Change of Tinnitus with Xenon Phototherapy of the Stellate Ganglion.

OBJECTIVE: To develop a treatment for tinnitus called xenon phototherapy of the stellate ganglion (XPSG) and analyze its effect on tinnitus. METHODS: Patients with chronic tinnitus received XPSG. Symptoms were assessed subjectively with tinnitus handicap inventory (THI) and numerical rating scale (NRS). THI and NRS scores were analyzed in XPSG (n = 43) and sham treatment (non-XPSG) (n = 18) groups. RESULTS: THI and NRS scores improved significantly after 3 months of XPSG. Severe cases with high THI or NRS score showed greater improvement. No significant difference was observed between before and after sham treatment in non-XPSG groups. CONCLUSIONS: XPSG significantly improved THI and NRS scores with high patient satisfaction.