Tongue pain as the presenting symptom of glossopharyngeal neuralgia: a case report.

Glossopharyngeal neuralgia (GPN) is a rare orofacial pain disorder often characterized by unilateral, episodic, and stabbing pain in the tongue, pharynx, or ear. Its diagnosis is often challenging due to symptomatic overlap with other cranial nerve neuralgias, including trigeminal neuralgia, nervus intermedius neuralgia, and lingual nerve neuralgia, as well as nonneuropathic conditions such as oropharyngeal infections and gastroesophageal reflux. Careful assessment of the quality, distribution, and duration of pain and any precipitating factors is essential for accurate differentiation from other pain entities. This case report describes a 73-year-old woman presenting with left-sided pain affecting the posterior region of the tongue that was ultimately diagnosed as classical GPN based on clinical findings and high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging and angiography. This case highlights the importance of including GPN in the differential diagnosis of unexplained tongue pain as well as the critical role of oral healthcare providers in early recognition and timely referral for appropriate management.