A CASE OF GLOSSOPHARYNGEAL NEURALGIA AND CERVICAL ANAT OMY OF GLOSSOPHARYNGIAL NERVE

Abstract

A case of glossopharyngeal neuralgia of 61 years old man is reported and cervical anatomy of glossopharyngeal nerve is also discussed. The patient complained of severe pain at the left side of his throat and diagnosed as glossopharyngeal neuralgia. First, section of the nerve was performed through oropharyngeal approach on December, 1980. He was completely free from the pain. After three and a half years'remission, the pain recurred. The glossopharyngeal nerve was cut through cervical approach on July, 1987, Postoperativly, the attacks of the pain disappeared. Complete relief has ensued for about five years. The author recommend the oropharyngeal approach for the operative procedure of the glossopharyngeal neuralgia. If the recurrence shouud occur, the cervical approach will be done. To clarify the site where the glossopharyngeal nerve passes across the internal and external carotids, the nerve was exmined during the operation of 5 cases of oropharyngeal cancer . The site where the nerve crosses external carotid is variable from one individual to another and ranges 25mm-45mm from the carotid bifurcation.