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Original Research

Open Access

Numb Chin Syndrome: A Rare and Often Overlooked Symptom

  • Alexandre T. Assaf1,*,
  • Tim P. Jürgens2,3
  • Andreas W. Benecke4
  • Björn Riecke1
  • Marco Blessmann1
  • Tomislav A. Zrnc1
  • Chressen C. Much5
  • Max Heiland1
  • Reinhard E. Friedrich1

1Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University Medical Center Hamburg Eppendorf, University of Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany

2Department of Systems Neuroscience, University Medical Center Hamburg Eppendorf, University of Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany

3Headache Clinic, Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Hamburg Eppendorf, University of Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany

4Department of Prosthodontics, University Medical Center Hamburg Eppendorf, University of Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany

5Department of Radiology, University Medical Center Hamburg Eppendorf, University of Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany

DOI: 10.11607/jop.994 Vol.28,Issue 1,March 2014 pp.80-90

Published: 30 March 2014

*Corresponding Author(s): Alexandre T. Assaf E-mail: a.assaf@uke.uni-hamburg.de

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Abstract

Numb chin syndrome (NCS) describes a sensory neuropathy characterized by numbness in the distribution of the terminal branch of the mandibular division of the trigeminal nerve. Benign as well as malignant diseases are known to cause NCS. This is often misdiagnosed, and in some cases the symptom may lead to a late detection of malignancy. Reports of 10 cases in which NCS was the presenting and isolated symptom, caused by extracranial malignancies, drugs, or dental/surgical interventions, are presented. This article outlines the symptoms and the diagnostic approaches taken, provides a short review of the etiology and pathogenesis, and proposes diagnostic criteria and treatment of NCS. Both medical practitioners and dentists need to be aware of the relationship between malignancies and paresthesia of the chin or complete loss of sensation in partial segments of the jaw. In addition, dentists should be aware of the diagnostic limitations of an orthopantomogram to detect underlying diseases beyond localized dental disorders.

Keywords

bisphosphonate-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (BRONJ); dental implant; iatrogenic; metastasis; multiple sclerosis; neuropathy; numb chin syndrome

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Alexandre T. Assaf,Tim P. Jürgens,Andreas W. Benecke,Björn Riecke,Marco Blessmann,Tomislav A. Zrnc,Chressen C. Much,Max Heiland,Reinhard E. Friedrich. Numb Chin Syndrome: A Rare and Often Overlooked Symptom. Journal of Oral & Facial Pain and Headache. 2014. 28(1);80-90.

URL:

https://www.jofph.com/articles/10.11607/jop.994

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