ABSTRACT

Objective

Population-based studies on the prevalence of trigeminal neuralgia (TN) worldwide are rare and the epidemiology of TN in Turkey is unknown. The aim of this study is to determine the prevalence of TN in Turkey.

Methods

We conducted a cross-sectional, population-based, descriptive epidemiological study in Ereğli, Turkey. Participants over the age of 18 were screened using a self-assessment form, and potential patients were identified by a ‘neuroscreening team’. Suspected patients were invited for a clinical examination and evaluated by a senior neurologist. Any required imaging was carried out at a university hospital.

Results

Data were collected from a total of 9605 participants, after the exclusion of 247 individuals who refused to participate. Seven suspected patients were invited to a public health center for clinical evaluation. One patient was diagnosed with SUNCT (Short-lasting, Unilateral, Neuralgiform headache attacks with Conjunctival injection and Tearing) and one patient was diagnosed with post-herpetic neuralgia. A definite diagnosis of TN was confirmed in five participants. The crude prevalence was found to be 52.1/100.000. The mean age of cases was 62.2 ± 8.3 years and the female/male ratio was 4/1. TN was classified as ‘symptomatic’ in one patient with multiple sclerosis. The other four cases were diagnosed with classical TN. Right side involvement was identified in three cases (60%), whereas left side involvement was seen in two cases (40%).

Discussion

This study establishes the prevalence of TN in Turkey for the first time. The prevalence rate is low when compared with other international studies.

中文翻译：

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三叉神经痛在土耳其的流行：一项基于人群的研究。

摘要

目标

关于全球三叉神经痛 (TN) 患病率的基于人群的研究很少见，土耳其 TN 的流行病学尚不清楚。本研究的目的是确定土耳其 TN 的患病率。

方法

我们在土耳其埃雷格利进行了一项基于人群的横断面流行病学研究。使用自我评估表对 18 岁以上的参与者进行筛查，并由“神经筛查小组”确定潜在患者。疑似患者被邀请进行临床检查并由资深神经科医生进行评估。任何所需的成像均在大学医院进行。

结果

在排除了 247 名拒绝参与的人之后，从总共 9605 名参与者中收集了数据。七名疑似患者被邀请到一家公共卫生中心进行临床评估。一名患者被诊断为 SUNCT（结膜注射和撕裂的短暂、单侧、神经样头痛发作），一名患者被诊断为带状疱疹后神经痛。5 名参与者确诊为 TN。发现粗患病率为 52.1/100.000。病例的平均年龄为 62.2 ± 8.3 岁，女性/男性比例为 4/1。在一名患有多发性硬化症的患者中，TN 被归类为“有症状的”。其他 4 例被诊断为经典 TN。3 例 (60%) 右侧受累，2 例 (40%) 左侧受累。

讨论

本研究首次确定了土耳其 TN 的患病率。与其他国际研究相比，患病率较低。