Sturge-Weber syndrome in a 14-year-old girl without facial naevus

Sturge-weber syndrome: a case report with persistent headache

Sturge-Weber syndrome (SWS) is a rare congenital disorder characterized by a facial vascular nevus associated with an ipsilateral leptomeningeal angioma. Headache is a rare component of SWS and when it occurs it usually occurs as a migraine-like headache. We aimed to present a SWS patient with episodic tension type headache and to draw attention in different types of headaches that can be seen in SWS. A 21 year old female patient with the diagnosis of SWS was suffering from severe headaches. At her physical examination a facial nevus -occurred due to choroid angioma- was observed. On her neurological examination a mild asymmetry of upper extremities was visible. She had a 2 year history of frequent non-pulsating headaches. There was no nausea or aura like symptoms accompanying the headache. Headaches were lasting for hours. The pain was bilateral and pressing in quality. SWS are a very rare and challenging disease for both the patients and their families. Usually migraine type headache is seen in SWS but it should not be forgotten that more generalized headaches like tension type may also be seen.

[Sturge-Weber syndrome -clinical and neuroimaging variability]

Sturge Weber Syndrome is a rare neurocutaneous syndrome in which the severity is determined by degree of brain involvement and control of epilepsy. The authors describe and analyse clinical and imaging features of this syndrome, through a retrospective study of 13 patients (8 girls; aged between 15 days and 9 years at first visit). Twelve had facial angioma and one had atrichia corresponding to the area of brain involvement. Epilepsy was diagnosed in 6 cases, hemiplegia in 4, psychomotor delay in 7, and glaucoma in 4. Cerebral abnormalities were found in 10 children, 3 without neurological symptoms. The clinical signs and symptoms vary and there is not always a relationship between the severity of the clinical and neuroimaging abnormalities, which may occur even in the absence of neurological symptoms.

Sturge-Weber syndrome

Sturge-Weber syndrome is a sporadic neurocutaneous disease characterized by facial port-wine stain, ocular abnormalities (glaucoma and choroidal hemangioma) and leptomeningeal angioma. Although the precise pathogenesis is unknown, available data regarding genetics, embryogenesis, and pathologic features are briefly reviewed. Clinical features vary from mild incomplete forms to full-blown disease with facial stain, seizures, and glaucoma. Frequencies of associated complications are reviewed. To plan treatment and further follow-up, diagnosis of glaucoma and intracranial involvement, even if asymptomatic, is fundamental in children at risk. Early neuroimaging features are important to recognize. Management of patients with Sturge-Weber syndrome is focused on treating associated neurologic and ocular abnormalities.