Glossopharyngeal neuralgia, a rare disorder, usually begins after age 40 and occurs more often in men.

GN may also occur in combination with trigeminal or glossopharyngeal neuralgia.

However, glossopharyngeal neuralgia sometimes results from an abnormally positioned artery that compresses the glossopharyngeal nerve near where it exits the brain stem.

Adson undertook innovative neurosurgery for the treatment of glossopharyngeal neuralgia, Raynaud's Disease, Hirschsprung's disease and for essential hypertension.

Glossopharyngeal neuralgia consists of recurring attacks of severe pain in the back of the throat, the area near the tonsils, the back of the tongue, and part of the ear.