Unilateral facial pain in patients with lung cancer: a referred pain via the vagus?
In 8 patients presenting with unilateral facial pain, subsequent investigation revealed an ipsilateral lung tumour. The interval between presentation with the pain and the discovery of the lung cancer varied between 6 wk and 4 yr. Radiotherapy cured the facial pain in 7 cases. Facial pain may be caused by lung cancer, and could be referred to the face via the vagus nerve.
D000328:Adult; D000344:Afferent Pathways / Q000503:physiopathology; D000368:Aged; D004423:Ear / Q000294:innervation; D005157:Facial Pain / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012008:Recurrence; D013997:Time Factors; D014630:Vagus Nerve / Q000503:physiopathology*