title: Electric field navigated transcranial magnetic stimulation for chronic tinnitus: A pilot study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) has shown potential in reducing tinnitus symptoms. We evaluated effects of electric field (E-field) navigated rTMS targeted neuroanatomically according to tinnitus pitch.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this open methodological pilot study, the patients received E-field navigated 1-Hz rTMS in daily treatment sessions to the left superior temporal gyrus, targeted according to tonotopic representation of their individual tinnitus pitch. Patients rated their tinnitus intensity and annoyance with a numeric rating scale (NRS) from 0 to 10 at the baseline and after each rTMS session. They also rated their global impression of change (scale - 3 to + 3) after the treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirteen patients (mean age 53 years; 10 men, 3 women) with chronic, intractable tinnitus.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean intensity was 7.1 (SD 1.8) at the baseline, decreasing to 4.5 (SD 2.2) after the rTMS (p < 0.0001). The mean annoyance 7.0 (SD 1.8) at the baseline decreased to 4.0 (SD 2.4) after the treatment (p < 0.0001). Intensity diminished at least 30% in 8/13 patients and annoyance in 9/13 patients. A total of 10/13 patients felt subjective benefit from the treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These preliminary observations suggest that E-field-rTMS may improve the current treatment options for intractable tinnitus.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Ear , Nose and Throat, Satakunta Central Hospital , Pori , Finland.
authors.forename: Hanna
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sahlsten
authors.affiliation: b Medical School, University of Turku , Turku , Finland.
authors.forename: Johan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Isohanni
authors.affiliation: c Department of Ear , Nose and Throat, Turku University Hospital , Turku , Finland.
authors.forename: Jorma
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Haapaniemi
authors.affiliation: c Department of Ear , Nose and Throat, Turku University Hospital , Turku , Finland.
authors.forename: Jaakko
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Salonen
authors.affiliation: d Department of Clinical Neurophysiology , Turku University Hospital and University of Turku , Turku , Finland.
authors.forename: Janika
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Paavola
authors.affiliation: e Department of Biostatistics , University of Turku , Turku , Finland.
authors.forename: Eliisa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Löyttyniemi
authors.affiliation: c Department of Ear , Nose and Throat, Turku University Hospital , Turku , Finland.
authors.forename: Reijo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Johansson
authors.affiliation: d Department of Clinical Neurophysiology , Turku University Hospital and University of Turku , Turku , Finland.
authors.forename: Satu K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Jääskeläinen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D013702:Temporal Lobe; D014012:Tinnitus / Q000628:therapy*; D050781:Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Tinnitus; electric field navigated; transcranial magnetic stimulation