Cingulotomy for Intractable Pain: A Systematic Review of an Underutilized Procedure

Pain management is a critical aspect of cancer treatment and palliative care, where pain can significantly impact quality of life. Chronic pain, which affects a significant number of people worldwide, remains a prevalent and challenging symptom for patients. While medications and psychosocial support systems play a role in pain management, surgical and radiological interventions, including cingulotomy, may be necessary for refractory cases. Cingulotomy, a neurosurgical procedure targeting the cingulate gyrus, aims to disrupt neural pathways associated with emotional processing and pain sensation, thereby reducing the affective component of pain. Although cingulotomy has shown promise in providing pain relief, particularly in patients refractory to traditional medical treatment, its use has declined in recent years due to advancements in non-destructive therapies and concerns about long-term efficacy and patient suitability. Modern stereotactic methods have enhanced the precision and safety of cingulotomy, reducing associated complications and mortality rates. Despite these advancements, questions remain regarding its long-term efficacy and suitability for patients with limited life expectancy, particularly those with cancer. A comprehensive systematic review was conducted following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) 2020 guidelines, aimed at providing insights into the efficacy, potential benefits, and limitations of this neurosurgical procedure in managing intractable pain. An electronic search of PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and Web of Science was conducted with open database coverage dates. The review focused on outcomes such as pain intensity and quality of life. The inclusion criteria encompassed human studies of any age experiencing intractable cancer or non-cancer pain, with cingulotomy as the primary intervention. Various study designs were considered, including observational studies, clinical trials, and reviews focusing on pain and cingulotomy. Exclusion criteria included non-human studies, non-peer-reviewed articles, and studies unrelated to pain or cingulotomy. This review highlights the efficacy of stereotactic anterior cingulotomy in managing intractable pain, particularly when conventional treatments fail. Advanced MRI-guided techniques enhance precision, but challenges like cost and expertise persist. Studies included in this review showed significant pain relief with minimal adverse effects, although the optimal target remains debated. Neurocognitive risks exist, but outcomes are generally favorable. Expected adverse events include transient effects like urinary incontinence and confusion. Reoperation may be necessary for inadequate pain control, with a median pain relief duration of three months to a year. A double stereotactic cingulotomy appears to be safe and effective for refractory pain.