TRIGEMINAL NEURALGIA VERSUS ATYPICAL FACIAL-PAIN - A REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE AND CASE-REPORT

Trigeminal neuralgia and atypical facial pain are common conditions of facial pain. Although these two pain conditions are classically well separated in textbooks, a straightforward diagnosis may not always be possible because of the overlapping clinical signs and symptoms. in th is article, a comparison and differentiation between the clinical and diagnostic features of these two pain conditions are presented. The ge neral characteristics, etiologic characteristics, pathophysiology, dif ferential diagnostic criteria, and therapeutic options of trigeminal n euralgia and atypical facial pain are described. A case report demonst rates the difficulties that can arise in the diagnosis and differentia tion between the two disease entities. The article underscores the res ponsibility clinicians have in correctly diagnosing and managing patie nts with facial pain conditions.