Glossopharyngeal Neuralgia

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Information ⬇

This neuralgia involves the ninth (glossopharyngeal) and sometimes portions of the tenth (vagus) cranial nerves. Presents with paroxysmal, intense pain in tonsillar fossa of throat that may be precipitated by swallowing. There is no objective sensory or motor deficit. Other diseases affecting this nerve include herpes zoster, MS, or compressive neuropathy due to tumor or aneurysm in region of jugular foramen (when associated with vagus and accessory nerve palsies).

Treatment: Glossopharyngeal Neuralgia

Medical therapy is similar to that for trigeminal neuralgia, and carbamazepine is generally the first choice.
If drug therapy is unsuccessful, surgical procedures (including microvascular decompression if vascular compression is evident, or rhizotomy of glossopharyngeal and vagal fibers in the jugular bulb) are frequently successful.