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Pronunciations carbamazepine gabapentin glossopharyngeal glossopharyngeal neuralgia hypoglossal phenytoin trigeminal trigeminal neuralgia

Glossopharyngeal neuralgia consists of recurring attacks of severe pain in the back of the throat, the area near the tonsils, the back of the tongue, and part of the ear. The pain is due to malfunction of the 9th cranial nerve (glossopharyngeal nerve), which moves the muscles of the throat and carries information from the throat, tonsils, and tongue to the brain.

Glossopharyngeal neuralgia, a rare disorder, usually begins after age 40 and occurs more often in men. Often, its cause is unknown. But sometimes glossopharyngeal neuralgia results from an abnormally positioned artery that compresses the glossopharyngeal nerve near where it exits the brain stem. Rarely, the cause is a tumor in the brain or neck.

Symptoms

Attacks are brief and occur intermittently, but they cause excruciating pain. Attacks may be triggered by a particular action, such as chewing, swallowing, talking, coughing, or sneezing. The pain usually begins at the back of the tongue or back of the throat. Sometimes pain spreads to the ear. The pain may last several seconds to a few minutes and usually affects only one side of the throat and tongue. In 1 to 2% of people, the heartbeat is affected. It slows so much that it stops temporarily, causing fainting.

Diagnosis and Treatment

Glossopharyngeal neuralgia is distinguished from trigeminal neuralgia (which causes similar pain) based on the pain's location or results of a specific test. For the test, a doctor touches the back of the throat with a cotton-tipped applicator. If pain results, the doctor applies a local anesthetic to the back of the throat. If the anesthetic eliminates the pain, the glossopharyngeal neuralgia is diagnosed. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is done to check for tumors.

Taking the Pressure Off a Nerve When pain results from an abnormally positioned artery pressing on a cranial nerve, the pain can be relieved by a surgical procedure called vascular decompression. This procedure may be done to treat trigeminal neuralgia, hemifacial spasms, or glossopharyngeal neuralgia. If the trigeminal nerve is compressed, an area on the back of the head is shaved, and an incision is made. The surgeon cuts a small hole in the skull and lifts the edge of the brain to expose the nerve. Then the surgeon separates the artery from the nerve and places a small sponge between them. A general anesthetic is required, but the risk of side effects from the procedure is small. Side effects include facial numbness, facial weakness, double vision, infection, bleeding, alterations in hearing and balance, and paralysis. Usually, this procedure relieves the pain, but in about 15% of people, pain recurs.

The same drugs used to treat trigeminal neuralgia—carbamazepineSome Trade Names
TEGRETOL
, gabapentinSome Trade Names
NEURONTIN
, phenytoinSome Trade Names
DILANTIN
, baclofenSome Trade Names
LIORESAL
, and tricyclic antidepressants (see Depression and Mania: Drugs Used to Treat Depression)—may help. If these drugs are ineffective, applying a local anesthetic (such as cocaine) to the back of the throat may provide temporary relief. However, for permanent relief, surgery may be needed. The glossopharyngeal nerve is separated from the artery that is compressing it by placing a small sponge between them.

Last full review/revision July 2007 by Michael Rubin, MD