[A Case of Coexistent Glossopharyngeal Neuralgia and Hemifacial Spasm Successfully Treated with Transposition of the Vertebral Artery]

No Shinkei Geka. 2017 Jun;45(6):503-508. doi: 10.11477/mf.1436203540.
[Article in Japanese]

Abstract

A case of coexistent glossopharyngeal neuralgia and hemifacial spasm was treated by transposition of the vertebral artery. A 60-year-old man was referred to our hospital due to pain in the left posterior part of the tongue that was difficult to control with oral medication at a local hospital. The diagnosis was left glossopharyngeal neuralgia based on the symptoms, imaging findings, and lidocaine test results. Moreover, the patient had left hemifacial spasm. Microvascular decompression was performed, which confirmed that the vertebral artery was compressing the lower cranial nerve and the posterior inferior cerebellar artery was compressing the root exit zone of the facial nerve. The vertebral artery and posterior inferior cerebellar artery were transposed using TachoSil®. After the surgery, both glossopharyngeal neuralgia and hemifacial spasm disappeared, and the patient was discharged.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Glossopharyngeal Nerve Diseases / complications
  • Glossopharyngeal Nerve Diseases / diagnostic imaging
  • Glossopharyngeal Nerve Diseases / surgery*
  • Hemifacial Spasm / complications
  • Hemifacial Spasm / diagnostic imaging
  • Hemifacial Spasm / surgery*
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neurosurgical Procedures
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Vertebral Artery / diagnostic imaging
  • Vertebral Artery / surgery*