Open Anterolateral Cordotomy for Cancer Pain: Indication, Efficacy, and Safety: A Systematic Literature Review

J Clin Med. 2026 Mar 10;15(6):2111. doi: 10.3390/jcm15062111.

ABSTRACT

Background/Objectives: Open anterolateral cordotomy (OALC) is a surgical intervention that has been performed to treat patients with persistent pain for more than a century. In recent decades, its application has been reduced in favor of other less invasive treatments. The present article aims to define indications, safety, and the efficacy profile of this procedure for the contemporary neurosurgeon.

Methods: A systematic review of articles published from 2010 to 2025 has been performed. Only patients who underwent OALC for cancer pain were included.

Results: Eleven articles were included in the systematic review for a total of 33 patients. Adequate pain response was obtained in 87.9% of cases. In 21.2% of patients, some kind of complication was reported, but they persisted only in three patients (9%). A single case of mirror pain was described.

Conclusions: OALC is a procedure still performed in selected cases of persistent cancer pain with a favorable safety and efficacy profile.

PMID:41899036 | DOI:10.3390/jcm15062111