title: Other facial neuralgias.
abstract: Premise In this article we review some lesser known cranial neuralgias that are distinct from trigeminal neuralgia, trigeminal autonomic cephalalgias, or trigeminal neuropathies. Included are occipital neuralgia, superior laryngeal neuralgia, auriculotemporal neuralgia, glossopharyngeal and nervus intermedius neuralgia, and pain from acute herpes zoster and postherpetic neuralgia of the trigeminal and intermedius nerves. Problem Facial neuralgias are rare and many physicians do not see such cases in their lifetime, so patients with a suspected diagnosis within this group should be referred to a specialized center where multidisciplinary team diagnosis may be available. Potential solution Each facial neuralgia can be identified on the basis of clinical presentation, allowing for precision diagnosis and planning of treatment. Treatment remains conservative with oral or topical medication recommended for neuropathic pain to be tried before more invasive procedures are undertaken. However, evidence for efficacy of current treatments remains weak.
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Oral Surgery, Liverpool University Dental Hospital, Liverpool, UK.|2 Pain Research Institute, Clinical Sciences Centre, Fazakerley, Liverpool, UK.
authors.forename: Francis
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: O'Neill
authors.affiliation: 2 Pain Research Institute, Clinical Sciences Centre, Fazakerley, Liverpool, UK.|3 Neuroscience Research, The Walton Centre NHS Foundation Trust, Liverpool, UK.
authors.forename: Turo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nurmikko
authors.affiliation: 4 Department of Neurology, University of Würzburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sommer
mesh_terms: D005156:Facial Neuralgia; D006801:Humans
keywords: Acute herpes zoster; auriculotemporal neuralgia; glossopharyngeal and nervus intermedius neuralgia; occipital neuralgia; postherpetic neuralgia; superior laryngeal neuralgia