• Journal of Dental Anesthesia and Pain Medicine
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• 제21권6호
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• pp.565-574
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• 2021

Background: Trigeminal neuralgia (TN) is a severe form of pain that affects the daily activities of a patient. Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) therapy is an emerging option for the treatment of acute and chronic pain. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of TENS therapy as an adjunct to drug therapy for the treatment of TN. Methods: A total of 52 patients diagnosed with TN according to the International Classification of Headache Disorders (version 3) were included. Each patient was randomized to either the TENS or placebo TENS groups. Intervention was given in continuous mode and 100-Hz frequency for 20 mins biweekly for 6 weeks. Parameters were measured at baseline, TENS completion and 3 months, 6 months, and 1 year of follow up. The parameters observed were mean carbamazepine dose, mean visual analog scale (VAS) score, mean present pain intensity (PPI) score, and functional outcome. Non-parametric analyses, one-way ANOVA and the Kruskal-Wallis test were applied for intragroup comparisons, while the Mann-Whitney U test and independent t-test were used for intergroup comparisons of variables. The chi-square test was applied to analyze categorical data. Results: Compared to the placebo TENS group, the mean dose of carbamazepine in the TENS group was significantly reduced at TENS completion, as well as at 6 months and 1 year follow up. Changes in mean VAS score, mean PPI score, and functional outcome did not show significant differences between the groups (P>0.05). Conclusion: TENS therapy does not lead to any changes in pain levels but it may reduce the mean dose of carbamazepine when used as an adjunct treatment in patients with TN.

• Annals of Clinical Neurophysiology
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• 제19권2호
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• pp.145-147
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• 2017

Trigeminal neuralgia (TN) is generally characterized by lancinating, unilateral, paroxysmal pain occurring in the distribution of the fifth cranial nerve. TN is diagnosed clinically based on the typical patient history, negative findings in a neurologic examination, and the response to medication. Idiopathic TN is the most common type, but TN can result from vascular malformation, compression, trauma, neoplasm, multiple sclerosis, or inflammation. We report a TN case diagnosed as recurrent trigeminal neuritis of the maxillary branch confirmed by magnetic resonance imaging.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• 제12권1호
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• pp.119-122
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• 1999

Glossopharyngeal neuralgia is a rare syndrome that involves episodic bursts of pain in the sensory distributuion of the ninth cranial nerve. The nature of the pain is characterized by excruciating shock-like pain in the region of the tonsillar fossa or pharynx and can radiate to the ear or the angle of the jaw. Like trigeminal neuralgia, glossopharyngeal neuralgia typically responds to anticonvulsant agents such as carbamazepine. However, dose of carbamazepine needs to be increased gradually to avoid side effects. If the patient can not tolerate until effective carbamazepine level is reached, phenytoin can be administered intravenously at the same time that oral carbamazepine therapy is begun. We present fifty-three year old female patient suffering from glossopharyngeal neuralgia who did not respond to initial carbamazepine therapy, but responded to concomitant intravenous infusion of phenytoin.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• 제4권2호
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• pp.191-195
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• 1991

Trigeminal neuralgia(tic douloureux) is a common clinical syndrome which is characterized by a painful facial condition. The clinician must be able to identify a patient with tic douloureux because this most severe pain syndrome can almost always be controlled. Gangliolysis is the most recent development in the long history of destructive procedures for tic douloureux. H$\ddot{a}$kason pioneered a technique of placing a needle for injecting glycerol into the trigeminal cistern which he found safe and effective for pain control. In August at 1991, I injected pure sterile glycerol three times into the cistern of trigeminal ganglion using the H$\ddot{a}$rtel approach to relieve a patient from pain. The results were as follows; 1) The response of pain relief to a glycerol gangliolysis was excellent. 2) As a complication, there were mild sensory deficit, transient headache and herpes simplex around the mouth angle.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• 제56권2호
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• pp.149-151
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• 2014

The cerebello-pontine angle lipomas causing trigeminal neuralgia or hemifacial spasm are rare. A lipoma causing glossopharyngel neuralgia is also very rare. A 46-year-old woman complained of 2-year history of severe right throat pain, with ipsilateral episodic otalgic pain. The throat pain was described as an episodic lancinating character confined to the throat. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging revealed a suspicious offending posterior inferior cerebellar artery (PICA) compressing lower cranial nerves including glossopharyngeal nerve. At surgery, a soft, yellowish mass ($2{\times}3{\times}3mm$ in size) was found incorporating the lateral aspect of proximal portion of 9th and 10th cranial nerves. Only microvascular decompression of the offending PICA was performed. Additional procedure was not performed. Her severe lancinating pain remained unchanged, immediate postoperatively. The neuralgic pain disappeared over a period of several weeks. In this particular patient with a fatty neurovascular lump causing glossopharyngeal neuralgia, microvascular decompression of offending vessel alone was enough to control the neuralgic pain.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• 제51권5호
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• pp.276-280
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• 2012

Objective : Gamma knife radiosurgery (GKRS) is the least invasive surgical option for patients with trigeminal neuralgia (TN). However, the indications and long term outcomes of GKRS are still controversial. Additionally, a series with uniform long-term follow-up data for all patients has been lacking. In the present study, the authors analyzed long-term outcomes in a series of patients with TN who underwent a single GKRS treatment followed by a minimum follow-up of 60 months. Methods : From 1994 to 2009, 40 consecutive patients with typical, intractable TN received GKRS. Among these, 22 patients were followed for >60 months. The mean maximum radiation dose was 77.1 Gy (65.2-83.6 Gy), and the 4 mm collimator was used to target the radiation to the root entry zone. Results : The mean age was 61.5 years (25-84 years). The mean follow-up period was 92.2 months (60-144 months). According to the pain intensity scale in the last follow-up, 6 cases were grades I-II (pain-free with or without medication; 27.3%) and 7 cases were grade IV-V (<50% pain relief with medication or no pain relief; 31.8%). There was 1 case (facial dysesthesia) with post-operative complications (4.54%). Conclusion : The long-term results of GKRS for TN are not as satisfactory as those of microvascular decompression and other conventional modalities, but GKRS is a safe, effective and minimally invasive technique which might be considered a first-line therapy for a limited group of patients for whom a more invasive kind of treatment is unsuitable.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• 제37권3호
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• pp.170-174
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• 2012

The objective of this article was to present two nonodontogenic conditions that may mimic odontogenic toothache: trigeminal neuralgia and burning mouth syndrome. Two cases are presented in which one is related to the upper left second premolar and the other is related to the upper left first molar. Both showed pain when chewing. These two cases highlight the complexities involved in diagnosing nonodontogenic toothache. This article demonstrates the importance of having a thorough knowledge of both odontogenic and nonodontogenic toothache, as well as the need for careful evaluation of the nature of the pain and history, clinical and radiographic examinations.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• 제43권4호
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• pp.186-189
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• 2008

Objective : We assessed the surgical results of percutaneous balloon compression in 50 patients with idiopathic trigeminal neuralgia. Methods : Fifty patients with follow-up period of more than 12 months were retrospectively analyzed. The mean follow-up period was 42 months (range, 12-82). The mean age was 65.8 years (range, 27-83). Seventeen patients (34%) had other previous surgical procedures. The balloon was inflated by injecting radio-contrast media under brief general anesthesia according to Mullan’s technique. The mean inflating time was 88 seconds (range, 60-120). The whole procedure took about 20 minutes. Results : We reported excellent and good results in 70% of the cases, poor in 6% as annoying dysesthesia, recurrence in 16%, and 8% failure due to technical deficiencies. Forty-six patients (92%) were initially relieved of their pain. There were permanent motor weakness of the masseter muscle in 4% of patients and transitory diplopia in 8%. Neither anesthesia dolorosa nor keratitis occurred. Almost all patients (92%) were discharged postoperatively within two days. Conclusion : These results indicate that balloon compression would be an effective method with acceptable morbidity, technically, It can be performed rapidly and simply in the treatment of idiopathic trigeminal neuralgia.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• 제33권4호
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• pp.353-374
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• 2008

비록 신경병성 동통이 환자에게 주는 심리적 부담에 대하여 잘 알고 있지만 동통의 역학조사에 대해서는 아직 잘 알려져 있지 않다. 신경병성 동통의 정확한 발병률도 잘 알려져 있지 않은 데, 이는 여러가지 새로운 의료기기가 개발되었지만 정확한 진단을 하지 못하고 있으며, 적절한 치료를 제대로 하지 못하기 때문이다. 본 연구의 목적은 한국내 모든 종류의 병원에서 치료한 몇 가지 특정 신경병성 동통에 대하여 역학조사를 시행하는 것이다. 2003년 1월부터 2005년 12월까지 건강보험심사평가원(심평원)의 전산에 입력된 환자들을 대상으로 조사한 신경병성 동통 환자와 치료 받은 과 및 치료기간 등에 대하여 조사하였다. 신경병성 동통 환자의 수와 유병률을 살펴보면 삼차신경통 77,053명(27.6%), 비정형적 안면통 12,382명(4.4%), 설인후 신경통 1,319명(0.5%), 포진후 신경통 84,598명(30.3명), 당뇨병성 신경통 85,989명(30.8%), 비정형적 치통 16,001명(5.7%), 설통 2,133명(0.8%) 이며, 시간이 경과함에 따라 포진후 신경통과 당뇨병성 신경통은 증가하는 경향을 보이나, 그 외 신경통은 대부분 증가가 둔화되는 양상을 보였다. 대부분의 환자들은 57.6-72.8% 에 이르도록 1차 의료기관인 개인의원에서 치료받았으나 비정형적 치통의 경우에만 10.3% 정도로 1차 의료기관에서 진료받는 비율이 낮았다. 치과의원에 내원하는 환자의 비율은 삼차신경통 3.2%, 비정형적 치통 35.4%, 설통 15.4%이며 그 외 나머지 신경병성 동통은 대부분 의원에서 치료받았다.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• 제44권4호
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• pp.199-204
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• 2008

Objective : This study was designed to compare the efficacy of micro-vascular decompression (MVD) and Gamma knife radiosurgery (GKRS) for elderly idiopathic trigeminal neuralgia patients by analyzing the clinical outcome. Methods : In the past 10 years, 27 elderly patients were treated with MVD while 18 patients were treated with GKRS (>65-years-old). We reviewed their clinical characteristics and clinical courses after treatment as well as the treatment outcomes. For patients who were treated with MVD, additional treatment methods such as rhizotomy were combined in some areas. In GKRS, we radiated the root entry zone (REZ) with the mean maximum dose of 77.8 (70-84.3) Gy and one 4 mm collimator. Results : The mean age was 68.1 years for MVD, and 71.1 years for GKS group. The average time interval between first presenting symptom and surgery was 84.1 (1-361) months, and 51.4 (1-120) months, respectively. The mean follow-up period after the surgery was 35.9 months for MVD, and 33.1 months for GKRS. According to Pain Intensity Scale, MVD group showed better prognosis with 17 (63%) cases in grade I-II versus 10 (55.6%) cases in GKRS group after the treatment. The pain recurrence rate during follow up did not show much difference with 3 (11.1%) in MVD, and 2 (11.1%) in GKRS. After the treatment, 2 cases of facial numbness, and 1 case each of herpes zoster, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leakage, hearing disturbance, and subdural hematoma occurred in MVD Group. In GKRS, there was 1 (5.6%) case of dysesthesia but was not permanent. Three cases were retreated by GKRS but the prognosis was not as good as when the surgery was used as primary treatment, with 1 case of grade I-II, and 1 case of recurrence. The maximal relieve of pain was seen just after surgery in MVD group, and 1 year after treatment in GKRS group. Conclusion : For trigeminal neuralgia patients with advanced age, MVD showed advantages in immediately relieving the pain. However, in overall, GKRS was preferable, despite the delayed pain relief, due to the lower rate of surgical complications that arise owing to the old age.