A patient with maxillary sinus carcinoma has Sluder's neuralgia as a presenting symptom. This is caused by involvement of which structure?

• A Infraorbital nerve in the infraorbital canal
• B Superior alveolar nerve
• C Nasociliary nerve
• D Pterygopalatine (sphenopalatine) ganglion ✓

Explanation

Sluder's neuralgia (sphenopalatine neuralgia) is pain in the nose, palate, and orbit caused by involvement or irritation of the sphenopalatine (pterygopalatine) ganglion, which lies in the pterygopalatine fossa. Maxillary sinus carcinomas that extend posteriorly into the pterygopalatine fossa can directly invade or compress this ganglion. Clinically it manifests as severe unilateral nasal pain, palatal pain, pain behind the eye, lacrimation, and rhinorrhoea. Infraorbital nerve involvement by the tumour causes cheek anaesthesia and is a different symptom.

Reference: Dhingra Diseases of Ear, Nose and Throat, 7th ed.

High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP

Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.