Korean J Otorhinolaryngol-Head Neck Surg.  2022 Jan;65(1):62-65. 10.3342/kjorl-hns.2021.00024.

Glossopharyngeal Neuralgia and Somatic Tinnitus Caused by a Small Tonsillolith

• Cho HK
• Oh J
• Koo JW

• KMID: 2524993
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3342/kjorl-hns.2021.00024

Abstract

A 66 years old male presented with severe right-sided otalgia and throat pain, which persisted more than a year. He also complained of bilateral tinnitus. Tinnitus was continuous and high-pitched. Severe pain usually followed swallowing food. Pressing his right tonsil aggravated such symptoms. Pure tone audiogram showed both high frequencies hearing loss. Neck CT image revealed a small tonsillolith in his right tonsil. Gabapentin and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs reduced the intensity of pain, but could not eradicate the pain. Finally, we performed radiofrequency tonsil ablation to eliminate right side tonsillolith. After ablation, pain immediately subsided and his tinnitus also disappeared. Tiny impacted tonsillolith may induce glossopharyngeal neuralgia and somatic tinnitus.

Keyword

Glossopharyngeal neuralgia; Otalgia; Tinnitus; Tonsil