presentation and treatment of geniculate neuralgia
Geniculate neuralgia, also termed nervus intermedius neuralgia, is an extremely rare disorder that affects young to middle-aged women. It presents as brief intermittent episodes of deep stabbing ear pain, triggered by cutaneous stimulation of the auditory canal. The pain can also be associated with increased salivation, a bitter taste, and/or tinnitus. MRI should be used to carefully assess the cerebellopontine angle, looking for vascular compression of cranial nerves V to X. Medical treatment consists of anti-epileptic drugs and surgical treatment involves microvascular decompression or sectioning of the nervus intermedius.
