title: Neuralgia associated with transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation therapy in a patient initially diagnosed with temporomandibular disorder.
abstract: Head and neck neoplasms may be difficult to detect because of wide-ranging symptoms and the presence of overlapping anatomic structures in the region. This case report describes a patient with chronic otalgia and temporomandibular disorder, who developed sudden-onset neuralgia while receiving transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) therapy. Further diagnostic evaluation revealed a skull base tumor consistent with adenoid cystic carcinoma. To our knowledge, this is the first report of TENS-associated neuralgia leading to a diagnosis of primary intracranial adenoid cystic carcinoma.
authors: Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Oral Medicine, University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
authors: Temitope T
authors: TT
authors: Omolehinwa
authors: First year resident, Orofacial Pain program, University of Kentucky College of Dentistry, Lexington, Kentucky, USA.
authors: Thamer
authors: T
authors: Musbah
authors: Assistant Professor of Oral Medicine, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Dentistry, Richmond, Virginia, USA.
authors: Bhavik
authors: B
authors: Desai
authors: Gabriel Tucker Professor and Chair, Department of Otorhinolaryngology: Head and Neck Surgery, Perelman School of Medicine of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
authors: Bert W
authors: BW
authors: O'Malley
authors: Associate Professor of Oral Medicine, Department of Oral Medicine, University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. Electronic address: Ets@dental.upenn.edu.
authors: Eric T
authors: ET
authors: Stoopler
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003528:Carcinoma, Adenoid Cystic / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D009437:Neuralgia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D059408:Pain Management; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011862:Radiography, Panoramic; D019292:Skull Base Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D013705:Temporomandibular Joint Disorders / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D004561:Transcutaneous Electric Nerve Stimulation / Q000009:adverse effects*