title: Microvascular decompression for glossopharyngeal neuralgia through a microasterional approach: A case series.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Glossopharyngeal neuralgia (GPN) is an uncommon craniofacial pain syndrome. It is characterized by a sudden onset lancinating pain usually localized in the sensory distribution of the IX cranial nerve associated with excessive vagal outflow, which leads to bradycardia, hypotension, syncope, or cardiac arrest. This study aims to review our surgical experience performing microvascular decompression (MVD) in patients with GPN.
  
  
  METHODS
  Over the last 20 years, 14 consecutive cases were diagnosed with GPN. MVD using a microasterional approach was performed in all patients. Demographic data, clinical presentation, surgical findings, clinical outcome, complications, and long-term follow-up were reviewed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The median age of onset was 58.7 years. The mean time from onset of symptoms to treatment was 8.8 years. Glossopharyngeal and vagus nerve compression was from the posterior inferior cerebellar artery in eleven cases (78.5%), vertebral artery in two cases (14.2%), and choroid plexus in one case (7.1%). Postoperative mean follow-up was 26 months (3-180 months). Pain analysis demonstrated long-term pain improvement of 114 ± 27.1 months and pain remission in 13 patients (92.9%) (P = 0.0001) two complications were documented, one patient had a cerebrospinal fluid leak, and another had bacterial meningitis. There was no surgical mortality.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  GPN is a rare entity, and secondary causes should be discarded. MVD through a retractorless microasterional approach is a safe and effective technique. Our series demonstrated an excellent clinical outcome with pain remission in 92.9%.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, National Institute of Neurology and Neurosurgery "Manuel Velasco Suárez", Mexico City, Mexico.
authors.forename: Rogelio
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Revuelta-Gutiérrez
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, National Institute of Neurology and Neurosurgery "Manuel Velasco Suárez", Mexico City, Mexico.
authors.forename: Andres Humberto
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Morales-Martínez
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroradiology, National Institute of Neurology and Neurosurgery "Manuel Velasco Suárez", Mexico City, Mexico.
authors.forename: Carolina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mejías-Soto
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, National Institute of Neurology and Neurosurgery "Manuel Velasco Suárez", Mexico City, Mexico.
authors.forename: Jaime Jesús
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Martínez-Anda
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, National Institute of Neurology and Neurosurgery "Manuel Velasco Suárez", Mexico City, Mexico.
authors.forename: Luis Alberto
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Ortega-Porcayo
keywords: Glossopharyngeal nerve; microvascular decompression; neuralgia; neurovascular compression; vagus nerve