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Glossopharyngeal Nerve Entrapment

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Peripheral Nerve Entrapments

Abstract

Glossopharyngeal nerve (GN) is the ninth cranial nerve, with a short course from the jugular foramen to the ear and throat. It carries sensory, motor, and autonomic fibers. Glossopharyngeal neuralgia (GPN) is a rare disorder, with patients usually complaining about short paroxysms of pain at the ear, tonsils, throat, and jaw. Swallowing, chewing, or talking usually provokes this potentially severe GPN pain. The diagnosis of idiopathic GPN is mainly based on the patient’s history, clinical symptoms and exclusion of other pathology. It is verified by diagnostic injection that can be performed either at the styloid level or at the tonsillar fossa. Once the diagnosis is confirmed, neurolytic procedures or occasionally open surgery can provide relief.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA

    Agnes R. Stogicza MD, FIPP

  2. Pain and Headache Center, Anchorage, AK, USA

    Andrea M. Trescot MD, ABIPP, FIPP

Authors
  1. Agnes R. Stogicza MD, FIPP
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  2. Andrea M. Trescot MD, ABIPP, FIPP
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Agnes R. Stogicza MD, FIPP .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Pain and Headache Center, Anchorage, AK, USA

    Andrea M. Trescot MD, ABIPP, FIPP (Medical Director) (Medical Director)

Electronic Supplementary Material

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Glossopharyngeal nerve exam (MOV 52210 kb)

Glossopharyngeal landmark-guided injection (MOV 58922 kb)

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© 2016 Springer International Publishing Switzerland

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Stogicza, A.R., Trescot, A.M. (2016). Glossopharyngeal Nerve Entrapment. In: Trescot, A.M. (eds) Peripheral Nerve Entrapments. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-27482-9_26

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-27482-9_26

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-27480-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-27482-9

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

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