Glossopharyngeal neuralgia is a rare pain syndrome that affects the glossopharyngeal nerve. It results in frequent episodes of pain in the throat, tongue, tonsils, and middle ear.
UPMC specialists offer expert diagnosis and treatment for glossopharyngeal neuralgia, including performing advanced microvascular decompression procedures to relieve pressure on the glossopharyngeal nerve.
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What Is Glossopharyngeal Neuralgia?
Glossopharyngeal neuralgia is a rare pain syndrome that affects the glossopharyngeal nerve. It causes repeated episodes of pain in the throat, tongue, tonsils, and middle ear.
The pain typically lasts a few seconds to a few minutes and may be severe.
How common is glossopharyngeal neuralgia?
Glossopharyngeal neuralgia is rare. The Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center of the National Institutes of Health estimates that fewer than 5,000 people in the U.S. have glossopharyngeal neuralgia.
What causes glossopharyngeal neuralgia?
Glossopharyngeal neuralgia is caused by irritation of the ninth cranial nerve. It typically occurs when a blood vessel presses on the nerve near where it exits the brainstem.
Glossopharyngeal neuralgia risk factors
Glossopharyngeal neuralgia most commonly affects people over age 40.
Complications of glossopharyngeal neuralgia
Complications of glossopharyngeal neuralgia may include:
- Medication side effects.
- Slow pulse and fainting when pain becomes severe.
How can I prevent glossopharyngeal neuralgia?
There is nothing you can do to prevent glossopharyngeal neuralgia.
What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Glossopharyngeal Neuralgia?
Glossopharyngeal neuralgia causes severe pain in areas connected to the ninth cranial nerve, which include the:
- Back of the tongue.
- Ear.
- Larynx or voice box.
- Nasopharynx, or back of the nose and throat.
- Tonsils.
What triggers glossopharyngeal neuralgia symptoms?
Glossopharyngeal neuralgia pain can be triggered by:
- Chewing.
- Coughing.
- Laughing.
- Speaking.
- Swallowing.
When should I see a doctor about my glossopharyngeal neuralgia symptoms?
If you have symptoms of glossopharyngeal neuralgia, schedule an appointment with your doctor as soon as possible. Early diagnosis and treatment can reduce symptoms and improve your quality of life.
If you experience dizziness, fainting, or changes in your heart rate, dial 911 or go to the nearest hospital Emergency Department.
How Do You Diagnose Glossopharyngeal Neuralgia?
To diagnose glossopharyngeal neuralgia, your doctor will perform a physical exam and review your symptoms and medical history. Your doctor may also order imaging tests to rule out other health conditions.
What to expect during your visit
To diagnose glossopharyngeal neuralgia, your doctor will:
- Ask you about your symptoms.
- Order imaging and other diagnostic tests.
- Perform a physical exam.
- Review your medical history.
Tests to diagnose glossopharyngeal neuralgia
There is no test to diagnose glossopharyngeal neuralgia. However, your doctor may order an MRI to rule out other health conditions.
Glossopharyngeal neuralgia prognosis
If left untreated, glossopharyngeal neuralgia can harm your quality of life. However, most cases can be effectively treated with medication or surgery, and symptoms often disappear completely over time.
How Do You Treat Glossopharyngeal Neuralgia?
The goals of glossopharyngeal neuralgia treatment are to reduce symptoms, prevent recurrence, and improve quality of life. Treatment options may include:
Medications
Your doctor may recommend antiseizure medications, muscle relaxants, or tricyclic antidepressants to treat glossopharyngeal neuralgia. Your doctor may also recommend topical medications that provide temporary pain relief.
Nerve blocks
Nerve blocks involve injecting anti-inflammatory medication near the irritated nerve to reduce symptoms.
Microvascular decompression surgery
If medications do not provide symptom relief or cause side effects, microvascular decompression surgery may be an option.
Microvascular decompression is a minimally invasive surgical procedure that relieves abnormal compression of a cranial nerve. During the surgery, your doctor will make an incision behind the ear and create an opening in your skull that is the size of a silver dollar.
Using a microscope or endoscope, your surgeon will locate the area where your blood vessel is pressing on your cranial nerve and separate them, leaving a Teflon "pillow" between them.
How effective is microvascular decompression surgery?
Microvascular decompression is considered the most effective glossopharyngeal neuralgia treatment. Despite the rarity of glossopharyngeal neuralgia, UPMC specialists have operated on more than 200 people, with more than 80 percent reporting immediate and satisfactory results.
Why Choose UPMC for Glossopharyngeal Neuralgia Care?
When you choose UPMC for glossopharyngeal care, you will receive:
- Access to board-certified specialists — Our multidisciplinary team of experts provides leading-edge, minimally invasive pain management and neurosurgical care for people with glossopharyngeal neuralgia.
- Expert diagnosis and personalized care — Our team will develop a customized treatment plan to reduce your risk of complications and improve your quality of life.
- A full range of treatment options — We use the latest therapies and approaches to provide comprehensive care, including microvascular decompression surgery.
