[The dissociated hypersthesia in Vincent's symptom--an indication of the etiology]

The so-called Vincent's symptom is a functional disturbance in the region of the distribution of n. alveolaris mand. Etiologically, it may be due to pathologic disorders of different origin. In fractures of the mandible with rupture of the nerve in the mandibular canal, complete anesthesia is observed. In inflammatory processes pain is first felt differently, later anesthesia is noted. In the case of a space-occupying lesion, tactile differentiation is disturbed first and pain sensation only after a relatively long time. In the case of infiltrating tumors, a neuritis is noted first (late Vincent's symptom). Thus, partially disturbed sensitivity may be a helpful symptom for differential diagnostic considerations, as is demonstrated in a number of cases.