Ablation

Wong, Edison

doi:10.1007/978-0-387-79948-3_3

Edison Wong⁵

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Synonyms

Resection

Definition

Ablation is the removal or destruction of an anatomical structure by means of surgery, disease, or other physical or energetic process. Ablation is employed as a treatment of various medical conditions and includes recent advances in technology. Surgical ablation of neuronal pathways to the globus pallidus or thalamus has been used historically to treat parkinsonism. Interventional pain experts use radiofrequency ablation of nerves in the spine to treat chronic back pain. Gamma radiation or “gamma knife surgery” is used to excise brain tumors when traditional surgical ablation is too destructive to neighboring tissues. Even with sophisticated neurosurgical techniques, ablation of any type in the nervous system may still produce unwanted motor, sensory, or cognitive-behavioral impairments.

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References and Readings

Krayenbuhl, H., Wyss, O. A., & Yasargil, M. G. (1961). Bilateral thalamotomy and pallidotomy as treatment for bilateral parkinsonism. Journal of Neurosurgery, 18, 429–444.
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Shah, R. V., Ericksen, J. J., & Lacerte, M. (2003). Interventions in chronic pain management. 2. New frontiers: Invasive nonsurgical interventions. Archives Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 84, S39–44.
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Authors and Affiliations

Center for Pain and Medical Rehab, 33 Electric Avenue, Suite B03, 01420, Fitchburg, MA, USA
Edison Wong

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Edison Wong
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Editors and Affiliations

Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, and Professor of Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry Virginia Commonwealth University – Medical Center Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, VCU, 980542, Richmond, Virginia, 23298-0542, USA
Jeffrey S. Kreutzer
Kessler Foundation Research Center, 1199 Pleasant Valley Way, West Orange, NJ, 07052, USA
John DeLuca
Professor of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, and Neurology and Neuroscience, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey – New Jersey Medical School, New Jersey, USA
John DeLuca
Independent Practice, 564 M.O.B. East, 100 E. Lancaster Ave., Wynnewood, PA, 19096, USA
Bruce Caplan

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Wong, E. (2011). Ablation. In: Kreutzer, J.S., DeLuca, J., Caplan, B. (eds) Encyclopedia of Clinical Neuropsychology. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-79948-3_3

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-79948-3_3
Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY
Print ISBN: 978-0-387-79947-6
Online ISBN: 978-0-387-79948-3
eBook Packages: Behavioral Science

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