Glossopharyngeal neuralgia and hypoglossal nerve palsy: A singular clinical case of two rare concomitant neurovascular conflicts.

Abstract

Background: Neurovascular conflict (NVC) is described as a pathological contact between cranial nerves and vessels. Glossopharyngeal neuralgia (GPN) and hypoglossal nerve palsy (HNP) due to NVC represent rare clinical entities. To our knowledge, we present the first reported case of concomitant GPN and HNP caused by vertebral artery (VA)-posterior inferior cerebellar artery (PICA) complex compression.

Case description: We report an extremely rare case of a 52-year-old man with combined unilateral left-sided GPN and HNP because of NVC involving both the VA and the PICA, successfully treated with a retrosigmoid approach for microvascular decompression (MVD). Postoperatively, the patient immediately recovered without new-onset dysfunction of lower cranial nerves, and a complete remission of symptoms was achieved.

Conclusion: As far as we know, in this article, we present the first singular case in the literature of concomitant classical GPN and HNP due to NVC involving both the VA and the PICA. Despite the low incidence of GPN and HNP, clinical picture and intraoperative findings represent clear and reliable elements for their diagnosis. MVD is a successful therapeutic strategy that offers a long-term cure for GPN and HNP.