official journal of the American Society of Neuroimaging
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Percutaneous trigeminal tractotomy is an ablative procedure that can be used to treat trigeminal neuralgia in patients who have failed prior pharmacologic and surgical treatments. Using perioperative computed tomography (CT) guidance, ablation of the descending spinal trigeminal nucleus and trigeminal tract can be performed precisely to mitigate damage to surrounding structures. These patients are subsequently followed with postoperative imaging and clinical visits to assess long-term pain relief. ⋯ Intraoperative CT and postoperative MRI serve as useful modalities for confirming localization, evaluating complications, and can be used as a metric for quality control.