A Case of Atypical Trigeminal Neuralgia Mistaken as Glossopharyngeal Neuralgia: A case report / 대한마취과학회지

ABSTRACT

Trigeminal neuralgia (TGN) is a relatively well-known disorder with characteristic brief attacks of shooting pain in the facial regions. Atypical signs like constant pain and/or sensory abnormalities can develop as the disease progresses. Some cases begin with atypical signs and later develop all the hallmarks of TGN. The atypical forms of TGN can be misdiagnosed as other pain disorders. We present a patient with facial pain who demonstrated a transformation in signs of glossopharyngeal neuralgia into typical trigeminal neuralgia. A 71 year-old man was referred for sharp episodic pain in his right side of the face and neck. The pain was mainly in the neck, which was worsened especially by swallowing. The condition was initially diagnosed as a glossopharyngenl neuralgia. While controlling the pain conservatively with a sympathetic blockade, the neck pain disappeared suddenly and lower jaw pain triggered by speaking and chewing became prominent, which are the characteristic signs of trigeminal neuralgia.