Radiofrequency Diathermy for Rhinogenic Headache / 대한이비인후과학회지

ABSTRACT

Rhinogenic headache is a headache or facial pain syndrome secondary to mucosal contact points or rhinogenic causes in the absence of rhinitis/sinusitis. The authors report a case of atypical rhinogenic headache in a 72-year-old woman who presented with recurrent right side headache, which was aggravated by nasal breathing. A computed tomographic scan showed no evidence of rhinosinusitis and mucosal contact points. However, during nasal endoscopy, she had multiple pain-trigger points on the septum and lateral nasal wall. Treatment involved endoscopic reduction and radiofrequency diathermy of the pain-trigger point. Postoperatively, the headache was successfully relieved, and there was no evidence of recurrence. In this article, the authors present surgical option for the treatment of atypical rhinogenic headache.