GLOSSOPHARYNGEAL NEURALGIA WITH CARDIAC SYNCOPE

GLOSSOPHARYNGEAL NEURALGIA IS an uncommon craniofacial pain syndrome t hat is occasionally associated with cardiac syncope. Involvement of th e glossopharyngeal nerve may be painless or may be marked by true epis odic neuralgia, and this justifies the term neuralgia reported here. W e present 5 cases of this uncommon syndrome, of a total of 15 observed cases of glossopharyngeal neuralgia, successfully treated by section of the rootlets of Cranial Nerves IX and X or by microvascular decompr ession in the posterior cranial fossa. We also analyze the relevant li terature and discuss the pathogenesis and treatment of the syndrome.