Introduction

Trigeminal neuralgia is the most common and best known of the cranial neuralgias; glossopharyngeal neuralgia (GPN) is much rarer and less well-recognised. First described by Weisenberg1 in 1920, GPN is characterised by severe paroxysms of pain affecting the ear, beneath the angle of the jaw, base of tongue and tonsillar fossa. The pain lasts seconds to minutes and typically worsens with swallowing, talking and coughing. The stereotyped nature of the attacks, lack of alternative explanation and normal neurological examination, fulfil the International Headache Society Diagnostic criteria for GPN.2 Like trigeminal neuralgia it can result from microvascular or other causes of compression of …