What is the Difference Between Eagle Syndrome and Glossopharyngeal Neuralgia

The key difference between Eagle syndrome and glossopharyngeal neuralgia is that Eagle syndrome occurs due to the elongated styloid processes and calcified stylohyoid ligaments, while glossopharyngeal neuralgia occurs due to the irritation of the ninth cranial nerve.

Facial pain can be caused by oral infections, ulcers, abscesses, skin abscesses, headache, facial injury, toothache, herpes zoster, migraine, sinusitis, nerve or other disorders, and herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1). Eagle syndrome and glossopharyngeal neuralgia are two conditions that cause facial pain.

CONTENTS

1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Eagle Syndrome 
3. What is Glossopharyngeal Neuralgia
4. Similarities – Eagle Syndrome and Glossopharyngeal Neuralgia
5. Eagle Syndrome vs. Glossopharyngeal Neuralgia in Tabular Form
6. Summary – Eagle Syndrome vs. Glossopharyngeal Neuralgia

What is Eagle Syndrome?

Eagle syndrome is a condition that results in pain in the throat and face. An unusually long styloid process bone generally causes it. Styloid process bone is a pointy bone just under the ear. Other causes of Eagle syndrome include tonsillectomy and calcification of the stylohyoid ligament. Moreover, the symptoms of this condition may include swallowing difficulties, feeling of something stuck in the throat, shooting pain from the ear or jaw, pain at the base of the tongue, pain while swallowing or turning the head to one side, persistent ringing in the ear, severe headache, throbbing in the jaw, and unusual sensations in the head and the neck.

Eagle syndrome can be diagnosed through physical symptoms evaluation, visualization of the styloid process on a CT scan,  or visualization of the enlarged styloid on an orthopantogram or a lateral soft tissue X-ray of the neck. Furthermore, Eagle syndrome is treated with pain and anti-inflammatory medications, antidepressants, and/or corticosteroids, a partial styloidectomy, and the repair of a damaged carotid artery.

What is Glossopharyngeal Neuralgia?

Glossopharyngeal neuralgia is a rare condition that results in repeated episodes of severe pain in the tongue, throat, ear, and tonsils. It is caused by the irritation of the ninth cranial nerve due to blood vessels pressing on the glossopharyngeal nerve, different growths at the base of the skull pressing on the glossopharyngeal nerve, or tumors or infections of the throat and mouth pressing on the glossopharyngeal nerve. Moreover, the symptoms of glossopharyngeal neuralgia may include a sharp, jabbing pain deep in the throat, in the tongue, ear, and tonsils, which lasts a few seconds to a few minutes, and some heart irregularities such as sudden drops in blood pressure, fainting (syncope), and seizures.

Glossopharyngeal neuralgia can be diagnosed through physical examinations, MRI (magnetic resonance imaging), or CT (computed tomography). Furthermore, glossopharyngeal neuralgia is treated through anticonvulsants, such as carbamazepine (Tegretol) and gabapentin (Neurontin), and surgeries like microvascular decompression (MVD).

What are the Similarities Between Eagle Syndrome and Glossopharyngeal Neuralgia?

• Eagle syndrome and glossopharyngeal neuralgia are two conditions that cause facial pain.
• Both are rare conditions.
• They can be diagnosed through physical examination and imaging tests.
• They are treated through specific medications and surgeries.

What is the Difference Between Eagle Syndrome and Glossopharyngeal Neuralgia?

Eagle syndrome occurs due to elongated styloid processes and calcified stylohyoid ligaments, while glossopharyngeal neuralgia occurs due to the irritation of the ninth cranial nerve. So, this is the key difference between Eagle syndrome and glossopharyngeal neuralgia. Furthermore, Eagle syndrome is caused by an unusually long styloid process bone, tonsillectomy, and calcification of the stylohyoid ligament. On the other hand, glossopharyngeal neuralgia is caused by the irritation of the ninth cranial nerve due to blood vessels pressing on the glossopharyngeal nerve, different growths at the base of the skull pressing on the glossopharyngeal nerve or tumors or infections of the throat and mouth pressing on the glossopharyngeal nerve.

The infographic below presents the differences between Eagle syndrome and glossopharyngeal neuralgia in tabular form for side-by-side comparison.

Summary – Eagle Syndrome vs. Glossopharyngeal Neuralgia

Facial pain can be defined as sharp, dull, throbbing, achy, constant, or sporadic pain in the facial regions. It can be due to different aetiologies such as an infection, nerve damage in the face, or other different conditions. Eagle syndrome and glossopharyngeal neuralgia are two rare conditions that cause facial pain. Eagle syndrome occurs due to the elongated styloid processes and calcified stylohyoid ligaments, while glossopharyngeal neuralgia occurs due to the irritation of the ninth cranial nerve. Thus, this is the summary of the difference between Eagle syndrome and glossopharyngeal neuralgia.

Reference:

1. Saccomanno, S, et al. “Eagle’s Syndrome, from Clinical Presentation to Diagnosis and Surgical Treatment: A Case Report.” Acta Otorhinolaryngologica Italica: Organo Ufficiale Della Societa Italiana Di Otorinolaringologia e Chirurgia Cervico-Facciale, U.S. National Library of Medicine.
2. “Glossopharyngeal Neuralgia.” Statpearls – NCBI Bookshelf.

Image Courtesy:

1. “Eagle’s syndrome” By Kirchhoff G, Kirchhoff C, Buhmann S, Kanz KG, Lenz M, Vogel T, Kichhoff RM. A rare differential diagnosis to occupational neck pain: bilateral stylohyoid syndrome. J Occup Med Toxicol. 1, 14. 2006. doi:10.1186/1745-6673-1-14. PMID 16800878. (CC BY 2.0) via Commons Wikimedia
2. “Image from page 471 of “The science and practice of dental surgery” (1914)” By Internet Archive Book Image (Public Domain) via Flickr