Glossopharyngeusneuralgie: het onbekende broertje van trigeminusneuralgie

Glossopharyngeal neuralgia: trigeminal neuralgia’s unknown brother Glossopharyngeal neuralgia is a relatively rare condition characterized by unilateral, paroxysmal shooting pain in the throat, mouth and back of the tongue, sometimes radiating to the ear. These episodes can be triggered by eating, swallowing, yawning or sneezing and may be highly incapacitating for the patient. The diagnosis is made based on a clinical examination and supplemented by additional investigations to rule out other causes and underlying exacerbating etiologies. Frequently, a neurovascular conflict of the glossopharyngeal nerve can be demonstrated by an MRI of the posterior fossa. The initial treatment usually consists of drug administration (carbamazepine). In refractory cases, microvascular decompression of the glossopharyngeal nerve may be considered. With a success rate of around 85%, this is an elegant and safe procedure with the potential for a significant improvement of the patient’s quality of life for this highly debilitating condition.