Mesencephalotomy for intractable pain due to malignant disease

40 mesencephalotomies were carried out on 38 patients with intractable pain secondary to malignant disease. In 2 patients with bilateral pain, a bilateral mesencephalotomy was required. Most of the patients had pain in the head, neck or upper trunk secondary to carcinoma of the nasopharynx, jaw, tongue, or neck.