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AcupunctureNCT04249921

Evaluation of Acupuncture Effects for Complications After Surgery of Cerebellopontine Angle Tumor in Skull Base

An observational study of Acupuncture and Tumor, Brain, run by Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taiwan at 1 site in Taiwan.

Unknown status

Status not confirmed. The sponsor has not verified this record for over two years, so it may be out of date.

Official record
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Trial summary

Skull base tumors are a type of tumor that grow in the area of several skulls behind the cranial cavity. The incidence rate is 2 to 18 per 100,000 people per year; males and females are likely to have a proportional difference in the types of skull base tumors. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Any age
Conditions the study is for
Acupuncture, Tumor, Brain, Skull Base Tumor
How many people
32 participants
Where
1 siteTaiwan
Study dates
20 Nov 2019to 4 Oct 2020
Phase
Observational
Are there results?
None posted in the registry

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages Any age
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Child, Adult, Older adult

Study population: The patients of cerebellopontine angle (CPA) tumors in skull base.

Who may be able to join

  • The patients who have been diagnosed Cerebellopontine Angle Tumor by neurosurgeons.
  • The Patients who have been undergoned the surgery of tumor
  • Not receiving acupuncture for other diseases (needle stimulate for body ) or any rehabilitation treatment at the same time
  • Voluntary participation in this study

Who cannot join

  • Taking anticoagulant drugs or who have coagulopathy
  • Pregnant women, especially pregnant women with habitual abortion
  • Skin infections
  • Acupuncture phobia (this study has invasive treatment: acupuncture)

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country.

Taiwan1 site, 1 recruiting
  • Center for Traditional Medicine, Taipei VGH

    Taipei, 11217

    Fang-Pey Chen, MD, +886-2-2875-7453, fpchen@vghtpe.gov.tw

    Recruiting

Other trials in Taiwan

About this study

Skull base tumors are a type of tumor that grow in the area of several skulls behind the cranial cavity. The incidence rate is 2 to 18 per 100,000 people per year; males and females are likely to have a proportional difference in the types of skull base tumors.

Cerebellopontine angle (CPA) tumors are the most common neoplasms in the posterior skull base,accounting for 5-10% of skull base tumors.Some different kinds of tumors can grow in cerebellopontine angle. The tumors are more likely to cause some symptoms when they grow large enough to put pressure on the brain.

Read more

A common traditional treatment for skull base tumors is neurosurgery-craniotomy. However, after the operation, brain may be injured with hematoma, and the instruments used are in contact with the brain. It is still inevitable that there will have complications of minor and major nerve damages, such as facial paralysis,trigeminal neuralgia, tinnitus, sports disorders (ataxia) and so on.

Acupuncture has a unique effect on the treatment of the human nervous system. Aim of the study is used acupuncture to improve the complications of the surgery of Cerebellopontine angle tumors in skull base.

Read the detailed description

Skull base has clinically unique importance:it is the anatomic junction of the neural and facial viscerocranium,supports human brain and supports that contains the neurovascular structures entering or exiting the skull,it divided into anterior,middle and posterior skull base.Skull base tumors are a type of tumor that grow in the area of several skulls behind the cranial cavity ,tumors most grow inside the skull base, and a few are formed outside because the tumor may originate from the base of skull or elsewhere in the body (metastatic).The incidence rate is 2 to 18 per 100,000 people per year; males and females are likely to have a proportional difference in the types of skull base tumors.

Cerebellopontine angle (CPA) tumors are common skull base tumors in posterior skull base. CP angle located below the cerebrum, between the pons and the cerebellum and between the superior and inferior limbs of the cerebellopontine fissure, it is a V-shaped angular cleft. About 6%-10% of skull base tumors are in the cerebellopontine angle (CPA). 90% of tumors in this area(CPA) are vestibular schwannoma (acoustic neuromas), 3% are meningioma, and the rest are primary cholesteatoma (lipoma),facial nerve schwannoma ,angioma as well as arachnoid cyst etc..

At present, computed tomography (CT) and nuclear magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can be used to detect and evaluate skull base lesions. When these tumors grow enough to compress the nerves around the brain, the areas where the tumor are pressed could cause some symptoms such as blurred vision, headache, dizziness and other specific symptoms that affect normal life.

A common traditional treatment for skull base tumors is neurosurgery-craniotomy. However, after the operation, the brain may be injured with hematoma, and the instruments used are in contact with the brain. It is still inevitable that there will have complications of minor and major nerve damages, such as facial paralysis and trigeminal neuralgia, tinnitus, sports disorders (ataxia) and so on. If the damages are in serious situations, patients are also possible to be serious infected or in a vegetative state.

Acupuncture has a unique effect on the treatment of the human nervous system. Acupuncture mainly aims to improve the complications of the surgery of Cerebellopontine angle tumors in skull base by eliminating blood stasis, clearing meridians, and strengthening the body.The researchers' selections of acupoints are distributed in Large Intestine,Stomach Meridian,Small Intestine Meridian,Triple Energizer Meridian and Gallbladder Meridian in body.

In the past, some researchers used questionnaires for the quality of life of skull base tumor surgery, and also some researchers used questionnaires to evaluate the efficacy of acupuncture. The rationale of the study is to combine these three-the surgery of CP Angle tumor in skull base,acupuncture and questionnaires.Namely,the researchers use four questionnaires to evaluate the efficacy of acupuncture after surgery of Cerebellopontine Angle tumor in skull base.

Medical subject headings
Brain Neoplasms, Skull Base Neoplasms, Neuroma, Acoustic

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

Study groups in NCT04249921
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
Experimental1. Use acupuncture to treat the patients who received the surgery of CPA tumor. Acupoints of reference: Yifeng(TE17),Tinggong(SI19),Xiaguan(ST07),Wind Pool(GB20),Outer Pass(SJ5),Union Valley(LI4),Yang Mound Spring(GB34),Leg Three Li(ST36). 2. Use questionnaires to evaluate.The questionnaires including House-Brackmann Grading Scale,WHOQOL-BREF Taiwan Version,Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy: General(FACT-G),Visual Analogue Scale(VAS).
Control1.Use questionnaires to evaluate.The questionnaires including House-Brackmann Grading Scale,WHOQOL-BREF Taiwan Version,Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy: General(FACT-G),Visual Analogue Scale(VAS).

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. WHOQOL-BREF Taiwan Version

    Evaluate the quality of life after acupuncture treatment, use WHOQOL-BREF Taiwan Version questionnaire. Scale: 0~100, higher scores, better life quality. Counted by each time recording and using mode conversion to get final scale.

    Measured: 8 weeks

  2. Visual Analogue Scale: VAS

    measurement for pain,to assess the pain degree. Scale: 0~100 mm, higher scores, higher pain . Counted by each time recording.

    Measured: 8 weeks

  3. Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy: General(FACT-G)

    Evaluate the quality of life for " the patients of CPA tumor in skull base " after acupuncture treatment,there are four parts,physiology,social and family, emotion,function.Scale: 0~100, higher scores, better life quality. Counted by each time recording and using mode conversion to get final scale.

    Measured: 8 weeks

  4. House-Brackmann grading scale

    measurement and evaluate the level for the patients of facial paralysis after surgery of CPA tumor in skull base.Measure the upwards and outwards movement situation of eyebrows and mouth. Each reference point scores 1 point for each 0.25 cm movement, up to a maximum of 1 cm. The scores are then added together, to give a number out of 8.After that, the scale of facial paralysis corresponding to the score was divided into five levels, with the first level being the mildest and the fifth level being the most severe.

    Measured: 8 weeks

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted31 Jan 2020
  2. Study start20 Nov 2019
  3. Primary completion4 Oct 2020 (estimated)
  4. Study completion4 Oct 2020 (estimated)

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Observational
Observational model
Case-control
Time perspective
Retrospective
Enrolment
32 participants (estimated)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT04249921
Sponsor's protocol ID
2019-09-001AU
Status last verified
Jan 2020
First submitted
8 Dec 2019
Last updated
31 Jan 2020
Results posted
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
Undecided

Publications

  • Memari F, Hassannia F, Abtahi SH. Surgical Outcomes of Cerebellopontine angle Tumors in 50 Cases. Iran J Otorhinolaryngol. 2015 Jan;27(78):29-34.

    PubMed 25745609
  • Bonneville F, Savatovsky J, Chiras J. Imaging of cerebellopontine angle lesions: an update. Part 1: enhancing extra-axial lesions. Eur Radiol. 2007 Oct;17(10):2472-82. doi: 10.1007/s00330-007-0679-x. Epub 2007 Jun 12.

    PubMed 17562049
  • Kunimatsu A, Kunimatsu N. Skull Base Tumors and Tumor-Like Lesions: A Pictorial Review. Pol J Radiol. 2017 Jul 25;82:398-409. doi: 10.12659/PJR.901937. eCollection 2017.

    PubMed 28811848
  • Gil Z, Fliss DM. Quality of life in patients with skull base tumors: current status and future challenges. Skull Base. 2010 Jan;20(1):11-8. doi: 10.1055/s-0029-1242979.

    PubMed 20592852
  • Roser F, Dimostheni A, Elhammady MS, Recinos P, Rigante L. Response to: Phillips M. et al. "Safety of commercial airflight in patients with brain tumors: a case series". Journal of Neuro-Oncology (2018) 139:617-623. J Neurooncol. 2019 Apr;142(2):393-394. doi: 10.1007/s11060-018-03088-6. Epub 2019 Jan 21. No abstract available.

    PubMed 30666464
  • Witgert ME, Veramonti T, Hanna E. Instruments for estimation of health-related quality of life in patients with skull base neoplasms. Skull Base. 2010 Jan;20(1):5-10. doi: 10.1055/s-0029-1242978.

    PubMed 20592851
  • Biswas D, Marnane C, Mal R, Baldwin D. Benign extracranial nerve sheath tumors of the skull base: postoperative morbidity and management. Skull Base. 2008 Mar;18(2):99-106. doi: 10.1055/s-2007-991109.

    PubMed 18769654
  • Xu S, Wang L, Cooper E, Zhang M, Manheimer E, Berman B, Shen X, Lao L. Adverse events of acupuncture: a systematic review of case reports. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2013;2013:581203. doi: 10.1155/2013/581203. Epub 2013 Mar 20.

    PubMed 23573135
  • Chung A, Bui L, Mills E. Adverse effects of acupuncture. Which are clinically significant? Can Fam Physician. 2003 Aug;49:985-9.

    PubMed 12943357
  • Chen MH, Chen MH, Huang JS. Cervical subdural empyema following acupuncture. J Clin Neurosci. 2004 Nov;11(8):909-11. doi: 10.1016/j.jocn.2004.02.011.

    PubMed 15519876
  • Giovagnoli AR. Quality of life in patients with stable disease after surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy for malignant brain tumour. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 1999 Sep;67(3):358-63. doi: 10.1136/jnnp.67.3.358.

    PubMed 10449559
  • Zhang R, Wu T, Wang R, Wang D, Liu Q. Compare the efficacy of acupuncture with drugs in the treatment of Bell's palsy: A systematic review and meta-analysis of RCTs. Medicine (Baltimore). 2019 May;98(19):e15566. doi: 10.1097/MD.0000000000015566.

    PubMed 31083225
  • Qiu WQ, Claunch J, Kong J, Nixon EE, Fang J, Li M, Vangel M, Hui KK. The effects of acupuncture on the brain networks for emotion and cognition: an observation of gender differences. Brain Res. 2010 Nov 29;1362:56-67. doi: 10.1016/j.brainres.2010.09.040. Epub 2010 Sep 17.

    PubMed 20851113
  • Kim YD, Park JH, Yang SH, Kim IS, Hong JT, Sung JH, Son BC, Lee SW. Pain assessment in brain tumor patients after elective craniotomy. Brain Tumor Res Treat. 2013 Apr;1(1):24-7. doi: 10.14791/btrt.2013.1.1.24. Epub 2013 Apr 30.

    PubMed 24904885
  • Xiao X, Zheng Q, Shi Y, Zhang L, Zhao L, Zhou S, Zhang W, Cao W, Liu Y, Li Y. Association of Patients' Characteristics with Acupuncture Treatment Outcomes in Treating Bell's Palsy: Results from a Randomised Controlled Trial. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2019 Aug 15;2019:6073484. doi: 10.1155/2019/6073484. eCollection 2019.

    PubMed 31511780

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

An observational study of Acupuncture and Tumor, Brain, run by Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taiwan at 1 site in Taiwan.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 4 inclusion and 4 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: status not confirmed, as of the sponsor's last update on 31 Jan 2020. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 1 site in Taiwan. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

Are results available for this study?

Results are not available in the source record.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

Contact Fang-Pey Chen, MD (+886976185588, fpchenchen@gmail.com), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

WHOQOL-BREF Taiwan Version (time frame: 8 weeks). The study lists 4 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?

On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT04249921, which also lists 15 linked publications.

Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 31 Jan 2020; AzTrials last refreshed its copy on 8 Nov 2026.

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