Stimulation of the Posterior Hypothalamus for Treatment of Chronic Intractable Cluster Headaches: First Reported Series

Abstract

To describe the results of deep brain stimulation of the ipsilateral posterior hypothalamus for the treatment of drug-resistant chronic cluster headaches (CHs). A technique for electrode placement is reported. Because recent functional studies suggested hypothalamic dysfunction as the cause of CH bouts, we explored the therapeutic effectiveness of posterior hypothalamic stimulation for the treatment of CHs. Five patients with intractable chronic CHs were treated with long-term, high-frequency, electrical stimulation of the posterior hypothalamus. Electrodes were stereotactically implanted in the following position: 3 mm behind the midcommissural point, 5 mm below the midcommissural point, and 2 mm lateral to the midline. Since this treatment, all five patients continue to be pain-free after 2 to 22 months of follow-up monitoring. Two of the five patients have remained pain-free without any medication, whereas three of the five required low doses of methysergide (two patients) or verapamil (one patient). No adverse side effects of chronic, high-frequency, hypothalamic stimulation have been observed, and we have not encountered any acute complications resulting from the implant procedure. There have been no tolerance phenomena. These preliminary results indicate a role for posterior hypothalamic stimulation, which was demonstrated to be safe and effective, in the treatment of drug-resistant chronic CHs. These data point to a central pathogenesis for chronic CHs.