The Long-Term Effect of Repeated Intravenous Lidocaine on Central Pain and Possible Correlation in Positron Emission Tomography Measurements

Abstract

We present a case of persistent central pain after encephalitis in a patient who had long-term pain relief after a series of IV lidocaine infusions. A positron emission tomography scan study, done before and after treatment, suggested that lidocaine for the diagnosis of chronic neuropathic pain may have a specific site of action in the brain.