Zeitschrift für Schmerz und Linderung

Abstrakt

Stellate Ganglion Block to Mitigate Facial and Upper Extremity Thalamic Pain Syndrome of an Oncological Origin

Ajax Yang1,2* and Grant H. Chen1

Stellate ganglion block (SGB) is commonly used to reduce sympathetically mediated, upper extremity pain
syndromes of various etiologies. However, the efficacy of SGB in mitigating solid thalamic malignancy induced upper
extremity and facial pain is unknown. We present two patients with severe, medication-resistant upper extremity and
facial pain due to glioblastoma multiform involving the contralateral thalamus. Both patients had significant pain relief
and satisfaction following ultrasound-guided SGB performed on the symptomatic side.
Ultrasound-guided SGB may be considered as an adjunct therapy in patients with persistent upper extremity and
facial pain due to thalamic cancer, before pursuing invasive intracranial pain reduction surgeries.