Idiopathic ophthalmodynia and idiopathic rhinalgia: two topographic facial pain syndromes.
OBJECTIVE
To describe 2 topographic facial pain conditions with the pain clearly localized in the eye (idiopathic ophthalmodynia) or in the nose (idiopathic rhinalgia), and to propose their distinction from persistent idiopathic facial pain.


BACKGROUND
Persistent idiopathic facial pain, burning mouth syndrome, atypical odontalgia, and facial arthromyalgia are idiopathic facial pain syndromes that have been separated according to topographical criteria. Still, some other facial pain syndromes might have been veiled under the broad term of persistent idiopathic facial pain.


METHODS
Through a 10-year period we have studied all patients referred to our neurological clinic because of facial pain of unknown etiology that might deviate from all well-characterized facial pain syndromes.


RESULTS
In a group of patients we have identified 2 consistent clinical pictures with pain precisely located either in the eye (n=11) or in the nose (n=7). Clinical features resembled those of other localized idiopathic facial syndromes, the key differences relying on the topographic distribution of the pain.


CONCLUSIONS
Both idiopathic ophthalmodynia and idiopathic rhinalgia seem specific pain syndromes with a distinctive location, and may deserve a nosologic status just as other focal pain syndromes of the face. Whether all such focal syndromes are topographic variants of persistent idiopathic facial pain or independent disorders remains a controversial issue.
Pareja
Juan A
JA
Department of Neurology, Quirón Madrid Hospital, Madrid, Spain.
Cuadrado
María L
ML
Porta-Etessam
Jesús
J
Fernández-de-las-Peñas
César
C
Gili
Pablo
P
Caminero
Ana B
AB
Cebrián
José L
JL
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D058447:Eye Pain / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005156:Facial Neuralgia / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009668:Nose Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000379:methods; D013577:Syndrome; D055815:Young Adult