CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 · Arquivos Brasileiros de Neurocirurgia: Brazilian Neurosurgery 2021; 40(01): 071-077
DOI: 10.1055/s-0040-1718425
Review Article | Artigo de Revisão

Cervical Cordotomy in Terminal Cancer: Pain Relieving in Oncological Treatment

Cordotomia cervical em câncer terminal: Alívio da dor em tratamento oncológico
1   Faculdade de Medicina do ABC, Santo André, SP, Brazil
,
1   Faculdade de Medicina do ABC, Santo André, SP, Brazil
,
2   Divison of Neurosurgery, Hospital Santa Paula, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
,
2   Divison of Neurosurgery, Hospital Santa Paula, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
,
3   Department of Histology, Pontifícia Universidade Católica de São Paulo, Sorocaba, SP, Brazil
,
1   Faculdade de Medicina do ABC, Santo André, SP, Brazil
2   Divison of Neurosurgery, Hospital Santa Paula, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
4   Pontifícia Universidade Católica de São Paulo, Sorocaba, Brazil
› Author Affiliations

Abstract

Cordotomy consists in the discontinuation of the lateral spinothalamic tract (LST) in the anterolateral quadrant of the spinal cord, which aims to reduce the transference of nociceptive information in the dorsal horn of the gray matter of the spinal cord to the somatosensory cortex. The main indication is for patients with terminal cancer that have a low life expectancy. It improves the quality of life by relieving pain. The results are promising and the pain relief rate varies between 69 and 100%. Generally speaking, the complications are mostly temporary and not remarkable.

Resumo

A cordotomia consiste na descontinuação do trato espinotalâmico lateral (LST, na sigla em inglês) no quadrante anterolateral da medula espinhal, que visa reduzir a transferência de informações nociceptivas no corno dorsal da substância cinzenta da medula espinhal para o córtex somatossensorial. A principal indicação é para pacientes com câncer terminal com baixa expectativa de vida. Esse procedimento melhora a qualidade de vida, aliviando a dor. Os resultados são promissores e a taxa de alívio da dor varia entre 69 e 100%. De um modo geral, as complicações são principalmente temporárias e não são notáveis.

Note

Work developed at: Faculdade de Medicina do ABC (FMABC).




Publication History

Received: 15 April 2020

Accepted: 05 August 2020

Article published online:
26 November 2020

© 2020. Sociedade Brasileira de Neurocirurgia. This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonDerivative-NonCommercial License, permitting copying and reproduction so long as the original work is given appropriate credit. Contents may not be used for commecial purposes, or adapted, remixed, transformed or built upon. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)

Thieme Revinter Publicações Ltda.
Rua do Matoso 170, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, CEP 20270-135, Brazil

 
  • References

  • 1 Hyndman OR. Possibility of differential section of the spinothalamic tract: a clinical and histologic study. Arch Surg 1939; 38 (06) 1036
  • 2 Kanpolat Y, Akyar S, Cağlar S. Diametral measurements of the upper spinal cord for stereotactic pain procedures: experimental and clinical study. Surg Neurol 1995; 43 (05) 478-482 , discussion 482–483
  • 3 Lorenz R. Methods of Percutaneous Spino-Thalamic Tract Section. In: Krayenbühl H, Brihaye J, Loew F, Logue V, Mingrino S, Pertuiset B. et al., editors. Advances and Technical Standards in Neurosurgery [Internet]. Vienna: Springer Vienna; 1976: 123-45 . Available at: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-7091-7080-9_6
  • 4 Taren JA, Davis R, Crosby EC. Target physiologic corroboration in stereotaxic cervical cordotomy. J Neurosurg 1969; 30 (05) 569-584
  • 5 Walker AE. The spinothalamic tract in man. Arch Neurol Psychiatry 1940; 43 (02) 284-298
  • 6 White JC, Sweet WH. Pain and the neurosurgeon; a forty-year experience, Springfield, Ill.: C.C. Thomas. 1969
  • 7 Sindou M, Jeanmonod D, Mertens P. Ablative neurosurgical procedures for the treatment of chronic pain. Neurophysiol Clin 1990; 20 (05) 399-423
  • 8 Kanpolat Y, Caglar S, Akyar S, Temiz C. CT-Guided Pain Procedures for Intractable Pain in Malignancy. In: Meyerson BA, Ostertag C. editors. Advances in Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery 11. Vienna: Springer Vienna; 1995: 88-91
  • 9 Fonoff ET, Lopez WOC, de Oliveira YSA, Teixeira MJ. Microendoscopy-guided percutaneous cordotomy for intractable pain: case series of 24 patients. J Neurosurg 2016; 124 (02) 389-396
  • 10 Clarke E, O'Malley CD. Function of the spinal Cord. In: Clarke E, O'Malley CD. editors. The human brain and spinal cord. San Francisco: Norman Publishing; 1996: 291-322
  • 11 Fonoff ET, de Oliveira YSA, Lopez WOC, Alho EJL, Lara NA, Teixeira MJ. Endoscopic-guided percutaneous radiofrequency cordotomy. J Neurosurg 2010; 113 (03) 524-527
  • 12 Kanpolat Y, Deda H, Akyar S, Bilgiç S. CT-guided Percutaneous Cordotomy. In: Broggi G, Burzaco J, Hitchcock ER, Meyerson BA, Tóth S. editors. Advances in Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery 8. Vienna: Springer Vienna; 1989: 67-8
  • 13 Kanpolat Y, Akyar S, Cağlar S, Unlü A, Bilgiç S. CT-guided percutaneous selective cordotomy. Acta Neurochir (Wien) 1993; 123 (1-2): 92-96
  • 14 Kanpolat Y, Savas A, Çaglar S, Temiz C, Akyar S. Computerized tomography-guided percutaneous bilateral selective cordotomy. Neurosurg Focus 1997; 2 (01) e4
  • 15 Kanpolat Y. Cordotomy for pain. In Handbook of stereotactic and functional neurosurgery. Schulder (ed) Marcel & Dekker. New York: Basel; 2003: 459-472
  • 16 Lin PM, Gildenberg PL, Polakoff PP. An anterior approach to percutaneous lower cervical cordotomy. J Neurosurg 1966; 25 (05) 553-560
  • 17 Mullan S, Harper PV, Hekmatpanah J, Torres H, Dobbin G. Percutaneous Interruption of Spinal-Pain Tracts by Means of a Strontium 90 Needle. J Neurosurg 1963; 20 (11) 931-939
  • 18 Mullan S, Hekmatpanah J, Dobben G, Beckman F. Percutaneous, intramedullary cordotomy utilizing the unipolar anodal electrolytic lesion. J Neurosurg 1965; 22 (06) 548-553
  • 19 Rosomoff HL, Brown CJ, Sheptak P. Percutaneous radiofrequency cervical cordotomy: technique. J Neurosurg 1965; 23 (06) 639-644
  • 20 Schüller A. Über operative Durchtrennung der Rückenmarksstrange (Chordotomie). Wien Med Woch 1910; 60: 2292-2295
  • 21 Spiller WG. The location within spinal cord of the fibers of temperature and pain sensations. J Nerv Ment Dis 1905; 32: 318-320
  • 22 Spiller WG, Martin E. The treatment of persistent pain of organic origin in the lower part of body by division of the anterolateral column of spinal cord. JAMA 1912; 58: 1489-1490
  • 23 Teixeira MJ. Various functional procedures for pain. In: Gildenberg PL, Tasker RR. (eds) Textbook of stereotatic and functional neurosurgery, Part II, facial pain. New York: The Mac Graw Hill Companies Inc; 1389-1402
  • 24 Rosen S. chapter 174 - Percutaneous Cordotomy. In: Waldman SD, Bloch JI. editors. Pain Management [Internet]. Philadelphia: W.B. Saunders; 2007: 1501-17 . Available at: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780721603346501783
  • 25 Patt RE. 15 - Neurosurgical Intervention for Chronic Pain Problems. In: FROST EAM. editor. Clinical Anesthesia in Neurosurgery [Internet]. Butterworth-Heinemann. 1991: 347-81 . Available at: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780409901719500210
  • 26 Silvers JE, Campbell JN, Argoff CE. Chapter 42 - Neurostimulatory and Neuroablative Procedures. In: Argoff CE, McCleane G. editors. Pain Management Secrets (Third Edition) [Internet]. Third Edition. Philadelphia: Mosby; 2009: 323-7 . Available at: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780323040198000421
  • 27 Cherny NI. Chapter 43 - The management of cancer pain. In: Melzack R, Wall PD. editors. Handbook of Pain Management [Internet]. Philadelphia: Churchill Livingstone; 2003: 641-66 . Available at: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780443072017500473
  • 28 Sather MD, Follett KA. Chapter 19 - Neurosurgical Management of Pain. In: Benzon HT, Rathmell JP, Wu CL, Turk DC, Argoff CE. editors. Raj's Practical Management of Pain (Fourth Edition) [Internet]. Fourth Edition. Philadelphia: Mosby; 2008: 401-11 . Available at: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780323041843500224
  • 29 Jackson MB, Pounder D, Price C, Matthews AW, Neville E. Percutaneous cervical cordotomy for the control of pain in patients with pleural mesothelioma. Thorax 1999; 54 (03) 238-241
  • 30 Steel D, Kirkman MA, Thompson DNP, Aquilina K. Open thoracic anterolateral cordotomy for pain relief in children: report of 2 cases. J Neurosurg Pediatr 2017; 20 (03) 278-283
  • 31 Bain E, Hugel H, Sharma M. Percutaneous cervical cordotomy for the management of pain from cancer: a prospective review of 45 cases. J Palliat Med 2013; 16 (08) 901-907
  • 32 Lewin J, Hugel H, Sharma ML. Percutaneous cervical cordotomy for non-cancer pain in a patient with terminal esophageal carcinoma. J Pain Symptom Manage 2012; 43 (03) e8-e9
  • 33 Honey CR, Yeomans W, Isaacs A, Honey CM. The dying art of percutaneous cordotomy in Canada. J Palliat Med 2014; 17 (05) 624-628
  • 34 Crul BJP, Blok LM, van Egmond J, van Dongen RTM. The present role of percutaneous cervical cordotomy for the treatment of cancer pain. J Headache Pain 2005; 6 (01) 24-29
  • 35 Kanpolat Y, Ugur HC, Ayten M, Elhan AH. Computed Tomography-guided Percutaneous Cordotomy for Intractable Pain in Malignancy. Operative Neurosurgery. 2009 Mar 1;64(suppl_1):ONS187–94.
  • 36 Sanders M, Zuurmond W. Safety of unilateral and bilateral percutaneous cervical cordotomy in 80 terminally ill cancer patients. J Clin Oncol 1995; 13 (06) 1509-1512
  • 37 Kanpolat Y. Neurosurgical Management of Cancer Pain. In: Sindou M. editor. Practical Handbook of Neurosurgery [Internet]. Vienna: Springer Vienna; 2009. [cited 2020 Apr 7]. p. 1388–407. Available at: http://link.springer.com/10.1007/978-3-211-84820-3_82
  • 38 Tasker RR, North R. Cordotomy and Myelotomy. In: North RB, Levy RM. editors. Neurosurgical Management of Pain [Internet]. New York, NY: Springer New York; 1997: 191-220 . Available at: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4612-1938-5_15
  • 39 Gybels JM. Indications for use of neurosurgical techniques in pain control. In: Bond MR, Charlton JE, Wolf J. editors. Proceedings of the Sixt world Congress on Pain. Amsterdam: Elsevier; 475
  • 40 Osenbach RK, Burchiel KJ. Percutaneous cordotomy. In: Kaye A, Black P. (eds) Operative Neurosurgery, chapter 128. Philadelphia: ChurchillLivingstone; 1569-1579
  • 41 Raslan AM. Percutaneous Computed Tomography-guided Radiofrequency Ablation of Upper Spinal Cord Pain Pathways for Cancer-Related Pain. Operative Neurosurgery. 2008 Mar 1;62(suppl_1):ONS226–34.
  • 42 Kanpolat Y. Percutaneous stereotactic pain procedures: percutaneous cordotomy, extralemniscal myelotomy, trigeminal tractotomy-nucleotomy. In: Surgical Management of pain, Burchiel K and editors. Stuttgart: Thieme; 2002: 745-762
  • 43 Kanpolat Y. Percutaneous destructive pain procedures on the upper spinal cord and brain stem in cancer pain: CT-guided techniques, indications and results. In: Pickard JD, Akalan N, Di Rocco C, Dolenc VV, Antunes JL, Mooij JJA. et al., editors. Advances and Technical Standards in Neurosurgery [Internet]. Vienna: Springer Vienna; 2007: 147-73 . Available at: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-211-47423-5_6
  • 44 Syed ON, Komotar RJ, Winfree C. Cordotomy. In: Connolly S, Mc Khann GM, Huang J, Choudhri TF, Komotar RJ, Mocco J. (eds). Fundamentals of Operative Techniques in Neurosurgery. New York: Thieme; 2010: 635-638
  • 45 Lahuerta J, Lipton S, Wells JC. Percutaneous cervical cordotomy: results and complications in a recent series of 100 patients. Ann R Coll Surg Engl 1985; 67 (01) 41-44