The Neck-Tongue Syndrome (NTS) is an uncommon headache syndrome.
Features of the neck-tongue syndrome:
(1) The patient experiences the sudden onset of unilateral upper neck or occipital pain.
(2) There is variable numbness in the pain region.
(3) It may be triggered by sudden turning of the head in the direction opposite to the pain location.
(4) At there same time there is numbness or other abnormal sensation of the tongue on the same side (ipsilateral).
The cause of NTS is compression of the second cervical dorsal root in the atlantoaxial space. The tongue numbness is ascribed to afferent fibers of the lingual nerve that travel via the hypoglossal nerve to the second cervical root.
The underlying cause for NTS may be:
(1) trauma
(2) secondary to an inflammatory disorder
(3) secondary to a degenerative disorder
(4) hereditary
(45 idiopathic
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