Auriculotemporal neuralgia overlapped with chronic orofacial myofascial pain: A case report of a challenging diagnosis

Aim: Auriculotemporal neuralgia (AN) is a rare condition characterized by severe, stabbing, unilateral pain inadequately described in the literature. Often coexisting with other conditions sharing the same innervation, and this overlap complicates clinical interpretation, leading to diagnostic errors and inappropriate therapeutic choices. The absence of AN in headache and facial pain diagnostic criteria hampers access to crucial information for diagnostic reasoning.Thus, we aimed to report a case of AN overlapped with another orofacial pain condition.

Method and result: We present a case of overlap between chronic orofacial myofascial pain (MP) and AN, where conservative MP treatment did not provide the patient with complete pain relief. After diagnosing AN, a single anesthetic block induced complete pain remission over a 2-year follow-up.

Conclusion: These findings support reintroducing AN into diagnostic criteria, aiding clinicians in diagnostic reasoning, and preventing unnecessary interventions.