Facial pain: atypical causes
Written and reviewed by Dr Ibrahim Imam, Consultant Neurologist. Last reviewed .
Facial pain: atypical causes. This is caused by lesions in the first dorsal root or cervical sympathetic chain. Fully referenced neurology checklist.
Pourfour du Petit's syndrome
- This is caused by lesions in the first dorsal root or cervical sympathetic chain
- It results in oculosympathetic hyperactivity
- It presents with mydriasis, lid retraction, and exophthalmos
- There is associated hyperhidrosisÂ
Referred facial pain: origins
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Other atypical causes
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References
- Siccoli MM, Bassetti CL, Sandor PS. Facial pain: clinical differential diagnosis. Lancet Neurol 2006; 5:257-267.
- Schoenen J. Differential diagnosis of facial pain. Acta Neurol Belg 2001; 101:6-9.
- Quail G. Atypical facial pain-a diagnostic challenge. Aust Fam Physician 2005; 34:641-645.
- Chan K, Gharib M, Karam J, Won S, Cha YH. Internal jugular vein entrapment: an underrecognized cause of facial pain. Eur J Neurol 2026; 33:e70645.
