Non-surgical therapy for bilateral glossopharyngeal neuralgia caused by Eagle’s syndrome, diagnosed by three-dimensional computed tomography: a case report

Abstract

Eagle's syndrome is an uncommon sequela of elongation of the styloid process. Symptoms include recurrent throat pain and anterolateral neck pain, with referred pain to the ear. We report a 65-year-old man who presented with bilateral glossopharyngeal neuralgia. We performed three-dimensional computed tomography which revealed that the right styloid process was 35.1mm and the left process was 29.6mm, leading to diagnosis of an elongated styloid process, i.e. Eagle's syndrome. Because the patient refused surgical treatment, conservative therapy was selected. Oral gabapentin, stellate ganglion block, and 8% lidocaine spray on the tonsillar branches of the glossopharyngeal nerve resulted in complete resolution of the paroxysms of pain in approximately 3weeks.