The Curious Case of Glossopharyngeal Neuralgia after Robotic Thyroidectomy

Abstract Glossopharyngeal neuralgia (GPN) is a rare condition characterized by sharp, stabbing pain in the oropharynx, tongue, and ear. Secondary GPN following neck surgeries is an uncommon but highly debilitating complication. A 41-year-old male developed severe, medically refractory GPN following a robotic thyroidectomy via a retroauricular approach. The patient was successfully managed with a diagnostic glossopharyngeal nerve block, followed by pulsed radiofrequency ablation (PRFA) of the glossopharyngeal nerve. While the patient experienced a recurrence of pain after 4 months, a second PRFA procedure provided sustained, complete pain relief for over 8 months. PRFA is a safe, nondestructive neuromodulatory technique that can effectively treat secondary GPN. To our knowledge, this is the first documented case of GPN secondary to robotic thyroidectomy successfully treated with PRFA.