Insights
Neurosurgery & Trigeminal Neuralgia Insights
Explore expert articles and patient-friendly guides on trigeminal neuralgia, skull base tumors, and neurosurgery in New York City. Stay informed with trusted insights from Dr. Ramesh Babu.
Living with Facial Pain: How to Recognize Trigeminal Neuralgia vs. Other Conditions
Living with facial pain can be overwhelming, especially when it’s hard to tell whether it’s trigeminal neuralgia or another condition. In this guide, Dr. Ramesh Babu, a trusted NYC neurosurgeon, explains how to recognize the symptoms of trigeminal neuralgia, how it differs from other causes of facial pain, and what treatment options are available.
Trigeminal Neuralgia Explained: Symptoms, Diagnosis, and the Latest Treatment Options
Learn how trigeminal neuralgia is diagnosed and treated—from medications to MVD, radiosurgery, and rhizotomy—with expert care in New York City.
Microvascular Decompression vs. Gamma Knife
Compare microvascular decompression and Gamma Knife for TN—candidates, results, recovery, and risks—so you can choose the right option with confidence.
Skull Base Tumors: Early Symptoms, Types, and How They Are Treated
Learn early symptoms of skull base tumors and how they’re diagnosed and treated—from EEA to radiosurgery and proton therapy—with expert NYC care.
“Long-term outcome after operation for trigeminal neuralgia in patients with posterior fossa tumors”
Fred G. Barker II, M.D., Peter J. Jannetta, M.D., Ramesh P. Babu, M.D., Spiros Pomonis, M.D., David J. Bissonette, P.A.-C., and Hae Dong Jho, M.D., Ph.D.
During a 20-year period, 26 patients with typical symptoms of trigeminal neuralgia were found to have posterior fossa tumors at operation. These cases included 14 meningiomas, eight acoustic neurinomas, two epidermoid tumors, one angiolipoma, and one ependymoma. The median patient age was 60 years and 69% of the patients were women. Sixty-five percent of the symptoms were left sided. The median preoperative duration of symptoms was 5 years. The distribution of pain among the three divisions of the trigeminal nerve was similar to that found in patients with trigeminal neuralgia who did not have tumors; however, more divisions tended to be involved in the tumor patients. The mean postoperative follow-up period was 9 years.
At operation, the root entry zone of the trigeminal nerve was examined for vascular cross-compression in 21 patients. Vessels compressing the nerve at the root entry zone were observed in all patients examined. Postoperative pain relief was frequent and long lasting. Using Kaplan—Meier methods the authors estimated excellent relief in 81% of the patients 10 years postoperatively, with partial relief in an additional 4%.
