Ophthalmic branch radiofrequency thermocoagulation for atypical trigeminal neuralgia:a case report

BACKGROUND: Trigeminal neuralgia is an intense neuralgia involving facial areas supplied by trigeminal nerve. The pain is characterized by sudden onset, short persistence, sharp or lancinating. Trigeminal neuralgia commonly affects frontal areas, infraorbital or paranasal areas, mandibular areas and teeth. While Trigeminal neuralgia affecting merely the upper eyelid is rare. Here we report a case of atypical Trigeminal neuralgia confined to the upper eyelid. The patient was pain free during the follow-up period of 6 months after unusual ophthalmic branch radiofrequency thermocoagulation. CASE PRESENTATION: A 55-year-old female patient was diagnosed as primary trigeminal neuralgia involving the right upper eyelid. As the pain could not be controlled by drug therapy, peripheral nerve branch radiofrequency thermocoagulation was recommended. A combination of infratrochlear, supratrochlear and lacrimal radiofrequency thermocoagulation was implemented in this case. The point where the bridge of the nose abuts the supraorbital ridge and the point slightly above the lateral canthus along outer border of the orbit were selected respectively as the puncture sites. After positive diagnostic test, radiofrequency thermocoagulation of the above-mentioned nerve branches was performed respectively. The patient was pain free immediately after the treatment and during the follow-up period of 6 months. DISCUSSION: Trigeminal neuralgia is a common severe and chronic facial neuralgia which requires accurate diagnosis and effective therapy. With typical clinical symptoms, normal neurological signs, normal CT and MRI findings, the patient was diagnosed as classic trigeminal neuralgia. As the patient was drug resistant, some invasive treatments were considered. Peripheral branch neurolysis was chosen for its minimal invasiveness, convenience, low risk and not affecting further invasive treatments. According to the anatomic data and the diagnostic test results, infratrochlear, supratrochlear and lacrimal nerve were responsible, therefore, an unusual combination of infratrochlear, supratrochlear, and lacrimal radiofrequency thermocoagulation was implemented for this patient. CONCLUSIONS: Radiofrequency thermocoagulation is an effective treatment option for trigeminal neuralgia. Peripheral branch radiofrequency thermocoagulation for trigeminal neuralgia should be considered preferentially due to its minimal invasiveness and convenience. Furthermore, as the sensory innervation of the upper eyelid is complex, the knowledge of peripheral distribution of trigeminal nerve is essential

Magnetic and Electrical Properties of Heusler Alloy Co 2 MnSi Thin Films Grown on Ge(001) Substrates via an Al 2 O 3 Tunnel Barrier

Heusler alloy Co 2 MnSi/Al 2 O 3 heterostructures on single-crystal Ge(001) substrates were prepared through magnetron sputtering for both Co 2 MnSi and Al 2 O 3 thin films as a promising candidate for future-generation semiconductor-based spintronic devices. Sufficiently high saturation magnetization 781 emu/cm 3 was obtained for the Co 2 MnSi thin film. Furthermore, the current versus voltage (I-V) characteristics showed that the tunneling conduction was dominant in Co 2 MnSi/Al 2 O 3 (2 nm)/Ge(001) heterostructure and the I-V characteristics were slightly dependent on temperature. The conductance versus voltage (dI/dV-V) characteristics indicated that the potential barrier height at the Co 2 MnSi/Al 2 O 3 interface was almost equal to that at the n-Ge/Al 2 O 3 interface for the prepared Co 2 MnSi/Al 2 O 3 /Ge(001) heterostructure

Magnetic and Electrical Properties of Heusler Alloy Co 2

Heusler alloy Co2MnSi/Al2O3 heterostructures on single-crystal Ge(001) substrates were prepared through magnetron sputtering for both Co2MnSi and Al2O3 thin films as a promising candidate for future-generation semiconductor-based spintronic devices. Sufficiently high saturation magnetization 781 emu/cm3 was obtained for the Co2MnSi thin film. Furthermore, the current versus voltage (I-V) characteristics showed that the tunneling conduction was dominant in Co2MnSi/Al2O3 (2 nm)/Ge(001) heterostructure and the I-V characteristics were slightly dependent on temperature. The conductance versus voltage (dI/dV-V) characteristics indicated that the potential barrier height at the Co2MnSi/Al2O3 interface was almost equal to that at the n-Ge/Al2O3 interface for the prepared Co2MnSi/Al2O3/Ge(001) heterostructure