Punctate midline myelotomy for the relief of visceral cancer pain

Abstract

These findings provide corroborating clinical evidence for the existence of a newly recognized midline posterior column pathway that mediates the perception of visceral pelvic and abdominal pain. Preliminary data indicate that significant pain relief can be obtained following PMM with minimal neurological morbidity and suggest that the procedure may provide an alternative treatment modality for cancer-related pain in patients in whom adequate pain control with narcotics cannot be achieved or narcotic side effects cannot be tolerated.