Multiplanar reformat and volume rendering of a multidetector CT scan for path planning a fluoroscopic procedure on Gasserian ganglion block-a preliminary report.

In the treatment of trigeminal neuralgia, Gasserian block under fluoroscopical guidance may be difficult because of anatomic variability, and difficulty in identification of the foramen ovale. We introduce how to use three-dimensional CT in the preprocedural planning. We determine the skull-rotation angle in which the foramen ovale is best visualized, the relationship (distance, angle) between the virtual puncture point and anatomical landmarks, and the distance between the virtual puncture point and the foramen.