Abstract
A 53-year-old man developed severe pain in the left half of his face in April 1974. The pain was induced by swallowing motion and lasted 3-30 minutes and repeated several times a day from the onset. The patient showed a charasteristic posture. He pressed forcefully his left jow and left ear with towel in his hand. The pain was induced by pressure at the point which was between the mastoid process and the articular process of the mandibula. The pressure of left tonsil also induced the pain attack.
Epipharynx tumor, intracranial tumor or elongated styloid process was not found in this patient. The patient showed a leucocytosis and an accelerated erythrocyte sedimentation rate. Steroid therapy affected disappearance and prevention of the pain attack. Intravenous injection of xylocaine and glossopharyngeal block were effective. He was diagnosed glossopharyngeal neuralgia of inflammatory origin.
