Sensorial differences according to sex and ages.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate age and sex differences in orofacial sensory detection. METHODS: One hundred and twenty-six (126) healthy subjects were divided into five groups according to their ages. They were assessed with a quantitative sensory testing protocol for gustative, olfactory, thermal (cold/warm), mechanical (tactile/vibration/electric), and pain (deep/superficial) detection thresholds. The corneal reflex was also evaluated. Data were analyzed with the one-way ANOVA, chi-squared, Fisher's exact, Mann-Whitney, and Kruskal-Wallis tests. RESULTS: The groups of subjects over 61 years old had higher olfactory (P < 0.001), gustative (sweet P = 0.004, salty P = 0.007, sour P = 0.006), thermal (warm P < 0.001, cold P < 0.001), and tactile (P < 0.001) detection thresholds than the others. The vibration detection threshold was high only for subjects over 75 years old (P < 0.001). The electric and deep pain detection thresholds were different for the 61-75 years old group (P ≤ 0.001). Women in all age groups had lower gustative (sweet P = 0.020, salty P = 0.002, sour P < 0.001, and bitter P = 0.002), olfactory (P = 0.010), warm (P < 0.001) and deep (P < 0.001), and superficial pain (P = 0.008) detection thresholds than men, and men from all age groups had lower vibratory detection thresholds (P = 0.006) than women. CONCLUSION: High sensory detection thresholds were observed in subjects over the 6th decade of life, and women had a more accurate sensory perception than men.

Glossopharyngeal neuralgia: neurosurgical treatment and differential diagnosis.

The objective of this study was to review the literature on glossopharyngeal neuralgia (GN) and to discuss its differential diagnosis and treatment options. Despite the significant improvement of trigeminal neuralgia with pharmacological treatment, GN has a higher incidence of treatment failure and neurosurgery is necessary for the majority of patients. Functional neurosurgery has a great rate of success for GN, especially techniques such as percutaneous thermal rhizotomy, trigeminal tractotomy and/or nucleotomy. The main problem with GN remains the diagnosis as it is a rare disease with similarities to trigeminal neuralgia, including the same pharmacological treatment. Facial pain specialists should be trained to achieve a better accuracy of diagnosis.

Masticatory problems after balloon compression for trigeminal neuralgia: a longitudinal study.

Idiopathic trigeminal neuralgia (ITN) is a chronic neuropathic pain that affects the masticatory system. The objective of this study was to identify orofacial pain and temporomandibular characteristics, including temporomandibular disorder (TMD), in a sample of 105 ITN patients treated with compression of the trigeminal ganglion. The evaluations occurred before, 7, 30 (1 month), 120 (3 months) and 210 days (7 months) after surgery. The Research Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders (RDC/TMD), the Clinical Questionnaire (EDOF-HC) and Helkimo Indexes were used. Findings before neurosurgery were used as control for parameters. McNemar test and variance analysis for repetitive measurements were used for statistical analysis; 45.3% of the edentulous patients presented severe dental occlusion index; numbness was an important masticatory complaint in 42.6%; mastication became bilateral, but its discomfort continued during all period; headache and body pain reduced after surgery; TMD, present in 43.8% before surgery, increased but normalized after 7 months; jaw mobility compromise was still present, but daily activities improved after 7 months. We concluded that: (i) ITN relief reduced headache, body pain, depression and unspecific symptoms; and (ii) TMD before surgery and at 7 months suggests that this may be a contributory factor to patients' pain complaints.