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Neuralgia of the glossopharyngeal nerve
Medical expert of the article
Last reviewed: 23.04.2024
Neuralgia of the glossopharyngeal nerve - recurrent attacks of severe pain in the innervation zone of the IX pair of cranial nerves (posterior pharyngeal wall, posterior 1/3 of the tongue, middle ear).
The diagnosis of neuralgia of the glossopharyngeal nerve is put clinically. Treatment of neuralgia of the glossopharyngeal nerve with carbamazepine or gabapentin.
[Causes of neuralgia of the glossopharyngeal nerve
Like neuralgia of the trigeminal nerve and hemifacial spasm, neuralgia of the glossopharyngeal nerve is sometimes associated with compression of the nerve by a pulsating artery. Rarely the cause is a tumor of the bridge-cerebellar angle or neck. The cause of the disease can not always be found. It is rare, mostly in men older than 40 years.
Symptoms of neuralgia of the glossopharyngeal nerve
As with neuralgia of the trigeminal nerve, the symptoms of neuralgia of the glossopharyngeal nerve are the following: paroxysmal attacks of one-sided short-term severe pain arise spontaneously or are provoked by certain movements (for example, when chewing, swallowing, talking, sneezing). The pain usually occurs in the area of the tonsils or on the basis of the tongue and can radiate into the ear, lasting from a few seconds to several minutes. In 1-2% of cases, a parallel increase in the activity of the vagus nerves leads to sinus disturbances of the heart rhythm (pauses) with the development of fainting. Such episodes can be repeated often.
Where does it hurt?
Diagnosis of the glossopharyngeal nerve
The diagnosis of neuralgia of the glossopharyngeal nerve is based on clinical data. Differentiate with neuralgia of the trigeminal nerve according to the following criteria: different localization of pain, with neuralgia of the glossopharyngeal nerve, swallowing or touching the tonsils with a spatula provokes pain, and lidocaine irrigation temporarily eliminates spontaneous or provoked pain. Tumors of the tonsils, pharynx and bridge-cerebellar angle, as well as metastatic lesions of the anterior neck region are excluded by MRI.
What do need to examine?
Who to contact?
Treatment of neuralgia of the glossopharyngeal nerve
Treatment of neuralgia of the glossopharyngeal nerve, as in trigeminal neuralgia. If the treatment of neuralgia of the glossopharyngeal nerve is ineffective, a pharyngeal application of cocaine may provide a temporary effect. Nerve decompression may require surgery. If the pain is limited to the pharynx, surgical treatment is performed on the extracranial part of the nerve, and if the pain is common - on the intracranial.
More information of the treatment