Glossopharyngeal Neuralgia Due to Vertebrobasilar Dolichoectasia Coexisting with Fusiform Aneurysm of the Basilar Artery

Abstract

Glossopharyngeal neuralgia (GPN) refers to paroxysmal severe pain located to glossopharyngeal part or ear, which is a rare clinical event. In this report, we describe a patient suffered from glossopharyngeal neuralgia due to vertebrobasilar dolichoectasia (VBD). A 72-year-old Chinese male was referred to our clinic with a complaint of paroxysmal severe pain in the right external auditory canal and auricle since 1 month, which could be precipitated by feed and accompanied with the vagus nerve irritation (bradycardia, low blood pressure, syncope) sometimes. Both computed tomographic angiography and digital subtraction angiography demonstrated a VBD (maximum diameter 5.7 mm) and a large fusiform aneurysm of basilar artery (maximum diameter 13.8 mm). The diagnosis is established on clinical and radiological signs. This is the first report of this kind in the literature. Although a few cases demonstrate that VBD can cause GPN, it should be considered as a possible etiology in patients with GPN.