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European Radiology
Published in: European Radiology 9/2016

01-09-2016 | Nuclear Medicine

The effectiveness of acupuncture as a treatment for tinnitus: a randomized controlled trial using 99mTc-ECD SPECT

Authors: Maura Regina Laureano, Ektor Tsuneo Onishi, Rodrigo Affonseca Bressan, Pedro Braga Neto, Mario Luiz Vieira Castiglioni, Ilza Rosa Batista, Marilia Alves Reis, Michele Vargas Garcia, Adriana Neves de Andrade, Maura Lígia Sanchez, Hugo Cogo Moreira, Roberta Ribeiro de Almeida, Griselda Jara Garrido, Andrea Parolin Jackowski

Published in: European Radiology | Issue 9/2016

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Abstract

Objective

Investigate the effect of acupuncture on brain perfusion using ethyl cysteinate dimer single-photon emission computed tomography (99mTc-ECD SPECT) in patients with tinnitus.

Methods

This randomized, single-blind, sham-control study examined patients (18–60 years old) with normal hearing and chronic, idiopathic, continuous tinnitus. Fifty-seven subjects were randomly assigned to true (n = 30) or sham (n = 27) acupuncture (ACP); 99mTc-ECD SPECT examinations were performed before and after 12 twice-weekly ACP sessions. Secondary outcomes included changes in the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI), Visual Analog Scale (VAS), Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAS) and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). Imaging data were analysed using Statistical Parametric Mapping (SPM8) software. Regression models were used to examine secondary outcomes via two paradigms: intention-to-treat (ITT; where multiple imputations were conducted because of study attrition) and complete cases.

Results

No between-group brain perfusion differences were observed. However, a significant improvement in THI scores was observed at the end of true ACP treatment for all domains (all p values < 0.01) except the catastrophic scale.

Conclusions

ACP might reduce the effects of tinnitus on daily life; however, additional studies should be conducted to verify the effects of ACP on the neural architecture and brain function of tinnitus patients.

Key Points

• Efficacy of acupuncture on brain perfusion and symptoms of tinnitus patients.
• Acupuncture improved the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory scores in tinnitus patients.
• No significant changes in brain perfusion were observed after 12 twice-weekly sessions.
• Perfusion changes would reflect changes in neuronal function.
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Metadata
Title
The effectiveness of acupuncture as a treatment for tinnitus: a randomized controlled trial using 99mTc-ECD SPECT
Authors
Maura Regina Laureano
Ektor Tsuneo Onishi
Rodrigo Affonseca Bressan
Pedro Braga Neto
Mario Luiz Vieira Castiglioni
Ilza Rosa Batista
Marilia Alves Reis
Michele Vargas Garcia
Adriana Neves de Andrade
Maura Lígia Sanchez
Hugo Cogo Moreira
Roberta Ribeiro de Almeida
Griselda Jara Garrido
Andrea Parolin Jackowski
Publication date
01-09-2016
Publisher
Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in
European Radiology / Issue 9/2016
Print ISSN: 0938-7994
Electronic ISSN: 1432-1084
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-015-4164-7

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