Glossopharyngeal neuralgia with cardiac syncope. A case successfully treated by microvascular decompression

A case of glossopharyngeal neuralgia associated with episodic cardiac arrest and syncope is presented. Posterior fossa exploration showed that the left glossopharyngeal and vagus nerves were compressed by the posterior inferior cerebellar artery. Microvascular decompression resulted in complete relief of glossopharyngeal neuralgia, cardiac syncope, and seizure. The mechanism of glossopharyngeal neuralgia associated with cardiac syncope is discussed.