Pulsed Radiofrequency Ablation for the Treatment of Glossopharyngeal Neuralgia Secondary to Oropharyngeal Carcinoma.

Background: The management of glossopharyngeal neuralgia due to oropharyngeal carcinoma is particularly difficult because of rich innervations of the area, erosive nature of neoplasm and dynamic pain evoked by the functional movements like swallowing and chewing. Few case reports have shown the efficacy of pulsed radiofrequency (PRF) treatment in primary and secondary glossopharyngeal neuralgia in non-cancer patients. However, the efficacy of PRF ablation of the glossopharyngeal nerve in oral cancer patients is not known.