Ultrasound treatment for severe cancer pain in head and neck

This trial is testing a procedure called stereotactic MRI-guided focused ultrasound mesencephalotomy to treat severe cancer pain in the head, neck, and arm areas. The procedure uses focused ultrasound waves guided by MRI imaging to create a small, precise lesion in a part of the brain that processes pain signals. This treatment is being studied for people whose pain has not improved with standard cancer medications, including strong opioids.

Cancer pain in the head, neck, and arm regions is notoriously difficult to treat with medications alone and is not suitable for traditional surgical pain-relief options. This new ultrasound technique offers a less invasive alternative that uses advanced imaging to target pain pathways in the brain with extreme precision.