Glossopharyngeal neuralgia is a paroxysmal severe pain localized to the distribution area of the glossopharyngeal nerve. The cause is unknown.

bubble_chart Diagnosis

1. Medical History and Symptoms

Middle-aged males are more commonly affected, often experiencing episodic severe pain in the tonsils, pharynx, or deep ear canal triggered by swallowing, talking, or coughing. Each episode lasts a few seconds, and some patients may experience bradycardia, syncope, and spasms during the attack.

2. Physical Examination Findings

Apart from the pain episodes, neurological examinations usually show no abnormalities. Trigger points may be found at the base of the tongue or in the tonsillar fossa.

4. Differential Diagnosis

It is often differentiated from trigeminal neuralgia, pain caused by nasopharyngeal tumors involving the pharynx, and pain due to skull base structures.

bubble_chart Treatment Measures

1. Drug Therapy:

Same as trigeminal neuralgia.

2. Cocaine spray on the affected tonsil and pharynx can temporarily stop pain attacks.

3. Surgical Treatment:

When drug therapy is unsatisfactory, intracranial cutting of the affected glossopharyngeal nerve root and the highest 1-2 roots of the vagus nerve can yield better results.