AUSTIN, Texas, Jan. 6, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Austin CyberKnife recently completed the successful treatment of a patient suffering from trigeminal neuralgia using stereotactic radiosurgery.
Also known as the “suicide disease,” TN can occur when a blood vessel compresses the trigeminal nerve, the largest nerve in the head, causing erratic episodes of unbearable, intense electroshock-like pain in the face. The unpredictable pain can be triggered by simple actions such as chewing or talking.
Some TN cases are misdiagnosed as a dental problem due to rarity of the condition. Those suffering from TN will often seek help from numerous health care professionals before a final diagnosis is made.
Former TN patient Gloria R. experienced this firsthand. She underwent several invasive procedures in an attempt to relieve her pain before finally receiving the correct diagnosis.
“Dentists could not locate the source of the pain, despite root canals and pulled teeth,” she said. “I was sent to a periodontist, who thought I needed to see a neurologist and at last I had an answer, trigeminal neuralgia.”
Austin CyberKnife successfully treated Gloria’s recurring pain with CyberKnife®, an advanced radiosurgery system primarily used to treat benign and malignant tumors throughout the body. To treat TN, the CyberKnife precisely focuses and delivers high-dose radiation to a segment of the trigeminal nerve to interrupt pain-causing fibers. The pinpoint accuracy of CyberKnife spares healthy tissue, and some patients can experience a reduction in pain immediately following treatment. Stereotactic radiosurgery for TN is typically a one-time, outpatient procedure completed within an hour.
“While medication is usually a first-line treatment, it may not always be enough,” Austin CyberKnife radiation oncologist and Gloria’s treating physician Dr. Stephen Brown said. “Thanks to advancements in radiosurgery, CyberKnife offers trigeminal neuralgia patients a nonsurgical option that results in significant, lasting pain relief and in some cases elimination of pain.”
Now in her 70s, Gloria looks forward to spending more time with her family.
“I no longer worry about a kiss from my family giving me pain,” she said. “My balance has returned and I no longer use a cane or a walker. Every day brings a joy that I thought had escaped me.”
A service of University Medical Center Brackenridge, Austin CyberKnife is located at 1400 N. IH 35, Austin, Texas 78701. For more information, call (512) 324-8060.
Contact:Sarah Tiambeng, Zehnder Communications, (504) 214-0042, saraht@z-comm.com
Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150105/167152
To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/austin-cyberknife-provides-relief-for-suicide-disease-using-stereotactic-radiosurgery-300016217.html
SOURCE Austin CyberKnife
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