Patients appearing to dental professionals with orofacial pain arising from intracranial tumors: a literature review

Other Secondary Headaches: Odontogenic Pain and Other Painful Orofacial Conditions

This article discusses extremely common odontogenic pain conditions, which may occasionally present to the neurology clinic mimicking headache, and other uncommon orofacial pain conditions, which may do the same. Typical presentations, investigative strategies, and management are discussed, as well as highlighting key diagnostic criteria and the importance of involving oral or dental specialists where diagnostic uncertainty exists.

Unilateral glossodynia as a harbinger of an occult cerebellopontine angle tumour

A woman in her late 80s with severe bronchomalacia was referred to a tertiary orofacial pain clinic for unexplained right unilateral glossodynia of progressive and continuous evolution for the past 8 months, spreading to the ipsilateral labiomental region, associated with ipsilateral hypoacusia. Local and general clinical examinations were unremarkable and routine blood work could not reveal any underlying systemic disease explaining the glossodynia and burning/pricking labiomental pain. Suspecting a painful trigeminal neuropathy secondary to a space-occupying lesion, a cerebral MRI was prescribed, revealing an ipsilateral cerebellopontine angle lesion, compatible with either a schwannoma or meningioma. This lesion invaded the root entry zones of cranial nerves V and VIII explaining the patient's oral pain and hypoacusia. Following a neurosurgical consultation where surgical treatment was rejected, her pain was successfully managed by topical pregabalin mouthwashes, to prevent any risk of respiratory depression related to her underlying severe bronchomalacia.

Thinking Outside the Tooth: Diagnosis and Management of Patients with Neuropathic Orofacial Pain

Nonodontogenic orofacial pain exists, and diagnosis and management of those conditions can be challenging. This article highlights and discusses how to take a complete and systematic pain history and the important red flags to recognize in patients presenting with perplexing nonodontogenic orofacial pain. Cause and epidemiology, clinical presentation, clinical evaluation and diagnosis, and management options for common neuropathic pain conditions are included. Neuralgia and neuropathic pain conditions and red flags as secondary cause of orofacial pain are more common in older-aged patients.

The changing face of trigeminal neuralgia-A narrative review

OBJECTIVE

This narrative review aims to update the reader on the new classification of trigeminal neuralgia (TN), clinical signs, pathophysiologic evidence, and their implications on management. This review is based on the authors' collective experience and knowledge of the literature in addition to a literature search.

BACKGROUND

In recent years, the phenotype of TN has been intensively studied leading to discrete groups of patients. These include patients with TN with additional continuous pain, and patients with and without neurovascular compression of the trigeminal dorsal root entry zone. A number of associated clinical signs such as tearing and sensory changes need further research.

METHODS

The literature on TN was searched in PubMed with the aims of providing evidence for the recently published third edition of the International Classification of Headache Disorders (ICHD) and update the clinical phenotype and management of the TN subcategories.

RESULTS

The ICHD's new classification for TN is based on reliable clinical data, imaging, and neurophysiologic studies. The TN classification reflects current knowledge and has improved the possibility for clinicians to choose adequate management options. However, there is a lack of effective, safe drugs for the management of TN and sparse, robust data on neurosurgical options.

CONCLUSION

Research into all aspects of TN-diagnosis, pharmacotherapy, surgery, long-term management prognosis, and natural history-is needed. Research should adhere to the ICHD's schema for TN. Improved drugs are needed along with rigorous research into surgical options and their efficacy for different subtypes of TN.

The fifth cranial nerve in headaches

The fifth cranial nerve is the common denominator for many headaches and facial pain pathologies currently known. Projecting from the trigeminal ganglion, in a bipolar manner, it connects to the brainstem and supplies various parts of the head and face with sensory innervation. In this review, we describe the neuroanatomical structures and pathways implicated in the sensation of the trigeminal system. Furthermore, we present the current understanding of several primary headaches, painful neuropathies and their pharmacological treatments. We hope that this overview can elucidate the complex field of headache pathologies, and their link to the trigeminal nerve, to a broader field of young scientists.

Persistent idiopathic facial pain

Background

Persistent idiopathic facial pain (PIFP) is a chronic disorder recurring daily for more than two hours per day over more than three months, in the absence of clinical neurological deficit. PIFP is the current terminology for Atypical Facial Pain and is characterized by daily or near daily pain that is initially confined but may subsequently spread. Pain cannot be attributed to any pathological process, although traumatic neuropathic mechanisms are suspected. When present intraorally, PIFP has been termed ‘Atypical Odontalgia’, and this entity is discussed in a separate article in this special issue. PIFP is often a difficult but important differential diagnosis among chronic facial pain syndromes.

Aim

To summarize current knowledge on diagnostic criteria, differential diagnosis, pathophysiology and management of PIFP.

Methods

We present a narrative review reporting current literature and personal experience. Additionally, we discuss and differentiate the common differential diagnoses associated with PIFP including traumatic trigeminal neuropathies, regional myofascial pain, atypical neurovascular pains and atypical trigeminal neuropathic pains.

Results and conclusion

The underlying pathophysiology in PIFP is still enigmatic, however neuropathic mechanisms may be relevant. PIFP needs interdisciplinary collaboration to rule out and manage secondary causes, psychiatric comorbidities and other facial pain syndromes, particularly trigeminal neuralgia. Burden of disease and psychiatric comorbidity screening is recommended at an early stage of disease, and should be addressed in the management plan. Future research is needed to establish clear diagnostic criteria and treatment strategies based on clinical findings and individual pathophysiology.

Acoustic Neuroma Mimicking Orofacial Pain: A Unique Case Report

Acoustic neuroma (AN), also called vestibular schwannoma, is a tumor composed of Schwann cells that most frequently involve the vestibular division of the VII cranial nerve. The most common symptoms include orofacial pain, facial paralysis, trigeminal neuralgia, tinnitus, hearing loss, and imbalance that result from compression of cranial nerves V–IX. Symptoms of acoustic neuromas can mimic and present as temporomandibular disorder. Therefore, a thorough medical and dental history, radiographic evaluation, and properly conducted diagnostic testing are essential in differentiating odontogenic pain from pain that is nonodontogenic in nature. This article reports a rare case of a young pregnant female patient diagnosed with an acoustic neuroma located in the cerebellopontine angle that was originally treated for musculoskeletal temporomandibular joint disorder.

Cancer and orofacial pain

BACKGROUND

Cancer pain is a devastating condition. Pain in the orofacial region, may be present as the single symptom of cancer or as a symptom of cancer in its later stages. This manuscript revises in a comprehensive manner the content of the conference entitled "Orofacial Pain and Cancer" (Dolor Orofacial y Cancer) given at the VI Simposio International "Advances in Oral Cancer" on the 22 July, 2016 in San Sebastioan-Donostia, Spain.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

We have reviewed (pubmed-medline) from the most relevant literature including reviews, systematic reviews and clinical cases, the significant and evidence-based mechanisms and mediators of cancer-associated facial pain, the diverse types of cancers that can be present in the craniofacial region locally or from distant sites that can refer to the orofacial region, cancer therapy that may induce pain in the orofacial region as well as discussed some of the new advancements in cancer pain therapy.

RESULTS

There is still a lack of understanding of cancer pain pathophysiology since depends of the intrinsic heterogeneity, type and anatomic location that the cancer may present, making more challenging the creation of better therapeutic options. Orofacial pain can arise from regional or distant tumor effects or as a consequence of cancer therapy.

CONCLUSIONS

The clinician needs to be aware that the pain may present the characteristics of any other orofacial pain disorder so a careful differential diagnosis needs to be given. Cancer pain diagnosis is made by exclusion and only can be reached after a thorough medical history, and all the common etiologies have been carefully investigated and ruled out. The current management tools are not optimal but there is hope for new, safer and effective therapies coming in the next years.

Cancer and Referred Facial Pain

Orofacial pain may be a symptom of diverse types of cancers as a result of local or distant tumor effects. The pain can be presented with the same characteristics as any other orofacial pain disorder, and this should be recognized by the clinician. Orofacial pain also can arise as a consequence of cancer therapy. In the present article, we review the mechanisms of cancer-associated facial pain, its clinical presentation, and cancer therapy associated with orofacial pain.

Pain Part 5b: Non-Odontogenic Dysfunctional Pain

Orofacial chronic pain provides a significant challenge to all clinicians and the patients seeking treatment for it. Due to the anatomical and regional complexities, diagnosis can be extremely difficult, and due to the lack of cross specialty training, patients will undergo a variety of treatment under different disciplines. Dysfunctional pain provides a unique challenge for patient management and requires a multidisciplinary team.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE

Lack of recognition of dysfunctional chronic pain can result in inappropriate dental treatment and further damage. to the patient. Appropriate patient reassurance and referral to an orofacial pain multidisciplinary team is recommended as most of these conditions require medical management.

[Toothache: At what point has a pontocerebellar angle tumor to be evoked?]

INTRODUCTION

Dental pain may have another origin than teeth. It may be caused by myofascial, neurovascular, cardiac, neurological, sinusal or psychological factors. We will discuss 2 rare cases of patients who presented with a cerebellopontine tumor, who initially manifested with symptoms of dental pain.

OBSERVATION

The first patient, male, 44 years of age presented to his dentist with toothache (47), which led to its extraction. Five months later, a second painful episode, more characteristic, revealed the presence of a vestibular schwannoma, which was successfully treated and led to the disappearance of the pain. The second case, a 43-year-old female presented to her dentist with toothache (46), which lead the dentist perform a root filling. Two years later, with a 3rd episode of dental pain, more relevant of a trigeminal neuralgia, a epidermoid cyst of the right cerebellopontine angle was identified and successfully treated leading to the disappearance of the pain.

DISCUSSION

Cerebellopontine tumors of this type may lead, in exceptional cases to symptoms of dental pain. Therefore, in face of atypical tooth or facial pain, both a detailed medical history and a detailed examination are necessary, in order to investigate any neurological signs and symptoms, before undertaking any non-essential dental treatment, which may be detrimental for the patients.

Metastatic melanoma misdiagnosed as a temporomandibular disorder: a case report and review of the literature

BACKGROUND

Malignancies in the head and neck region are difficult to diagnose because of their deep location and presence of symptoms mimicking those of temporomandibular disorders or other orofacial pain disorders.

CASE DESCRIPTION

A 75-year-old woman reported experiencing right-sided jaw pain, temporal discomfort and paresthesia. She had undergone conservative therapy for temporomandibular joint disorder, which was unsuccessful. A magnetic resonance image of the midface revealed a mass on the base of the tongue along with possible metastatic lesions to the brain. Further investigation of the lesions revealed them to be metastatic melanoma.

PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS

Patients with atypical symptoms of facial pain, including neurological signs, should undergo further investigation with advanced imaging to determine the source of the symptoms, which could include neoplasms.

Diagnostic role of magnetic resonance imaging in assessing orofacial pain and paresthesia

The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of CT and MRI in evaluating orofacial pain and paresthesia. A total of 96 patients with orofacial pain and/or paresthesia were included in this study. The patients who underwent CT and/or MRI examinations were assessed, and the efficacy of CT and/or MRI examinations in detecting the causative disease of the orofacial pain and paresthesia was evaluated. Seventy (72.9%) of 96 patients underwent CT and/or MRI examinations. Whereas CT examinations detected 2 diseases (4.5%) in 44 tests, 13 diseases (37.1%) were detected in 35 MRI examinations. Seven (53.8%) of 13 diseases, which were detected by MRI, were found in elderly patients. A high percentage of patients, who claimed orofacial pain and paresthesia, have other diseases in their brain, especially in elderly patients, and MRI is more useful than CT for evaluating these patients.

Oral pre-trigeminal neuralgia pain: clinical differential diagnosis and descriptive study results

AIMS

To better quantify oral pre-trigeminal neuralgia (PTN) symptoms, attempt to identify PTN symptoms that could reliably differentiate between PTN and odontogenic tooth pain, and determine whether an anesthetic test would reliably differentiate these disorders.

METHODOLOGY

This was accomplished through a survey of symptom recall for 49 trigeminal neuralgia patients who had PTN tooth and/or gum pain.

RESULTS

The variability of oral PTN symptoms, factors that worsened or improved them, and how dental anesthesia affected them, explain the reason for variations found in the literature. A throbbing pain quality is not in the literature, but present for 63% of respondents.

CONCLUSIONS

No specific PTN symptom would reliably differentiate PTN from odontogenic tooth pain. The results also suggest that an anesthetic test would not be totally reliable for differentiating these disorders. A protocol is provided that should help practitioners identify the tooth pain source when there is no dental pathology.

Aetiology and pathogenesis of trigeminal neuralgia: a comprehensive review

Objectives

The aim of present paper was to discuss issues related to trigeminal neuralgia with strong emphasis on the aetiology and pathogenesis of this problem.

Material and Methods

An electronic search of 5 databases (1965 - Oct 2012) and a hand search of peer-reviewed journals for relevant articles were performed. In addition, experience acquired from treating 3263 patients in the Department of Maxillofacial Surgery, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, were also summarized.

Results

Generally, aetiological factors can be classified into 3 most popular theories that were based on: 1) Related to other disease, 2) Direct injury to the trigeminal nerve, and 3) Propagates the polyetiologic origin of the disease. In addition, two pathogenesis mechanisms of trigeminal neuralgia were proposed. First: the peripheral pathogenetic mechanism that is often induced by progressive dystrophy around the peripheral branches of the trigeminal nerve. Second, central pathogenetic mechanism which often triggered by peripheral pathogen that causes long-lasting afferent impulsation and the formation of a stable pathologic paroxysmal type irritation focus on the central nerve system (CNS).

Conclusions

Patients with susceptive trigeminal neuralgia should be examined carefully by specialists who have expertise in assessing and diagnosing of possible pathological processes and be able to eliminate the contributing factors so the trigeminal neuralgia can be properly managed.