title: Microvascular decompression in glossopharyngeal neuralgia.
abstract: Glossopharyngeal neuralgia is a rare and often controversial cause for odynophagia and otalgia. The otolaryngologist, head and neck surgeon may be the primary physician called upon to diagnose and treat this entity. In this study, vascular decompression, or more specifically, elimination of contact between the ninth cranial nerve and the posterior inferior cerebellar artery, was employed as treatment in three patients. All achieved relief of their symptoms with this intervention. A review of the neurosurgical literature and the experience with vascular decompression in trigeminal neuralgia, hemifacial spasm, and glossopharyngeal neuralgia is presented. The authors conclude that vascular decompression is effective in carefully selected patients, and the role of the skull base surgeon in managing this problem is expanding.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, SUNY Health Science Center, Syracuse 13210, USA.
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Olds
authors.forename: C I
authors.initials: CI
authors.lastname: Woods
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Winfield
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003389:Cranial Nerve Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D003399:Craniotomy / Q000379:methods; D005156:Facial Neuralgia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D005930:Glossopharyngeal Nerve / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D014277:Trigeminal Neuralgia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D014656:Vascular Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods