[Problem of neuralgia and prosopalgia]

On the basis of analyzing 800 observations on patients with neuralgias and prosopalgias, the authors identify special or paroxysmal neuralgias of the tunnel origin that are marked by a pathognomic clinical picture and require specific therapy. Another group of facial pains--prosopalgias proper--includes pains varying in the origin, clinical course and therapeutic approach. Diagnostic terms for describing neuralgias of the trigeminal nerve are reviewed, and the concept of their primarily central or primarily peripheral origin is proved to be untenable.