Headache in the Older Population: Causes, Diagnoses, and Treatments.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Primary headaches are less common and differ in presentation in older versus younger individuals. Secondary headaches become more common among older patients. RECENT FINDINGS: Diagnosis and management of headaches in those > 65 years are discussed. Migraine and tension-type headaches are rarely new onset in this age group and should be a diagnosis of exclusion. In older individuals, migraine is more likely to be bilateral with less sensory sensitivities. Migraine aura may present without headache; careful assessment is needed to exclude stroke. Other primary headaches discussed include cough, hypnic, and other headaches. Secondary causes discussed include giant cell arteritis, trigeminal post-herpetic neuropathy, sleep apnea, cardiac cephalgia, cervicogenic pain, vascular etiologies, medications, and burning-mouth syndrome. In older individuals, primary headaches are diagnoses of exclusion, and treatment is affected by comorbidities and polypharmacy. Secondary headaches are a major consideration requiring appropriate workup. Many treatments can safely be offered regardless of age.

The neurosurgical treatment of craniofacial pain syndromes: current surgical indications and techniques.

Craniofacial pain syndromes are comprised of multiple pathological entities resulting in pain referred to the scalp, face, or deeper cranial structures. In a small subset of patients affected by those syndromes, pharmacological and physical therapies fail in alleviating pain. In some of those refractory patients surgical procedures aimed at relieving pain are indicated and have been adopted with variable results and safety profiles. In this review, the authors describe craniofacial pain syndromes that most commonly fail to respond to pharmacological therapies and may be amenable to tailored surgical procedures. In particular, trigeminal, glossopharyngeal, and occipital neuralgias are considered, as well as some primary headache syndromes such as cluster headache, short unilateral neuralgiform headache with conjunctival injection and tearing/short unilateral neuralgiform headache with autonomic symptoms, and migraine. Surgical techniques, including the implantation of deep brain or peripheral nerve electrodes with subsequent chronic stimulation, microvascular decompression of neurovascular conflicts, and percutaneous lesioning of neural structures are described. Finally, surgical indications, outcomes, and safety of these procedures are presented.

A case of secondary SUNCT syndrome.

SUNCT syndrome, a rare form of primary headaches, may be secondary to pituitary tumours. The secondary forms usually related with prolactinomas. The response of dopamin agonists could be variable. In this study, we reported a case of SUNCT syndrome secondary to prolactinoma. Cranial magnetic resonance imaging was performed for this patient because of the increase in pain severity and frequency. A hemorrhage was detected into the prolactinoma ipsilateral to the pain. The headache attacks were taken undercontrol and remission was ensured with cabergoline in a short time.

Exacerbation of SUNCT and SUNA syndromes during intravenous dihydroergotamine treatment: A case series.

BACKGROUND: The management of short-lasting unilateral neuralgiform headache attacks with conjunctival injection and tearing (SUNCT) and with short-lasting unilateral neuralgiform headache attacks with autonomic symptoms (SUNA) remains challenging in view of the limited understanding of their pathophysiological mechanisms. METHODS: An initial observation that patients with both chronic migraine (CM) or cluster headache (CH) and SUNCT/SUNA receiving intravenous dihydroergotamine (IV DHE) had complained of dramatic worsening of the latter led to review of the case notes of patients with CM or CH and co-existent SUNCT/SUNA seen between 2008 and 2013 and who had a trial of IV DHE. RESULTS: Twenty-four patients were identified. IV DHE was ineffective for SUNCT/SUNA in 16 patients, while one patient reported a marginal improvement. Five patients reported dramatic worsening of the SUNCT/SUNA. Moreover, two patients developed new-onset SUNA during their first IV DHE infusion. Out of these seven patients, those requiring repeated courses of IV DHE consistently experienced exacerbations of SUNCT/SUNA which were suppressed with IV lidocaine. CONCLUSIONS: DHE is an ineffective treatment option for SUNCT and SUNA. Physicians who intend to offer IV DHE to CH or CM patients should warn them that IV DHE could exacerbate and possibly even lead to a de novo onset of SUNCT/SUNA. In view of the reported worsening or new onset of SUNCT/SUNA in patients using dopamine agonists for the treatment of pituitary prolactinomas, we speculate that DHE might worsen or induce SUNCT and SUNA, at least in a sub-group of patients, through a perturbation in the dopaminergic system.

SUNCT, SUNA and pituitary tumors: clinical characteristics and treatment.

BACKGROUND: Short-lasting unilateral neuralgiform headache attacks with conjunctival injection and tearing (SUNCT) and short-lasting unilateral neuralgiform headache attacks with cranial autonomic symptoms (SUNA) are rare types of trigeminal autonomic cephalalgias (TACs). Objective To describe a series of patients with SUNCT and SUNA including relationship to pituitary tumors. METHOD: All patients diagnosed with SUNCT or SUNA in the Calgary Headache Assessment and Management Program were reviewed. RESULTS: Six patients (five SUNCTs and one SUNA) were identified. The pain was severe, sharp, showed fixed-laterality, involved mainly the orbito-fronto-temporal region and was associated with autonomic symptoms. Attack duration ranged from 3 to 300 seconds and frequency was 1-200 paroxysms/day. MRI showed ipsilateral pituitary adenomas to the pain in five out of five of the SUNCT patients. Patients with adenomas underwent surgery. Pathology included three prolactinomas, and one mixed adenoma and gangliocytoma. One patient has remained headache free for 4 years after surgery. One was pain free for a year, and then headaches returned with tumor recurrence. Another had major improvement, and two have not improved. Patients were generally refractory to medications. CONCLUSION: All five of our patients with typical SUNCT had pituitary tumors, with headache ipsilateral to the pituitary tumors in all cases. Tumor removal provided major improvement in three out of five patients. Medical treatment was only partially effective.

Orofacial pain due to trigeminal autonomic cephalgia with features of short-lasting neuralgiform headache attacks with conjunctival injection and tearing: a case report.

BACKGROUND: We present a case of a 64-year-old woman with a presumptive diagnosis of short-lasting unilateral neuralgiform headache attacks with conjunctival injection and tearing (SUNCT) syndrome with telangiectasia. Dental procedures were not successful in alleviating the condition. RESULTS: The patient's symptoms of short unilateral severe pain episodes abated after geographic relocation, although orofacial pain continued. Sphenoid sinus surgery further decreased the patient's chronic pain complaints. The patient's current pain condition is controlled with gabapentin therapy. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Diagnostic, etiologic, and therapeutic issues related to SUNCT syndrome are discussed. This case represents the first case report of trigeminal autonomic cephalgia with SUNCT syndrome-like features illustrating possible problematic dental therapies. It is only the third SUNCT case report in the dental literature, and the third case reporting a correlation between SUNCT syndrome and sinusitis.

Short-lasting unilateral neuralgiform headache attacks with cranial autonomic symptoms (SUNA) secondary to epidermoid cyst in the right cerebellopontine angle successfully treated with surgery.

Short-lasting unilateral neuralgiform headache attacks with conjunctival injection and tearing (SUNCT) syndrome is a rare headache syndrome classified among the trigeminal autonomic cephalalgias. It is usually idiopathic, although infrequent secondary forms have been described. Recently, the term short-lasting unilateral headache with cranial autonomic symptoms (SUNA) has been defined by the International Headache Society (ICHD-2) as similar to SUNCT with less prominent absent conjunctival injection and lacrimation. We report a patient with paroxysmal orbito-temporal pains, phenotypically suggesting SUNA, secondary to epidermoid cyst in the cerebellopontine angle which disappeared after tumor resection. Neuroimaging should be considered in all patients with SUNA, notably in those with atypical presentation as our patient who presented on examination trigeminal hypoesthesia and tinnitus. Realization of a brain MRI would rule out injuries that causes this type of syndrome.

Cefaleas trigémino autonómicas: 3 casos de localización dentomaxilar / Trigeminal autonomic cephalalgias: 3 cases of dentomaxillar location

Las cefaleas trigemino autonómicas (CTAs: cefalea tipo cluster, hemicránea paroxística y el SUNCT) son un grupo de cefaleas primarias, caracterizadas por la presencia de dolor unilateral en la distribución somática del nervio trigémino, asociada a características autonómicas cráneofaciales ipsilaterales. A pesar de sus elementos comunes, de forma individual, difieren con respecto a su duración, frecuencia y la respuesta a indometacina. Se presentan tres casos de CTAs de localización primaria dentomaxilar, sus características comunes y particulares, y la necesidad del diagnóstico diferencial con cuadros dolorosos provenientes de estructuras estomatognáticas.

The Trigeminal Autonomic Cephalalgias (TACs: Cluster headache, paroxysmal hemicrania and SUNCT) are a primary headache grouped characterized by the presence of unilateral pain in the somatic distribution of the trigeminal nerve, associated with craniofacial ipsilateral autonomic features. Despite their common elements, individually these headaches differ with respect to attack duration, frequency, and response to indomethacin.A three cases of TACs of dentomaxilar location is presented, common and particular characteristics, and the need for differential diagnosis with pain from stomatognathic structures.

Meningioma causing gabapentin-responsive secondary SUNCT syndrome.

Short-lasting unilateral neuralgiform headache with conjunctival injection and tearing (SUNCT) is one of the rarest and most serious headache disorders. Cases of symptomatic SUNCT syndromes are reported, which demonstrate that brain imaging is very important for diagnosis. In this study, we describe the first case of secondary SUNCT syndrome caused by a meningioma. So far, a clearly effective therapy for SUNCT syndrome has not been known. In this case, however, SUNCT was completely responsive to gabapentin. This underlines that this drug is worthy of being considered as a potential therapeutic option in the treatment of SUNCT syndrome.

SUNCT syndrome responding absolutely to steroids in two cases with different etiologies.

SUNCT is a syndrome of short-lasting unilateral neuralgiform headache attacks with conjunctival injection and tearing. We are presenting now two cases absolutely responders to steroid therapy, one of them a SUNCT-like secondary to a prolactinoma and the other primary.

SUNCT syndrome: report of a possible symptomatic case

SUNCT is one of the rarest and least known primary headache disorders. Although its pathogenesis has been partially understood by functional neuroimaging and reports of secondary cases, there is limited understanding of its cause. We report a case of SUNCT in a 54-years-old man, that could not be strictly classified as secondary SUNCT; however, the time lag of pain onset suggests a new theory in which neuroplasticity could be involved in the origin and duration of the pain in SUNCT syndrome.

SUNCT é uma das mais raras e menos conhecidas cefaléias primárias. Embora sua patogênese esteja parcialmente compreendida por neuroimagem funcional e relatos de casos secundários, há insuficiente conhecimento a respeito de sua causa. Nós relatamos um caso de SUNCT em um homem de 54 anos, que não poderia ser estritamente classificado como SUNCT secundário; entretanto, o lapso de tempo para o início da dor sugere uma nova hipótese na qual a neuroplasticidade possa esta envolvida na origem e duração da dor na síndrome SUNCT.

Trigeminal autonomic cephalalgias. Part 3: short-lasting unilateral neuralgiform headache attacks with conjunctival injection and tearing.

Short-lasting unilateral neuralgiform headache attacks with conjunctival injection and tearing (SUNCT) is a syndrome characterized by severe, strictly unilateral short-lasting (between 5 and 240 seconds) pain localized to orbital, supraorbital, and temporal areas, accompanied by ipsilateral conjunctival injection and lacrimation. It represents 1 of 3 primary headaches classified as trigeminal autonomic cephalalgias (TACs). Although its prevalence is extremely small, SUNCT patients may present at dental offices seeking relief for their pain. It is important for oral health care providers to recognize SUNCT and render an accurate diagnosis. This will avoid the pitfall of implementing unnecessary and inappropriate traditional dental treatments in hopes of alleviating this neurovascular pain. The following article is part 3 of a review on TACs and focuses on SUNCT. Aspects of SUNCT, including epidemiology, genetics, pathophysiology, clinical presentation, classification and variants, diagnosis, medical management, and dental considerations are discussed.

SUNCT syndrome in a patient with prolactinoma and cabergoline-induced attacks.

Short-lasting unilateral neuralgiform headache with conjuntival injection and tearing (SUNCT) syndrome is a rare trigeminal autonomic cephalalgia. We report a patient with prolactinoma and cabergoline-induced SUNCT attacks and the literature is reviewed for a better understanding of the pathophysiology.

Hemicrania with massive autonomic manifestations and circumscribed eyelid erythema.

OBJECTIVES: To describe a unilateral headache that in addition to the typical shortlasting unilateral neuralgiform headache attacks with conjunctival injection, tearing, sweating and rhinorrhea (SUNCT) syndrome - traits with excessive and ipsilateral autonomic phenomena - had circumscribed eyelid erythema and adjacent ocular redness. OBSERVATIONS: A 60-year-old female had excessive, right-sided lacrimation and local pain at 15 years of age. Due to steadily increasing discomfort, with lacrimation and swelling over the outer part of the upper eyelid, the right lacrimal gland was removed at 20 years of age, with a suspicion of lacrimal gland adenoma. Preoperatively, symptomatic side mild-degree eyelid erythema/rhinorrhea were integral parts of the attack. After years with minor complaints, she, in the mid-twenties, experienced more long-lasting pain attacks, and pain soon became the main problem. A marked, distinct erythema on the lateral part of the right-sided eyelids and marked, localized 'eye redness' in the adjacent area were main ingredients of the attacks together with eyelid edema and viscous rhinorrhea. There were visible vessels below the eye, and telangiectasia of the upper eyelid. CONCLUSIONS: This headache has many similarities with SUNCT - but has several, grossly deviating traits: the temporal aspects, excruciatingly intense pain attacks, and above all marked, lateral eye-lid erythema, and adjacent, massive ocular reddening. This constellation probably alienates it from SUNCT.

Black, white and shades of grey: SUNCT or short-lasting chronic paroxysmal hemicrania? / Preto, branco e tons de cinza: SUNCT ou hemicrania paroxística crônica de curta duração?

AIM OF THE STUDY: To report a case of unilateral headache with two possibilities of diagnosis. METHOD: Case report. RESULTS: Patient with unilateral, intense, stabbing periocular headache with conjuntival injection and tearing. Although the duration of attacks was typical of SUNCT, there was complete remission of the pain with indomethacin, suggesting that this was a case of chronic paroxysmal hemicrania with unusually short attack duration. CONCLUSION: Therapeutic trials of indomethacin on younger patients presenting clinical diagnosis of SUNCT could be tried on a more regular basis.

MOTIVO DO ESTUDO: Relatar um caso de cefaléia unilateral com duas possibilidades diagnósticas. MÉTODOS: Relato de caso. RESULTADOS: Paciente com cefaléia unilateral, intensa, em pontadas em região periocular, com congestão conjuntival e lacrimejamento. Embora a duração das crises fosse típica de SUNCT, houve remissão completa da dor com indometacina, sugerindo que se trate de um caso de hemicramia paroxística crônica com crises de duração atipicamente muito curta. CONCLUSÃO: Testes terapêuticos com indometacina em pacientes mais jovens com diagnóstico clínico de SUNCT poderiam ser tentados de forma mais regular.

Trigeminal sensory pathway function in patients with SUNCT.

OBJECTIVE: Short-lasting unilateral neuralgiform headache with conjunctival injection and tearing (SUNCT) is a rare primary headache whose origins are unclear. To seek information on its pathophysiology, we studied the trigeminal Abeta and Adelta pathways by recording trigeminal reflexes and laser evoked potentials (LEPs) in patients with SUNCT. METHODS: Trigeminal reflexes and LEPs were recorded in 11 consecutive patients. Ten patients had neuroimaging evidence documenting idiopathic SUNCT and one had a posterior fossa tumour that compressed the trigeminal nerve thus causing symptomatic SUNCT. RESULTS: Whereas the patients with idiopathic SUNCT had normal trigeminal reflex and LEP responses, the patient with symptomatic SUNCT had abnormal responses. CONCLUSIONS: Our neurophysiological findings show that idiopathic SUNCT spares the trigeminal sensory pathways whereas symptomatic SUNCT does not. SIGNIFICANCE: Neurophysiological testing can easily differentiate the idiopathic and symptomatic forms of SUNCT. It also suggests that the two forms are pathophysiologically distinct entities.

SUNCT syndrome: Short-lasting Unilateral Neuralgiform headache with Conjunctival injection and Tearing.

The SUNCT syndrome refers to Short-lasting Unilateral Neuralgiform headache with Conjunctival injection and Tearing. It is characterized by brief attacks of severe unilateral pain in the orbitotemporal region, associated with ipsilateral cranial autonomic disturbances. All SUNCT patients experience ipsilateral conjunctival injection and lacrimation. Mean age of onset is 50 years with a male predominance. The syndrome is often misdiagnosed as trigeminal neuralgia or cluster headache. Primary and secondary forms exist, the secondary form is most commonly associated with lesions of the posterior fossa or pituitary adenoma. The SUNCT syndrome is refractory to most commonly employed therapies. Lamotrigine has recently been reported as an effective first line therapy.