Regression of central sensitization after bilateral focused ultrasound medial thalamotomies in atypical orofacial pain? – a case report

Orofacial pain syndromes are a heterogenous group of pain disorders resulting in substantial morbidity. They are often refractory to medical treatment and can have an enormous impact on quality of life. Central sensitization plays a major role in chronic pain disorders and poses a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge. Transcranial magnetic resonance-guided focused ultrasound bilateral medial thalamotomy is an emerging treatment in chronic pain syndromes with central sensitization. We here describe a 76-year-old female patient with a long history of atypical orofacial pain and central sensitization with a significant, but temporary regression of the latter after medial thalamotomy using bilateral focused ultrasound.