ABSTRACT
Objective To evaluate the efficacy and safety of radiofrequency thermocoagulation with pulsed radiofrequency for V1 trigeminal neuralgia patients. Methods The prospective cohort study enrolled 70 patients with V1 primary trigeminal neuralgia,who were admitted to Pain Department,Hangzhou First People′s Hospital from January to December 2012. The patients were divided into RF group(n = 35)and RF plus PRF group(n =35)and followed up for 3 years for pain relief rate and complications. Results Postoperative cure rate of immedi-ate pain in RF group was 88.57%(BNI class I,II)and that in RF plus PRF group 91.43%(BNI class I,II).The pain relief rate was higher in RF plus PRF group,and the difference was statistically significant(χ2=5.178,P=0.023). Fourteen patients in RF group suffered corneal hypoesthesia and their recovery time was(12.1 ± 7.5) months and 6 in RF plus PRF group experienced corneal hypoesthesia and their recovery time was(8.9 ± 2.3) months.The differences of incidence rate and recovery time were significant(χ2=4.48,P=0.034;t=2.25,P=0.028). Conclusions RF plus PRF is conducive to decreasing the recurrence of V1 trigeminal neuralgia,reduc-ing the numbers of corneal hypoesthesia and shortening the recovery time,which is worth of clinical promotion.
ABSTRACT
Objective To improve diagnosis on esophageal tuberculosis by the endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS).Methods A retrospective analysis of 9 cases of esophageal tuberculosis patients diagnosed by EUS or EUS guided ifne needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) who were treated from 2011 to 2016 and literature reviewed.Results The main presenting symptoms were dysphagia (6 cases), burning pain after sternum (3 cases), low-grade fever and night sweat (2 cases), cough and hemoptysis (1 case). The middle esophagus was involved in 7 cases, upper and lower third of the esophagus were affected in 1 cases. The endoscopic appearances included ulcer (1 case), mass lesion (8 cases). The diagnoses were conifrmed by biopsies with pathology in 5 cases. The layers of the esophageal wall were unclear or disappeared in some cases, and in some patients low echo occupying lesions inside or outside the esophageal wall were showed by EUS. The internal echo of the lesions was heterogeneous, and strong echo spots could be observed. In most cases, enlarged mediastinal lymph nodes were observed. EUS-FNA was used to take biopsy specimens in 2 cases: biopsy specimens suggested tuberculosis; and anti-TB treatment has good effect as well.Conclusion Dysphagia is the major clinical symptom of esophageal tuberculosis, always inlfuences the middle part of the esophagus. The commonest abnormalities identiifed by endoscopy are ulceration and mass lesion. The diagnostic rate of the disease can be improved by endoscopic examination with biopsies, EUS and EUSFNA data.