The role of percutaneous cordotomy in the treatment of chronic cancer pain.

The authors report on 53 cervical percutaneous cordotomies in 52 patients suffering from chronic unilateral cancer pain. The evaluation of the results is based upon the patient's report of complete pain relief. Immediate and long term pain relief as well as complications and mortality rate are analysed. Excellent surgical results were obtained in 73% after one week and in 63% 15 weeks after operation. The topographical distribution of pain seems to influence the pain relief; the location of the cancer does influence the nature of the complications. Furthermore, the occurrence of other pain syndromes, controlateral to or above the level of analgesia, is evaluated. This appears to be an important limitation of the usefulness of cordotomy.