Classification of Facial Pain: A Clinician's Perspective.

Successful management of facial pain starts with making correct diagnosis. Diagnostic errors, particularly early on in evaluation of facial pain patients are not uncommon, and some of this may be related to the lack of uniform classification that would satisfy needs of different specialists. Here, we critically review several most common classification schemes and try to compare and contrast their strength and unique features. We also attempt to link multiple terminologies describing same clinical conditions and provide a rationale for developing a unified nosological approach. Based on our findings, we conclude that despite many previous attempts, much work needs to be done to create a universally accepted, comprehensive but at the same time simple and user-friendly, facial pain classification, with the ultimate goal of integrating such classification into a treatment-guiding algorithm(s).

Use of an artificial neural network for diagnosis of facial pain syndromes: an update.

BACKGROUND: Based on a classification scheme for facial pain syndromes and a binomial (yes/no) facial pain questionnaire, we previously reported on the ability of an artificial neural network (ANN) to recognize and correctly diagnose patients with different facial pain syndromes. OBJECTIVES: We now report on an updated questionnaire, the development of a secure web-based neural network application and details of ANNs trained to diagnose patients with different facial pain syndromes. METHODS: Online facial pain questionnaire responses collected from 607 facial pain patients (395 female, 65%, ratio F/M 1.86/1) over 5 years and 7 months were used for ANN training. RESULTS: Sensitivity and specificity of the currently running ANN for trigeminal neuralgia type 1 and trigeminal neuralgia type 2 are 92.4 and 62.5% and 87.8 and 96.4%, respectively. Sensitivity and specificity are 86.7 and 95.2% for trigeminal neuropathic pain, 0 and 100% for trigeminal deafferentation pain and 100% for symptomatic trigeminal neuralgia and postherpetic neuralgia. Sensitivity is 50% for nervus intermedius neuralgia (NIN) and 0% for atypical facial pain (AFP), glossopharyngeal neuralgia (GPN) and temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ). Specificity for AFP, NIN and TMJ is 99% and for GPN, 100%. CONCLUSIONS: We demonstrate the utilization of question-based historical self-assessment responses used as inputs to design an ANN for the purpose of diagnosing facial pain syndromes (outputs) with high accuracy.

Idiopathic ophthalmodynia and idiopathic rhinalgia: two topographic facial pain syndromes.

OBJECTIVE: To describe 2 topographic facial pain conditions with the pain clearly localized in the eye (idiopathic ophthalmodynia) or in the nose (idiopathic rhinalgia), and to propose their distinction from persistent idiopathic facial pain. BACKGROUND: Persistent idiopathic facial pain, burning mouth syndrome, atypical odontalgia, and facial arthromyalgia are idiopathic facial pain syndromes that have been separated according to topographical criteria. Still, some other facial pain syndromes might have been veiled under the broad term of persistent idiopathic facial pain. METHODS: Through a 10-year period we have studied all patients referred to our neurological clinic because of facial pain of unknown etiology that might deviate from all well-characterized facial pain syndromes. RESULTS: In a group of patients we have identified 2 consistent clinical pictures with pain precisely located either in the eye (n=11) or in the nose (n=7). Clinical features resembled those of other localized idiopathic facial syndromes, the key differences relying on the topographic distribution of the pain. CONCLUSIONS: Both idiopathic ophthalmodynia and idiopathic rhinalgia seem specific pain syndromes with a distinctive location, and may deserve a nosologic status just as other focal pain syndromes of the face. Whether all such focal syndromes are topographic variants of persistent idiopathic facial pain or independent disorders remains a controversial issue.

Sluder's neuralgia: a trigeminal autonomic cephalalgia?

The objective was to formulate distinctive criteria to substantiate our opinion that Sluder's neuralgia and cluster headache are two different clinical entities. A systematic review was carried out of all available, original literature on Sluder's neuralgia. Pain characteristics, periodicity and associated signs and symptoms were studied and listed according to frequency of appearance. Eleven articles on Sluder's neuralgia were evaluated. Several differences between Sluder's neuralgia and cluster headache became evident. Based on described symptoms, new criteria for Sluder's neuralgia could be formulated. Sluder's neuralgia and cluster headache could possibly be regarded as two different headache syndromes, and Sluder's neuralgia could be a trigeminal autonomic cephalalgia.

The International Classification of Headache Disorders: accurate diagnosis of orofacial pain?

The aim was to apply diagnostic criteria, as published by the International Headache Society (IHS), to the diagnosis of orofacial pain. A total of 328 consecutive patients with orofacial pain were collected over a period of 2 years. The orofacial pain clinic routinely employs criteria published by the IHS, the American Academy of Orofacial Pain (AAOP) and the Research Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders (RDCTMD). Employing IHS criteria, 184 patients were successfully diagnosed (56%), including 34 with persistent idiopathic facial pain. In the remaining 144 we applied AAOP/RDCTMD criteria and diagnosed 120 as masticatory myofascial pain (MMP) resulting in a diagnostic efficiency of 92.7% (304/328) when applying the three classifications (IHS, AAOP, RDCTMD). Employing further published criteria, 23 patients were diagnosed as neurovascular orofacial pain (NVOP, facial migraine) and one as a neuropathy secondary to connective tissue disease. All the patients were therefore allocated to predefined diagnoses. MMP is clearly defined by AAOP and the RDCTMD. However, NVOP is not defined by any of the above classification systems. The features of MMP and NVOP are presented and analysed with calculations for positive (PPV) and negative predictive values (NPV). In MMP the combination of facial pain aggravated by jaw movement, and the presence of three or more tender muscles resulted in a PPV = 0.82 and a NPV = 0.86. For NVOP the combination of facial pain, throbbing quality, autonomic and/or systemic features and attack duration of > 60 min gave a PPV = 0.71 and a NPV = 0.95. Expansion of the IHS system is needed so as to integrate more orofacial pain syndromes.

[Cenesthesia as a rare differential diagnosis of persistent idiopathic facial pain]. / Zönästhesien als eine seltene Differenzialdiagnose zum anhaltenden idiopathischen Gesichtsschmerz.

Cenesthesia is portrayed as a rare differential diagnosis to persistent idiopathic facial pain, including the resulting therapy with antipsychotics. In this case report a female patient developed persistent facial pain 2 years after manifestation of a depressive disorder. The symptoms appeared as a bizarre pain phenomenon closely resembling the psychotic phenomenon of cenesthesia (body hallucinations). Treatment with imipramine and doxepin or a combination of venlafaxin, carbamazepine, and tilidine N had not been successful. Based on diagnostic classification of the complaint as cenesthesia in the context of a depressive disorder, add-on therapy of the atypical antipsychotic ziprasidone was administered. This led to clear improvements in mood and pain symptoms after 4 weeks of treatment.

Design of an artificial neural network for diagnosis of facial pain syndromes.

A classification scheme for facial pain syndromes describing seven categories has previously been proposed. Based on this classification scheme and a binomial (yes/no) facial pain questionnaire, we have designed and trained an artificial neural network (ANN) and as an initial feasibility assessment of such an ANN system examined its ability to recognize and correctly diagnose patients with different facial pain syndromes. One hundred patients with facial pain were asked to respond to a facial pain questionnaire at the time of their initial visit. After interview, an independent diagnosis was assigned to each patient. The patients' responses to the questionnaire and their diagnoses were input to an ANN. The ANN was able to retrospectively predict the correct diagnosis for 95 of 100 patients (95%), and prospectively determine a correct diagnosis of trigeminal neuralgia Type 1 with 84% sensitivity and 83% specificity in 43 new patients. The ability of the ANN to accurately predict a correct diagnosis for the remaining types of facial pain was limited by our clinic sample size and hence less exposure to those categories. This is the first demonstration of the utilization of an ANN to diagnose facial pain syndromes.

Dores neuropáticas: classificação, diagnóstico, mecanismos e importância para o cirurgião-dentista / Neuropathic pain: classification, diagnosis, mechanisms and clinical importance

As dores neuropáticas podem ser definidas, segundo a International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP), como "dor iniciada ou causada por uma lesão ou disfunção primária no sistema nervoso". Elas estão presentes em um grupo heterogêneo de condições como diabetes, deficiências imunológicas, doenças malignas, desordens traumáticas e isquêmicas, câncer, doenças degenerativas ou alterações neurológicas, podendo ainda ser agudas ou crônicas. Na região orofacial, elas ainda podem surgir após injúrias aos ramos do nervo trigêmeo, durante procedimentos odontológicos, tais como cirurgias ortognáticas, cirurgias pré-protéticas, tratamentos endodônticos e a colocação de implantes dentais. Devido a esse fato é de extrema importância que não só os profissionais especializados em Dor Orofacial, mas toda a classe odontológica conheça as principais características dessas dores, possibilitando um melhor manejo dos pacientes, contribuindo para se alcançar o sucesso no tratamento. O objetivo desse artigo é apresentar as características das dores neuropáticas e seus mecanismos de desenvolvimento; seus sinais e sintomas; apresentar o papel do cirurgião-dentista no desenvolvimento e prevenção destas alterações e possibilitar o diagnóstico destas alterações no tratamento clínico da dor orofacial, por meio da revisão da literatura dos artigos mais adequados ao tema

Orofacial pain

Orofacial pain is one of the most common reasons why many persons seek dental consultation. Because of the complex nature of the problem, patients with orofacial pain present a real diagnostic and theraputic challenge to the practitioner. Orofacial pain results from noxious stimulation of free nerve endings in orofacial tissues. The peripheral nerve endings act as nociceptors (pain receptors) detect and convey the noxious information to the brain, where pain is perceived. Although in a majority of patients the orofacial pain is of odontogenic origin (such as the sequel of dental caries or trauma to the tooth), non-odontogenic source of pain is also frequent in clinical practice (AU)

A new classification for facial pain.

PURPOSE: A patient-oriented classification scheme for facial pains commonly encountered in neurosurgical practice is proposed. CONCEPT: This classification is driven principally by the patient's history. RATIONALE: The scheme incorporates descriptions for so-called "atypical" trigeminal neuralgias and facial pains but minimizes the pejorative, accepting that the physiology of neuropathic pains could reasonably encompass a variety of pain sensations, both episodic and constant. Seven diagnostic labels result: trigeminal neuralgia Types 1 and 2 refer to patients with the spontaneous onset of facial pain and either predominant episodic or constant pain, respectively. Trigeminal neuropathic pain results from unintentional injury to the trigeminal nerve from trauma or surgery, whereas trigeminal deafferentation pain results from injury to the nerve by peripheral nerve ablation, gangliolysis, or rhizotomy in an intentional attempt to treat either trigeminal neuralgia or other facial pain. Postherpetic neuralgia follows a cutaneous herpes zoster outbreak (shingles) in the trigeminal distribution, and symptomatic trigeminal neuralgia results from multiple sclerosis. The final category, atypical facial pain, is synonymous with facial pain secondary to a somatoform pain disorder. Atypical facial pain can be suspected but not diagnosed by history and can be diagnosed only with detailed and objective psychological testing. CONCLUSION: This diagnostic classification would allow more rigorous and objective natural history and outcome studies of facial pain in the future.

[Determining the diagnosis from the pain pattern. Brief and stabbing or chronic and dull?]. / Aus dem Schmerzmuster die Diagnose herauslesen. Kurz und stechend oder dauerhaft und dumpf?

For the neurological differential diagnosis of facial pain, symptomatic pain must be differentiated from the so-called primary pain syndromes. Trigeminal neuralgia is usually readily diagnosed on the basis of the typical history. The treatment of choice is carbamazepine. If this fails, invasive options are available. Atypical facial pain should be diagnosed only when all known primary and secondary pain syndromes have been excluded. Treatment is difficult and comprises the administration of tricyclic antidepressants. Cluster headache and chronic paroxysmal hemicrania each has an unmistakable temporal course. Although the etiology remains unknown, specific therapeutic options are available. The Tolosa-Hunt syndrome is presumably caused by a granuloma in the cavernous sinus, and treatment is effected with corticosteroids. Painful craniomandibular dysfunction (CMD) is often misinterpreted as atypical facial pain.

What is Sluder's neuralgia?

In 1908 Sluder described a symptom complex consisting of neuralgic, motor, sensory and gustatory manifestations that he attributed to the sphenopalatine ganglion. He stated that treatment directed at the ganglion successfully alleviated these symptoms. Over the last 90 years several reports have described patients as having sphenopalatine neuralgia and have directed treatment at the ganglion. The symptoms described and the criteria for patient selection in these studies has often been varied and deviated from Sluder's description. In reports claiming cures with treatment directed at the ganglion the duration of post-treatment follow-up has been short. This article discusses Sluder's description and attempts to analyse its features in the light of current understanding of the different mechanisms and categories of facial pain. It is proposed that the condition described by Sluder is a neurovascular headache that most closely resembles cluster headache in its aetiology and clinical manifestations. We propose that the term Sluder's neuralgia should be discarded as there are serious flaws in its original description and many authors have misused the term leading to persistent confusion about it.

Classification of headache and facial pain.

It is important for us as otolaryngologists to identify our critical role in diagnosing and treating the subset of patients that suffers from headaches. It is equally important for the layperson and the medical community to recognize the importance of a multidisciplinary team approach in the management of headache and facial pain. Despite its limitations, classification provides us with a starting point from which scientists, clinicians, and patients can begin to determine the success of diagnostic and therapeutic strategies. It also indicates future directions for research.

Chronic facial pain: a multidisciplinary problem.

Atypical facial pain is an unrecognised and unhelpful diagnosis but one which describes chronic pains that do not fit the present classification system. Due to the site of the pain, patients may seek and, indeed, receive treatment from dental practitioners and specialists, but the pain is often unresponsive and may have more in common with unexplained medical symptoms affecting other areas of the body, than with other dental symptoms. This review suggests a need for a diagnostic category of "chronic facial pain", which demands a multidisciplinary approach to diagnosis and management.