Princeton Brain & Spine Care Surgeon Performs Rare Microvascular Decompression

Internet puts patient with rare neurological disorder on path to
treatment and recovery.
PRINCETON, N.J.--(Business Wire)--
Princeton Brain & Spine Care announced today that Mark McLaughlin,
M.D., recently performed a microvascular decompression, successfully
treating a patient with glossopharyngeal neuralgia (GPN). Both the
condition and procedure are exceedingly rare. GPN affects
approximately 0.7 per 100,000 people per year and only a handful of
surgeons worldwide are trained in microvascular decompression.

Characterized by brief but excruciating pain at the base of the
tongue which can radiate to the ear and neck, GPN is caused by
elongated blood vessels that put pressure on the nerves of the face
and throat.

Dr. McLaughlin performed the surgery on Natalie Cameron of
Montclair, NJ. The condition's rarity made it hard to diagnose and Ms.
Cameron saw a variety of specialists before a visit to the emergency
room confirmed the disease. The only treatment option presented to her
was surgery to sever the nerve, which carried a high risk of tongue
paralysis, and loss of eyesight and hearing.

With her condition untreated, Ms. Cameron refused to eat, drink,
talk or move for fear of provoking another spasm. As her family
watched Ms. Cameron's health decline they turned to the internet.

Though awash in websites that list symptoms, medical conditions
and physician credentials, the internet is rarely used to actually
find a doctor. But their search led them to a procedure called
microvascular decompression and its pioneer, Peter Jannetta, M.D., at
the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. The jump was quickly
made to Dr. McLaughlin who served his residency under Dr. Jannetta.

The surgery was performed at University Medical Center at
Princeton.

"Despite the severity of the loop in Ms. Cameron's blood vessel,
the surgery was a success and she's expected to make a full recovery,"
says Dr. McLaughlin.

Ms. Cameron couldn't be happier. "Dr. McLaughlin is the epitome of
what a doctor should be," says Ms. Cameron. "He didn't hesitate to
take my case even though his practice doesn't accept my insurance and
he made sure I thoroughly understood the disease and the procedure to
treat it. I'm pain free and have my life back."

Princeton Brain & Spine Care offers its patients a progressive
blend of world-class skill and a unique 'Patient First' philosophy.
Its physicians provide complete general adult neurosurgical and spine
care leading the region in minimally invasive and complex spine
surgery. Its surgeons have excelled in top neurosurgical training
programs and have received specialized training around the world.
Innovators in the field, they stand at the forefront of scientific
research and development of new surgical techniques and tools.
Princeton Brain & Spine Care has four locations in New Jersey and
Pennsylvania.

Princeton Brain & Spine Care
Mark McLaughlin, M.D., 609-921-9001
www.princetonbrainandspine.com

Copyright Business Wire 2008