Sudden onset pharyngeal pain associated with dissecting vertebral artery aneurysm.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: We report a case of sudden onset pharyngeal pain due to dissection of the vertebral artery.

CASE DESCRIPTION: A 65-year-old patient presented with sudden onset of unilateral pharyngeal pain, which was first, diagnosed as idiopathic glossopharyngeal neuralgia. Magnetic resonance image and cerebral angiography revealed a dissecting vertebral artery aneurysm. The anatomical site of the aneurysm may explain this complication.

CONCLUSIONS

Sudden onset of pharyngeal pain, although rare, should be considered as a complication of dissection of the vertebral artery even though there are no other general or neurological symptoms.