Long-term outcome of gamma knife surgery using a retrogasserian petrous bone target for classic trigeminal neuralgia.

Background: Gamma knife surgery (GKS) is the prevailing method for treatment of medically intractable trigeminal neuralgia (TN), although there are some technical differences among radiosurgical centers. We assessed the long-term outcomes of GKS using retrogasserian petrous bone targeting and evaluated factors associated with the clinical outcomes.

Methods: Between December 2003 and June 2009, a total of 91 GKS treatments were performed in 90 patients with classic TN.