Stereotactic hypothalamotomy for the alleviation of pain in malignant tumors

✍ Scribed by David Fairman

• Book ID: 102437481
• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 1973
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 211 KB
• Volume: 5
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0022-4790
• DOI: 10.1002/jso.2930050202

✦ Synopsis

Abstract

In this paper the results of hypothalamotomy in 12 cases out of our series of 155 consecutive thalamic tractotomies are discussed. Satisfactory relief of pain was obtained in 80% of the cases with no operative mortality and a 10% of reversible complications. The pain relief lasted for the complete period of survival. A marked increase of appetite was observed in six of the cases with a definite improvement of the cachectic syndrome. A working hypothesis is presented based on phylogenetic and neurophysiological experimental work.