Oketsu Syndrome Relationship between Brain MRI Findings and the Condition of the Back of the Tongue in Disequilibrium Patients

Abstract

Oketsu syndrome, a condition characterized by chronic microcircular stagnation in the tissues, is an important concept in Kampo medicine. Since it is often diagnosed by observation of the patient's tongue, we examined the relationship between the status of the back of the tongue (venous expansion of the profound lingual vein and a very small varix: “Sho-ten” means a small point) and magnetic resonance images (MRIs) of the brain in patients (40.0%) who had a very small varix in the back of the tongue had one or more small infarctions in the brain. However, of the 39 patients (7.7%) without a very small varix, only three had infarctions. There was no significant relationship between the venous expansion of the profound lingual vein and the MRI findings. The existence of a very small varix in the back of tongue would appear to be an important indicator of chronic microcircular stagnation in the brain in patients complaining of balance disorders.