SLUDERS SPHENOPALATINE GANGLION NEURALGIA - TREATMENT WITH 88-PERCENTPHENOL

Patients who experience chronic recurring head and face pain present a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge. Treatment options for Sluder's neuralgia, an uncommon cause for recurring head and face pain, are con troversial. We reviewed the outcomes of patients who underwent intrana sal phenolization of the sphenopalatine ganglion for the treatment of Sluder's neuralgia. Eight patients were treated with intranasal cauter ization of the sphenopalatine ganglion between 1990 and 1995. Patients were treated an average of 13 times. Overall, patients experienced a 90% decrease in head and face pain for an average of 9.5 months durati on. Interestingly, the patients described recurrent pain as less sever e, less frequent, and of shorter duration. Intranasal phenolization of the sphenopalatine ganglion appeals so be a safe and effective, altho ugh temporary, treatment for patients with Sluder's neuralgia. This ar ticle will review the symptomatology differential diagnosis, and pheno lization technique for treatment of Sluder's neuralgia.