SUNCT: bilateral hypothalamic activation during headache attacks and resolving of symptoms after trigeminal decompression.

Short-lasting unilateral neuralgiform headache with conjunctival injection and tearing (SUNCT) is a primary head-pain syndrome, which is often refractory to any medical treatment. Concerning the pathophysiology of SUNCT, hypothalamic involvement ipsilaterally to the pain has been suggested based on the clinical features and one functional imaging case report. Here we now report a new case with SUNCT and the concomitant cerebral activation pattern (fMRI) during the pain attacks. In addition to an activation of several brain structures known to be generally involved in pain processing, bilateral hypothalamic activation occurred during the pain attacks, arguing for a central origin of the headache. Interestingly, this patient became completely pain free after surgical decompression of the ipsilateral trigeminal nerve. We hypothesize that in this case with a central predisposition for trigeminal autonomic cephalgias, a peripheral trigger with ectopic excitation might have contributed to the clinical picture of SUNCT.

Surgical decompression of the facial nerve in the treatment of chronic cluster headache.

The nervus intermedius (NI) appears to be the main conduit for the associated symptoms of cluster headache (CH) and perhaps for the pain as well. Subtle injury of the facial nerve and NI might initiate mechanisms responsible for CH. Five patients with chronic CH unresponsive to medication underwent surgical decompression of the root exit-entry zone of the facial nerve, and in two patients the trigeminal nerve root was also decompressed. In two patients, the pain syndrome was markedly relieved for as long as two years. In one patient, initial improvement was obscured by narcotic addiction. In two patients, the operation was a failure. The NI was identified as a separate bundle in only one of five patients and decompressions may not have affected that component of the facial nerve.

Surgical treatment of chronic cluster headache.

Chronic cluster headache, also known as chronic migrainous neuralgia, is frequently unresponsive to medical management. Although neuronal factors may be involved in the pathogenesis of this form of recurrent hemicranial pain, vasodilatation within the distribution of the trigeminal nerve is believed to be important. Attempts to provide relief by surgical means have primarily involved interruption of the vasodilator pathways of the greater superficial petrosal nerve and the sphenopalatine ganglion. A more direct approach of interrupting the pain pathways of the trigeminal nerve has been attempted sporadically for more than 50 years. Recent interest in the role of substance P in the production of pain in cluster headache suggests that trigeminal ablative procedures might have a dual role in the relief of medically intractable cases. Among 26 patients who underwent posterior fossa trigeminal sensory rhizotomy or percutaneous radio-frequency trigeminal gangliorhizolysis at our institution, relief of pain was excellent in 14 (54%), fair to good in 4 (15%), and poor in 8 (31%).

Surgical treatment of cluster headache.

Cluster headache is ordinarily managed medically, but may become refractory to such medical management. In this setting, surgical treatment has occasionally been performed, based on evidence that pertinent pain pathways and parasympathetic pathways may be interrupted at the main sensory root of the trigeminal nerve and at the nervus intermedius. Between 1976 and 1987, 13 patients underwent surgery for treatment of cluster headache that was refractory to medical therapy (15 procedures). Partial sectioning of the main sensory root and sectioning of the nervus intermedius were performed in nine patients; only partial sectioning of the main sensory root in one; only sectioning of the nervus intermedius in one; and nervus intermedius sectioning plus microvascular decompression of the trigeminal nerve in two. The average postoperative period for the 13 patients was 37 months (range 2 to 135 months). All patients had return of their headaches postoperatively except for one patient who obtained relief after a repeat procedure. Headache began to return between 2 days and 2 years postoperatively. Three patients are currently free of headache, including both patients who had nervus intermedius sectioning plus microvascular decompression of the trigeminal nerve. Together with recurrence of headache, cluster-associated autonomic disturbances recurred after 14 of the 15 operations but are currently absent in the three headache-free patients. Partial sectioning of the main sensory root and sectioning of the nervus intermedius, as performed in these patients, seem to have limited value in the treatment of cluster headache.

Surgical embolization of cerebral arteriovenous malformations through internal carotid and vertebral arteries. Long-term results.

The authors describe the clinical results of surgical embolization in 55 patients with large cerebral arteriovenous malformations. Follow-up intervals ranged from 2 months to 14 years, averaging 4 1/2 years. The authors believe the procedure is safe in properly selected patients and is useful as a preliminary to direct surgical excision. It relieves associated headaches, and usually reverses or stabilizes a progressive neurological deficit. The potential for seizures probably is not altered. The incidence of hemorrhage following embolization is low for patients with no previous history of hemorrhage; however, the procedure does not reduce the likelihood of recurrence in patients with a prior history of hemorrhage.

Microsurgical C-2 ganglionectomy for chronic intractable occipital pain.

OBJECT: The authors evaluated the effectiveness of microsurgical C-2 ganglionectomy in 39 patients with medically refractory chronic occipital pain. In this procedure the neurons transmitting sensory inputs from the occiput are removed and, unlike peripheral nerve ablation, axonal regeneration is not possible. METHODS: The patients in this series had symptoms for 1 to 43 years. In 22 patients the occipital pain was caused by trauma; in 17 patients the pain was spontaneous. Pain relief failed in 17 patients who had undergone a previous occipital neurectomy or C-2 rhizolysis. Twenty-three patients experienced pain that was described as shocklike, electric, shooting, jabbing, stabbing, sharp, or exploding (Group I). Eight patients described their pain as dull, pounding, aching, throbbing, or pressurelike (Group II). The patients underwent unilateral or bilateral C-2 open microsurgical ganglionectomies. The postoperative follow-up period ranged from 19 to 48 months. Nineteen patients experienced an excellent result (> 90% reduction in pain). Pain caused by trauma or that described using Group I terms responded best to ganglionectomy (80% good or excellent response). In contrast, the majority of the patients with nontraumatic pain or those described using Group II descriptors did not achieve favorable results. CONCLUSIONS: The authors conclude that: 1) patients who suffer from chronic occipital pain after having sustained injury obtain worthwhile benefit from microsurgical C-2 ganglionectomy; 2) patients suffering from migraine, tension, and vascular headaches involving the occipital area are most often not helped by this operation; and 3) terms such as "shock," "electric," "shooting," "jabbing," and "sharp" used to describe occipital pain predict a favorable pain outcome following a C-2 ganglionectomy.

[Surgical treatment of Horton's headache or neuralgia of the greater superficial petrosal nerve]. / Leczenie chirurgiczne bólów glowy Hortona czyli neuralgii nerwu skalistego powierzchownego wiekszego.

The authors report two cases of Horton's neuralgia treated surgically. In one patient the result is very good, in the other one it is poor. The pathophysiological mechanisms and anatomical-functional basis of this type of headache are discussed stressing the contribution to the knowledge of these mechanisms made by Professor Jerzy Choróbski. It seems that more patients should be referred for this treatment that it is done presently. The operation with sectioning of this nerve is not particularly troublesome and it may be a good supplementation of pharmacological treatment.

The radiosurgical treatment of arteriovenous malformations: obliteration, morbidities, and performance status.

OBJECTIVE: This study examined the single-center treatment outcomes of arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) of the brain using stereotactic radiosurgery, with regard to obliteration, predictive factors, morbidities, and patient performance status. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 127 patients were treated between 1990 and 2008 by use of linear accelerator or Gamma Knife. Their median age was 37 years, the median AVM volume was 7.3 cc (range, 0.014-113.13 cc), and the median follow-up duration was 42 months (range, 6-209 months). Forty-two percent of patients presented with intracranial hemorrhage, 31% received embolization, and 8% underwent prior resection. Thirty-one percent of patients received more than one round of radiosurgery. RESULTS: 64% of patients had complete obliteration confirmed by magnetic resonance imaging or angiography. Positive predictors of obliteration included pretreatment hemorrhage (p = 0.042), smaller AVM volume (odds ratio = 1.25; 95% CI, 1.03-1.52), and larger marginal dose (odds ratio = 0.292; 95% CI, 0.100-0.820), whereas embolization (p < 0.001) was a negative predictor . The annual risk of hemorrhage after radiosurgery was 2.2%, and the risk of death as a result of hemorrhage was 0.6-1.3%. Eleven percent of patients reported new or worsened neurologic symptoms. Radiosurgery was effective in treating AVM-related headaches (p < 0.001) but did not improve the performance status of patients. CONCLUSIONS: Stereotactic radiosurgery is an effective tool in the treatment of AVMs and amelioration of AVM-related headaches, but it did not affect the patients' performance status. Factors affecting obliteration include prior hemorrhage, marginal dose, prior embolization, and AVM volume. Risk of hemorrhage persists in the latency period after radiosurgery, and it remains finite even after complete obliteration.

Cluster headache and the sympathetic nerve.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of a sympathetic block at C7 on cluster headache. BACKGROUND: Eleven patients presenting to a pain control unit with cluster headache were included in the study after giving informed consent. METHODS: In all patients, a mixture of 5 mL of 0.5% bupivacaine hydrochloride and 1 cc of methylprednisolone acetate was injected onto the base of the C7 transverse process. RESULTS: The injection was applied during the acute phase of headache in 6 patients and all experienced immediate and complete relief. The other 5 patients received the injection between attacks. Of the 11 patients treated, 8 went into remission by aborting the cluster. In some patients, repeated injections were given before the cluster was aborted. Three patients did not respond to treatment. One patient with chronic paroxysmal hemicrania experienced pain relief of the acute attack after treatment, but the procedure did not abort the subsequent attacks. A surgical sympathectomy removing the stellate ganglion rendered him pain-free for 15 months after which he was lost to follow-up. CONCLUSION: Blocking the sympathetic nerve aborts an acute attack of cluster headache and may play a major role in aborting the cluster. Although only one patient with chronic paroxysmal hemicrania responded to surgical sympathectomy, this procedure may be considered as an alternative if there is poor response to oral medication or a sympathetic block.

Three cases of post traumatic vascular headache treated by surgery.

Three cases are reported of vascular headache following trauma and which failed to respond adequately to standard therapy for migraine. In each case the effect of ligation of the arteries involved has been dramatic, with complete and lasting relief in two cases.

[Greater petrosal nerve surgery in long-term cluster headache (author's transl)]. / Zur Chirurgie des N. petros major bei langjährigem Gesichts- und Kopfschmerz

Report on three cases with cluster headache for a period of 10 to 20 years, respectively. This was healed by resection of the greater petrosal nerve. In these patients the nerve was found in a bony canal of a length of 5 to 6 mm between the geniculate ganglion and the facial nerve hiatus. In this region the nerve was blurred free, luxated from the canal, and resected. Histological control of this part of the nerve revealed a fibrosis of the peri- and epineurium and a degeneration of some nerve fibers. Histological control in a greater number of cases is recommended.

Chronic cluster headache managed by nervus intermedius section.

Cluster headache sufferers who become candidates for surgical treatment are those relatively rare patients who are refractory to all attempts at pharmacological relief. Ablative surgical procedures have been directed against either the trigeminal nerve or the nervus intermedius/greater superficial petrosal (NI/GSP) pathway. Both carry nociceptive impulses from the head and face, and the NI also carries parasympathetic fibres which appear to be responsible for the autonomic concomitants of cluster headache. Trigeminal operative procedures are not consistently helpful in chronic cluster headache, while NI section has been shown to give potentially long lasting relief but carries the potential risks of cerebellopontine angle surgery. In eight selected cases of chronic cluster headache we have demonstrated a high early success rate for pain relief, with few complications, in the performance of NI section, combined, when indicated, with microvascular decompression of the trigeminal main sensory root. We believe that cochlear nerve monitoring helps prevent postoperative hearing impairment. An intimate relationship between the NI and arterial loops of the anterior inferior cerebellar artery (AICA) or the internal auditory artery has been frequently observed in our chronic cluster headache patients.

Pathogenesis and surgical treatment of migraine and neurovascular headaches with rhinogenic trigger.

Patients (299) with various types of headaches (migraines, cluster headaches, and so-called idiopathic headaches) were operated on between 1973 and 1991. Septal correction, resection of the middle concha, ethmoidectomy, and sphenoidectomy on the corresponding headache side or occasionally on both sides were carried out. Most patients (235; 78.5%) were totally asymptomatic postoperatively; 34 (11.5%) had a sensation of pressure in the head on rare occasions but no further migraines, and 30 (11%) continued to experience headaches that occurred only rarely and were mild and of short duration.

Headaches in children.

"Common" nonspecific headaches are the most frequent headaches in childhood and do not require a visit to the physician. Migraine is the most common of the headache syndromes with characteristic profiles, followed by the muscle contraction (tension), inflammatory and psychogenic types. Less frequent are mass or brain tumor headaches, malformation and hypertensive headaches. Migraine goes unrecognized more than the other common syndromes. Minor tranquilization may stop the pattern. The most important aspect of treatment for muscle contraction headache is recognition.

[Decompressive neurovascular nose and skull-base surgery in primary headache with a rhinogenic trigger]. / La chirurgia decompressiva neurovascolare della rino-base cranica nelle cefalee primarie con trigger rinogeno.

The therapeutical results such as recoveries or substantial improvements obtained by neurovascular decompressive functional morpho-corrective rhino-skull base surgery on 2124 cases of primary headaches (migraine with aura, migraine without aura, cluster headache, chronic paroxysmal hemicrania, tension-type headache) obliges a thorough review of the classical chapter on "rhinogenous headaches" (Bonaccorsi, Novak, Blondiau, Bisschop, Hoover, Clerico). In fact all those headaches seemingly "primary", but having a "central-peripheral" etiopathogenesis proved by a well documented (CT) volumetric reduction of "ethmoidosphenoidal subcribriform chamber" according to hemoangiokinetics purposes of endo-exocranial anastomotic circulation of this area, should be included in the chapter of "rhinogenous headaches". This endo-exocranial anastomotic circulation is considered a "functional unit" owing to the continuity of rhino-ophthalmic-encephalic trigeminal-vegetative and vascular circuits (Hannerz, Hardebo, Moskowitz). These morphological abnormalities of the rhino-skull base osteo-vascular-mucous structures acquire physio-pathological significance only in patients with "low pain threshold and elevated central integrative capability", modulated and timed by the neurogenic biorhythms. It is described the surgery of rhino-skull base by "neurovascular decompressive septo-ethmoidosphenoidectomy" procedure, either conservative or radical till the III grade monolateral with trigeminal and vegetative selective neurotomy that permits to save olfaction and to remove even the controlateral pain decompressing the circulation and eliminating stasis even on the opposite side. Further, it is emphasized that the neurological deficit or central irritative symptomatology (visual aura, sensory-motor paresis, epilepsy) disappears after surgical removal of the "peripheral rhinogenous trigger". It demonstrates a cause and effect relationship that is the central peripheral functional interdependence, even if it's included in the neuro-transmissive, biochemical, neuro-endocrine, constitutional background which is controlled by the psychical, vegetative and dysnociceptive biorhythms.