History of facial pain diagnosis.

Joanna M Zakrzewska,Troels S Jensen

doi:10.1177/0333102417691045

Abstract

PremiseFacial pain refers to a heterogeneous group of clinically and etiologically different conditions with the common clinical feature of pain in the facial area. Among these conditions, trigeminal neuralgia (TN), persistent idiopathic facial pain, temporomandibular joint pain, and trigeminal autonomic cephalalgias (TAC) are the most well described conditions.ConclusionTN has been known for centuries, and is recognised by its characteristic and almost pathognomonic clinical features. The other facial pain conditions are less well defined, and over the years there has been confusion about their classification.

Highlights

Facial pain is pain localised to the face, and the diagnosis of facial pains has puzzled clinicians for centuries
The face is here defined as the part of the head that is limited by the hairline, by the front attachment of the ear and by the lower jaw, both the rear edge and the lower horizontal part of the jaw
Pain in the facial region can be classified in multiple ways, for example according to underlying pathology, the temporal course, underlying pathophysiology, localisation, the specific structure involved, and underlying etiology

Summary

Introduction

Facial pain is pain localised to the face, and the diagnosis of facial pains has puzzled clinicians for centuries. Keywords History, trigeminal neuralgia, trigeminal autonomic cephalagias, persistent idiopathic facial pain, temporomandibular disorders The diagnosis of facial pain focuses on the involved structure, for example temporomandibular joint disorder, in other cases it is the underlying pathology (sinusitis), and in others it is the specific character of the pain that will dictate the diagnosis (e.g. trigeminal neuralgia).

Results

Conclusion