Glossopharyngeal neuralgia with cardiac syncope.
Glossopharyngeal Neuralgia is an uncommon craniofacial pain syndrome that is occasionally associated with cardiac syncope. Involvement of the glossopharyngeal nerve may be painless or may be marked by true episodic neuralgia, and this justifies the term neuralgia reported here. We present 5 cases of this uncommon syndrome, of a total of 15 observed cases of glossopharyngeal neuralgia, successfully treated by section of the rootlets of Cranial Nerves IX and X or by microvascular decompression in the posterior cranial fossa. We also analyze the relevant literature and discuss the pathogenesis and treatment of the syndrome.
Ferrante
L
L
Department of Neurological Sciences, Neurosurgery, University of Rome La Sapienza, Italy.
Artico
M
M
Nardacci
B
B
Fraioli
B
B
Cosentino
F
F
Fortuna
A
A
D003388:Cranial Fossa, Posterior / Q000294:innervation; D005156:Facial Neuralgia / Q000150:complications* / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D005930:Glossopharyngeal Nerve / Q000601:surgery; D006321:Heart / Q000294:innervation; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008866:Microsurgery / Q000379:methods; D008875:Middle Aged; D009408:Nerve Compression Syndromes / Q000150:complications* / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D013126:Spinal Nerve Roots / Q000601:surgery; D013575:Syncope / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D014630:Vagus Nerve / Q000601:surgery