Cases of trigeminal neuralgia (TN), which is also called ‘suicide disease’, are being reported in the city. The disease, which first came into limelight after Bollywood actor Salman Khan had it and was successfully treated for it, is now being also treated in the city. An oncologist from Apollo hospital, Dr Sayan Paul has treated a few patients suffering from the extremely painful disease. Trigeminal neuralgia is a chronic, debilitating condition resulting in brief and intense episodes of facial pain in the distribution of one or more branches of the fifth cranial nerve.

The episodes of facial pain are sporadic, sudden, and often like “electric shocks” lasting from a few seconds to several minutes. A study says TN is more common in females than males, the right side of the face is more involved than the left side, and it is more commonly found in rural population than urban population. A businessman from Serampore is one such patient, who was treated at the city hospital.

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Rathin Dutta first started getting his facial ‘shocks’ in 2021. He says he felt a sudden burst of current on his face, which would last for 30 second to a minute. Initially, he thought it to be a dental issue but medicines did not help, so he went for further checkup. It was detected as TN and Mr Dutta was treated at a Barrackpore hospital in 2022.

But, the pain returned. The pain was so much that he was on a liquid diet as chewing would enhance the pain. The affected facial nerves even deformed his face. That is when he was referred to a medicine specialist at Apollo hospital. There, the doctor referred Mr Dutta to Dr Sayan Paul, an oncologist, who has treated such patients in Hyderabad. “Now my father is completely cured,” said son Rounak Dutta. Dr Paul said, “I have had three such patients in Kolkata, one of whom was from Tripura.

We give 85-90 gray radiation to treat TN, whereas normally patients are given 2 gray. I plan 2-3 weeks ahead of the actual procedure and only start it after getting quality assurance. I have a team of doctors and technicians working with me for this. Patients are given a stereotactic mask for the process. We use stereotactic radiosurgery technology, where small gamma rays are sent to deliver a precise dose of radiation to the target.”