Long-term effects of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) in patients with chronic tinnitus.
Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg
; 132(4): 566-9, 2005 Apr.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-15806046
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES:
The pathophysiologic mechanisms of idiopathic tinnitus remain unclear. Recent studies demonstrated focal brain activation in the auditory cortex of patients with chronic tinnitus. Low-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is able to reduce cortical hyperexcitability. STUDYDESIGN:
Fusing of the individual PET-scan with the structural MRI-scan (T1, MPRAGE) allowed us to identify exactly the area of increased metabolic activity in the auditory cortex of patients with chronic tinnitus. With the use of a neuronavigational system, this target area was exactly stimulated by the figure 8-shaped magnetic coil. In a prospective study, rTMS (110% motor threshold; 1 Hz; 2000 stimuli/day over 5 days) was performed using a placebo controlled cross-over design. Patients were blinded regarding the stimulus condition. For the sham stimulation a specific sham-coil system was used. Fourteen patients were followed for 6 months. Treatment outcome was assessed with a specific tinnitus questionnaire (Goebel and Hiller).SETTING:
Tertiary referral medical center.RESULTS:
Increased metabolic activation in the auditory cortex was verified in all patients. After 5 days of verum rTMS, a highly significant improvement of the tinnitus score was found whereas the sham treatment did not show any significant changes. The treatment outcome after 6 months still demonstrated significant reduction of tinnitus score.CONCLUSION:
These preliminary results demonstrate that neuronavigated rTMS offers new possibilities in the understanding and treatment of chronic tinnitus.
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Colección:
01-internacional
Base de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Corteza Auditiva
/
Acúfeno
/
Neuronavegación
/
Estimulación Magnética Transcraneal
Tipo de estudio:
Clinical_trials
/
Diagnostic_studies
/
Observational_studies
/
Prognostic_studies
Límite:
Adult
/
Female
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Humans
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Male
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Middle aged
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg
Año:
2005
Tipo del documento:
Article
País de afiliación:
Alemania