Vegal and Superior Laryngeal Neuralgia

[Guest guest]

http://neurosurgery.mgh.harvard.edu/TNR//tn-vagn.html

Vegal and Superior Laryngeal Neuralgia

The following article is excerpted from:

THE MANAGEMENT OF PAIN,

VOL 1, Second Edition, 1990, Lea & Febiger, Philadelphia]

CRANIAL NEURALGIAS

D. Loeser

Vegal and Superior Laryngeal Neuralgia : The two somatic sensory

branches of the vagus nerve, the auricular branch and the superior

laryngeal nerve, can also be the site of a pain syndrome that resembles

that of tic douloureux. This syndrome is rare.

Symptoms and Signs

Vagus nerve neuralgia is characterized by paroxysms of shock-like pain

in the side of the throid cartilage, pyriform sinus, angle of the jaw,

and, rarely, in the ear. Occasionally the pain radiates into the upper

thorax or up into the jaw. The trigger zone is usually in the larynx;

attacks are precipitated by talking, swallowing, yawning, or coughing.

When other portions of the vagus nerve are involved, the patient might

have hiccups, inspiratory stridor, excessive salivation, or coughing.

The pain is in every way typical of tic douloureux except for its

location. The combination of glossopharyngeal and vagal as well as

trigeminal pain has been reported.