title: Microvascular Decompression for Glossopharyngeal Neuralgia: Long-Term Follow-Up.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine operative findings and outcome of microvascular decompression (MVD) for glossopharyngeal neuralgia (GPN). This research displayed the long-term outcomes of a large series of 35 cases with GPN treated with MVD.
  
  
  METHODS
  From January 2004 to June 2006, 35 consecutive patients were diagnosed with GPN. All of them underwent MVD. Demographic data, clinical presentation, operative findings, clinical results, operative complications were reviewed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 33 patients (94.3%) experienced complete pain relief immediately after MVD. Long-term follow-up was available for 30 of these 35 patients, and 28 of these 30 patients continued to be pain-free. There was no long-term operative morbidity in all cases. One patient had a cerebrospinal fluid leak and 1 case presented with delayed facial palsy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Classic GPN is usually caused by pulsatile neurovascular compression of the glossopharyngeal and vagus rootlets. MVD is a safe, effective, and durable operation for GPN.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Xinhua hospital affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Hua
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Xinhua hospital affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Xin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Xinhua hospital affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Jin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Xinhua hospital affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Yin-da
authors.initials: YD
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Xinhua hospital affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, People's Republic of China. Electronic address: xinhuaneuro@126.com.
authors.forename: Shi-Ting
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001919:Bradycardia / Q000209:etiology; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D020435:Glossopharyngeal Nerve Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D061145:Microvascular Decompression Surgery / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies
keywords: Glossopharyngeal neuralgia; Microvascular decompression; Vagoglossopharygeal neuralgia