Numular headache: a coin-shaped cephalgia

Long-term outcomes of nummular headache: A series of 168 patients and 1198 patient-years of follow-up

BACKGROUND

Since the first description of nummular headache (NH), more than 500 cases have been described, delineating its clinical phenotype and response to treatment. However, data on the natural history of NH and outcomes during long-term follow-up are not currently available. The present study aimed to describe the long-term outcomes and follow-up of a large series of patients with NH.

METHODS

A descriptive observational ambisective study with a series of cases was conducted. The study population included adult patients with primary NH and a minimum of 12 months of follow-up. Demographic variables, previous medical history, clinical phenotype, diagnosis and treatment of NH, temporal pattern, and long-term evolution were analysed.

RESULTS

In total, 168 patients were enrolled and followed for a median [interquartile range (IQR)] of 80.5 (55-118.5) months. The temporal pattern after NH onset was chronic in 67.9% and, at diagnosis, the median (IQR) number of pain days per month was 20 [10-30] days with 138 (82.1%) patients with ≥8 days of pain per month. Preventive treatment was needed by 112 (66.7%) patients. The most frequently used drugs were gabapentin (69/112; 61.6%), onabotulinumtoxinA (38/112; 33.9%), amitriptyline (31/112; 27.7%) and lamotrigine (21/112; 18.7%). Response to preventive treatment was at least partial in 91/112 (81.3%) patients. At the end of follow-up, 81 (48.2%) patients had inactive NH. Of patients with active NH, the median (IQR) number of headache days per month was 3 (1-12) days and patients had ≥8 days of pain in 35 (20.8%) cases.

CONCLUSIONS

Long-term outcomes of NH were positive in most patients. After a median of 6.7 years of follow-up, 48% of cases were inactive. Two-thirds of patients required preventive treatment, and 80% of them were treatment-responsive. In NH cases that remained symptomatic, the headache frequency was lower, and the proportion of patients with chronic NH decreased from 68% to 11%.

Nummular headache: a case report of remission following ketogenic diet and botulinum toxin type A injections

Nummular headache is an unusual facial pain disorder with no evidence-based therapy recommendations. The ketogenic diet is an alternative therapy that demonstrated to be effective in migraineurs, but it was never used in the setting of nummular headache. We describe a 58-years old female patient with nummular headache successfully treated with a 6-months ketogenic diet and botulinum toxin type A injections. Ketogenic diet could be an effective alternative/complementary therapy in nummular headache patients although more studies are needed to confirm our results.

Epicranial headaches part 2: Nummular headache and epicrania fugax

BACKGROUND

Nummular headache and epicrania fugax are two primary headaches that fall under the heading of epicranial headaches.

METHODS

This article reviews the epidemiological and clinical features of nummular headache and epicrania fugax, proposed pathogenic mechanisms and state-of-the-art management, according to the literature.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS

Nummular headache and epicrania fugax are generally viewed as rare headache disorders, but no population-based epidemiological data are available. Nummular headache is characterized by continuous or intermittent head pain, which remains circumscribed in a round or oval area of the scalp, typically one to six centimeters in diameter. Epicrania fugax manifests with brief paroxysms of pain that move along the surface of the head, following a linear or zigzag trajectory through different nerve territories. Nummular headache and epicrania fugax are mostly primary headaches, but some secondary cases have been reported. The pathogenesis of these headaches is not fully understood. Nummular headache could probably originate in epicranial tissues or adjacent intracranial structures, while the origin of epicrania fugax could be extracranial or intracranial. Diagnostic assessment requires careful examination of the symptomatic areas. Underlying disorders should be excluded by additional investigations, including neuroimaging and appropriate blood tests. No controlled clinical trials have been conducted in nummular headache or epicrania fugax. Analgesics and anti-inflammatory drugs, botulinum toxin and gabapentin are currently the most recommended treatment options for nummular headache. In epicrania fugax, the most used treatments are gabapentin, lamotrigine, and other antiseizure medications.

Treatment of Primary Nummular Headache: A Series of 183 Patients from the NUMITOR Study

Nummular headache (NH) is a primary headache characterized by superficial coin-shaped pain. NUMITOR (NCT05475769) is an observational study evaluating the responder rate of preventive drugs in NH patients. The treatment response was assessed between weeks 8 and 12 compared with the baseline. Patients were included between February 2002 and October 2022. Demographic and clinical variables were assessed; treatment response was estimated by 50%, 30%, and 75% responder rates and treatment discontinuation due to inadequate tolerability. A total of 183 out of 282 patients fulfilled eligibility criteria and completed the study. Patients were aged 49.5 (standard deviation (SD): 16.8) years, and 60.7% were female. NH phenotype was a parietal circular pain of four centimeters' diameter, moderate intensity, and oppressive quality. At baseline, patients had 25 (interquartile range) pain days per month. Preventive treatment was used by 114 (62.3%) patients. The highest 50% and 75% responder rates corresponded to onabotulinumtoxinA (62.5%, 47.5%), followed by gabapentin (43.7%, 35.2%). Oral preventive drugs were not tolerated by 12.9-25%. The present study provides class IV evidence of the effectiveness of oral preventive drugs and onabotulinumtoxinA in the treatment of primary NH. OnabotulinumtoxinA was the most effective and best-tolerated drug, positioning it as first-line treatment of NH.

Comprehensive Management of Headache for the Otolaryngologist: A Summary

Otolaryngologists will frequently encounter patients with head and facial pain. The headache may be a primary disorder or a symptom of a secondary pathology. Understanding diagnostic criteria and the autonomic and otologic manifestations of primary headaches is imperative for accurate diagnosis and treatment. This article summarizes key points in the issue "Comprehensive Management of Headache for the Otolaryngologist" and can be used as a cursory reference.

Nummular and Side-locked Headaches for the Otolaryngologist

Side-locked headaches are a common symptom having a wide-ranging differential. Unchanging in laterality, these headaches can represent neuralgias, trigeminal autonomic cephalgias, ophthalmologic disorders, otolaryngologic and craniofacial disorders, vascular disorders, and malignancy. In rarer situations, they have presented secondary to neurosurgical or dermatologic considerations. Loss of cranial nerves and visual changes warrant additional evaluation.

Nummular headache in children: A case series and systematic literature review

Background:

Nummular headache is a rare primary headache disorder potentially disabling and refractory to treatment. Of over 300 reported cases, only 9 are children.

Design/Methods:

We searched our institutional database and PubMed for “nummular headache” and synonyms and evaluated select articles from reference lists of substantial reviews.

Results:

Seven children were identified from our institution and nine from 107 unique publications. Mean age at onset was 9.7 and 11.9 years in our cohort and the literature, respectively, with a female:male ratio of 2:1. Location and quality varied, and allodynia was reported in five. Frequency ranged from every other week to continuous. Imaging was normal except in four cases. Migraine was often comorbid. Published cases were frequently refractory to treatment whereas four of our cohort improved with therapy for comorbid migraine.

Conclusions:

Nummular headache is rarely reported in children. We describe characteristics of seven new and nine previously published pediatric cases.

SECONDARY NUMMULAR HEADACHE: A NEW CASE SERIES AND REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE

BACKGROUND

Nummular Headache (NH) is defined in the International Classification of Headache Disorders (ICHD) by the presence of localized pain circumscribed to a small round area of the scalp, not better accounted by any other diagnosis. As in many other primary headache disorders, secondary cases might occur. To date, 13 secondary cases have been published. We aim to present a long series of secondary NH and review the literature of symptomatic NH.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Retrospective analysis of an observational prospective cohort in a headache unit located in a tertiary hospital. We included patients that fulfilled ICHD criteria and were attributed to a secondary cause. We describe the clinical characteristics, the underlying causes, and the response to treatment.

RESULTS

We included 274 NH patients, 8 of them (2.9%) were considered secondary. In 1 patient the underlying cause was subcutaneous, as for 6 cases the lesion was located in the bone (two hemangiomas, 1 osteoma, 3 different types of cysts), and in one was intracranial but closely related with internal diploe (cavernoma). Among our patients with secondary NH, a preventive therapy was not always needed and, when required, gabapentin or onabotulinumtoxinA were used with positive response.

CONCLUSION

Secondary NH phenotype overlaps primary NH. Therefore, we recommend routine imaging study in every NH patient. Concerning treatment, it was not necessary to remove the underlying lesion to control the pain and many cases responded to the same prophylactics as primary NH cases.

Linear Headache: A Novel Entity or a Variant of Nummular Headache? Clinical Characteristics and Treatment Response in a Series of 16 Patients

OBJECTIVE

Linear headache has been recently described as an episodic or chronic unilateral pain distributed along a fixed linear trajectory, which combines some characteristics of epicrania fugax and nummular headache. The aim of this study was to describe the clinical characteristics and therapeutic response of a series of 16 new patients.

DESIGN

This is an observational study with a series of cases.

SETTING

The study period encompassed June 2014 to June 2019. Demographic, clinical, and therapeutic response data were recorded.

METHODS

We included all consecutive patients who presented pain with the following characteristics: sharply contoured, fixed in size and shape, with linear shape, without movement along a trajectory, and not circumscribed to the territory of any nerve.

RESULTS

Twelve patients were women, and four were men. The mean age at onset was 40.1 years. Pain was described as pressing in seven patients, burning in five, and electric or stabbing in two each. Symptomatic treatment had been used by 13 patients (81.2%), with analgesics being the most frequent treatment used. Thirteen patients received preventive treatment. The response to oral medications and anesthetic blockade was insufficient. OnabotulinumtoxinA was used in six cases, with an optimal (>75%) response observed in half.

CONCLUSION

Linear headache appears to be a distinct headache syndrome from epicrania fugax or nummular headache. Preventive treatment is often required. The drug with the best response was onabotulinumtoxinA.

Nummular Headache - a Case Report of a Rare Entity

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

The purpose of this manuscript is to shed light on systematic work-up of a diagnostic challenge such as nummular headache (NH), and to summarize the relevant literature on NH.

RECENT FINDINGS

The specific nature of the shape of the pain site is usually characteristic of NH. Multiple modalities of investigation including succinct imaging are necessary to successfully rule out other similar conditions. A 26-year-old female patient of Asian-Indian origin presented to the clinic with the chief complaint of chronic persistent left parietal headache for more than 10 years, which has been worsening over the past few days with no specific identifiable trigger. The diagnosis of nummular headache is challenging and confusing due to the rare occurrence and inadequate references in the literature. Appropriate imaging was done, which revealed no pathology that could explain the headache presentation. These findings are consistent with our diagnosis of nummular headache, and helped in the successful management of the case.

Nummular Headache and Its Surgical Treatment

Nummular headache (NH) is an uncommon primary headache characterized by pain limited to a precise small area of the scalp. There is no global consensus on its pathogenesis, but its extracranial origin is the most accepted theory. Moreover, peripheral mechanism is supported by the overlapping symptomatology of secondary forms of NH and is well described in the literature. However, a standard effective treatment is still lacking.

METHODS

A literature search according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis guidelines was conducted to evaluate surgical strategies for NH. Inclusion criteria were English language, diagnosis of primary NH according to International Classification of Headache Disorders, 3rd Edition, or of secondary NH, and follow-up at a minimum of 3 months. The treatment had to consist of peripheral surgery.

RESULTS

One hundred eighty-seven records were identified after duplicates were removed, 15 full-text articles were assessed for eligibility, and 4 records were selected for inclusion. A total of 53 patients were included in this review, 50 of whom were diagnosed with primary NH. The general positive response after surgery (>50% reduction in occipital migraine headaches) was about 70.0% for primary NH, while secondary NH always showed complete pain relief. However, many variations in patient selection and type of surgery were described.

CONCLUSIONS

Neurovascular relationship in the extracranial tissues seems to be involved in the onset of NH. However, only limited data from meager literature and from few patients are currently available. Shared multicentric research protocols are badly required.

Characteristics and treatment effectiveness of the nummular headache: a systematic review and analysis of 110 cases

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE

Nummular headache (NH) is a primary headache disorder characterised by intermittent or continuous scalp pain, affecting a small circumscribed area of the scalp. As there are limited data in the literature on NH, we conducted this review to evaluate demographic characteristics and factors associated with complete resolution of the headache, and effectiveness of treatment options.

METHODS

We performed a systematic review of cases reported through PubMed database, using Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses protocol and 'nummular headache', 'coin-shaped headache' and 'coin-shaped cephalalgia' keywords. Analysis was performed by using χ2 test and Wilcoxon rank-sum test. For individual interventions, the response rate (RR%) of the treatment was calculated.

RESULTS

We analysed a total of 110 NH cases, with median age 47 years and age of pain onset 42 years. Median duration to make correct diagnosis was 18 months after first attack. The median intensity of each attack was 5/10 on verbal rating scale over 4 cm diameter with duration of attack <30 min. Patients with NH had median three attacks per day with frequency of 9.5 days per month. 40 (57.97%) patients had complete resolution of the headache after treatment. Patients with complete resolution were younger, more likely to be female, and were more likely to have diagnosis within year. Patients with complete resolution more likely to have received treatment with onabotulinum toxin A (botulinum toxin type A (BoNT-A)), and gabapentin compared with patients without complete resolution. Most effective interventions were gabapentin (n=34; RR=67.7%), non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) (n=32; RR=65.6%), BoNT-A (n=12; RR=100%) and tricyclic antidepressant (n=9; RR=44.4%).

CONCLUSION

Younger patients, female sex and early diagnosis were associated with complete resolution. NSAIDs, gabapentin and BoNT-A were most commonly used medications, with significant RRs.

Observational, open-label, non-randomized study on the efficacy of onabotulinumtoxinA in the treatment of nummular headache: The pre-numabot study

Background

Nummular headache is a primary headache characterised by superficial, coin-shaped pain. Superficial sensory fibre dysfunction might be involved in its pathophysiology. Considering the mechanism of action of onabotulinumtoxinA, it could be a reasonable option in treatment of nummular headache. The aim of the study was to evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of onabotulinumtoxinA in a series of nummular headache patients.

Patients and methods

This was an observational, prospective, non-randomized and open-label study. Nummular headache patients with at least 10 headache days in three preceding months were included. They were administered 25 units of onabotulinumtoxinA. The primary endpoint was the decrease of headache days per month, evaluated between weeks 20 to 24, compared with baseline. The secondary endpoints included reduction of intense headache days and acute treatment days evaluated between weeks 20–24 and weeks 8–12, compared with baseline. The 30%, 50% and 75% responder rates were determined, and tolerability described.

Results

We included 53 patients, 67.9% females, with a median age of 54 years. Preventive treatment had been used previously in 60.4% of patients. The median diameter of the nummular headache was 5 cm. At baseline, the number of headache days per month was 24.5 (7.3); the number of intense headache days was 12.5 (10.1), and the number of acute treatment days was 12.8 (7.8). After onabotulinumtoxinA, the mean number of headache days per month decreased to 6.9 (9.3) between weeks 20 and 24 ( p < 0.001). Secondary endpoints concerning intense headache days per month and acute treatment days per month were also statistically significant ( p < 0.001). The 50% responder rate, evaluated between weeks 20 and 24, was 77.4% and the 75% responder rate was 52.8%. Concerning tolerability, 26 patients (49.1%) experienced an adverse event (AE), the commonest being injection-site pain in 12 cases (22.6%). There were no moderate or severe AEs.

Conclusion

It was found that after injecting onabotulinumtoxinA, the number of headache days per month was reduced in nummular headache patients. The number of intense headache days per month and acute treatment days were also lowered. No serious adverse events occurred during treatment.

Clinical characteristics of nummular headache and differentiation between spontaneous and posttraumatic variant: an observational study

BACKGROUND

Head trauma has been described as a precipitating event in Nummular Headache (NH). We aimed to describe the largest NH published series and compare characteristics between idiopathic and post-traumatic cases.

METHODS

Patients attended in a Headache Unit in a tertiary hospital (January 2008-January 2018). NH diagnosed according to International Classification of Headache Disorders (ICHD) criteria. We prospectively considered clinical and epidemiological data, comparing idiopathic cases with those precipitated by a cranial trauma.

RESULTS

We included 225 patients (145 women, 80 men) with NH. Median latency between onset and diagnosis was 10 months (IQR: 5-24). Symptomatic treatment was used in 190 patients (84.4%) among which 142 (74.7%) experienced response to it. Preventive treatment was necessary in 127 patients (51.4%), among which 95 (74.8%) achieved response. 29 patients (23 women, 6 men) described a head trauma related to beginning of pain. When comparing groups with or without previous trauma, age of onset was higher among post-traumatic patients (59.9 ± 17.4 vs 48.1 ± 18 years, p: 0.001). Allodynia upon palpation was encountered more frequently in trauma triggered painful areas (53.3% vs. 32.7%, p: 0.02). No other clinical characteristics differences were observed.

CONCLUSION

Cranial trauma is not a rare trigger of NH. Patients with post-traumatic forms are older and the presence of allodynia is more frequent.

Epicrania Fugax as the presenting symptom of a cerebellar abscess

Background

Epicrania fugax is included in the appendix of the International Classification of Headache Disorders and is characterized as recurrent brief attacks of linear or zigzag pain moving across the cranial surface, commencing and terminating in the distribution of different nerves. We present a new case of epicrania fugax in which the headache was the presenting symptom of a cerebellar abscess.

Case report

We present a 58-year-old woman with prior history of Chiari I malformation who underwent suboccipital craniectomy. Two weeks after surgery, she experienced paroxysmal pain episodes of 1–3 seconds, with constant linear trajectory from the right occipital surface to the right orbital region, remaining pain free between episodes. Cranial tomography showed a hypodense intraaxial lesion in the right cerebellar hemisphere. Magnetic Resonance Imaging exhibited intralesional bleeding and peripheral enhancement after gadolinium administration. Post-surgical cerebellar abscess was diagnosed and antibiotic therapy was started; the patient underwent urgent surgical drainage. Pain disappeared after the surgery and the patient remains pain free with 12 months of follow-up.

Conclusion

Posterior fossa abnormalities have been described as a possible cause of secondary epicrania fugax. The presence of red flags should encourage conducting of paraclinical tests to rule out a symptomatic form.

First three cases of scalp temperature change in symptomatic areas affected by nummular headache: a case report

Background

Nummular headache is a distinct headache disorder characterized by a rounded or elliptical symptomatic area that is typically 2 to 6 cm in diameter and does not change in shape or size with time. Although the pathomechanism is still not clear, nummular headache is thought to be a primary headache disorder. To date, more than 250 cases have been reported; the symptoms of this disease vary, but no cases with scalp temperature changes in the symptomatic areas have been reported yet. In this study, we present three patients with a new manifestation of nummular headache, in which the symptomatic areas of the scalp were colder or warmer than normal areas; we believe that our work might be helpful for medical practitioners and researchers.

Case presentation

The temperature differences between the symptomatic areas and the normal areas were tested in three patients with nummular headache accompanied by changes in scalp temperature. Three patients’ symptomatic areas were either colder or warmer than the normal areas. In every case, we took measurements from the painful site and from the opposite side of the head. The margin of error was 0.01 °C, and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.01).

Conclusion

We firmly believe that our study will provide an enriched understanding of the variation in clinical manifestations of nummular headache. Our observations might also have clinical implications regarding the pathomechanism of this disease, which remains largely unclear at present.

Nummular headache

Nummular headache (NH) is an unusual disorder attributed to a dysfunction of the epicranial nerves. We report a new series of cases, highlighting some clinical features, the association with other headaches, and the therapeutic response. Data of patients with NH, fulfilling ICHD-3 criteria, observed in a Headache Outpatient clinic during 5 years, were retrieved from records. Response to onabotulinumtoxinA was recorded prospectively and evaluated with a Headache Impact Test (HIT). Twenty-four patients, aged 53.8 (±14.6) years at diagnosis, 13 women, had definitive ( N = 21) or probable ( N = 3) NH for an average of 2.4 years. Headache was consistently localized, more frequently extratrigeminal ( N = 15) and parietal, and confined to the scalp. Pain was unremitting since onset in 58.3% of mild-to-moderate severity often with superimposed paroxysms (66.7%) and local allodynia (70.8%). In five cases, there was a possible precipitant. Thirteen patients reported other headaches, preceding NH by 8.2 years. In eight persistent cases, there was a significant improvement on HIT, after onabotulinumtoxinA. Despite its persistence, NH may go unrecognized for years. It often follows other headache types and has some tropism for hair-covered regions of the scalp. OnabotulinumtoxinA seems effective in persistent cases.

How and when to refer patients diagnosed with primary headache and craniofacial neuralgia in the Emergency department or Primary Care: Recommendations of the Spanish Society of Neurology's Headache Study Group

INTRODUCTION

When a patient is diagnosed with primary headache or craniofacial neuralgia in the emergency department or in primary care, and is referred to a neurologist due to the complexity of the case, it is useful to know whether additional examination should be sought and the priority (urgent, preferential or normal) with which the patient should be seen. This will avoid unnecessary delays in patients with disabling headache and where organic causes are suspected. In order to issue recommendations on this matter, the Spanish Society of Neurology's Headache Study Group has decided to create a series of agreed recommendations constituting a referral protocol for patients with headache and/or craniofacial neuralgia.

DEVELOPMENT

Young neurologists with an interest and experience in headache were invited to draft a series of practical guidelines in collaboration with Spanish Society of Neurology's Headache Study Group Executive Committee. For practical reasons, the document was divided into 2 articles: this first article focuses on primary headaches and craniofacial neuralgias and the second on secondary headaches. In order for the recommendations to be helpful for daily practice they follow a practical approach, with tables summarising referral criteria, examinations to be performed, and referral to other specialists.

CONCLUSIONS

We hope to offer a guide and tools to improve decision-making regarding patients with headache, identifying complementary tests to prioritise and referral pathways to be followed, in order to avoid duplicated consultations and delayed diagnosis and treatment.

Epicrania fugax combining forward and backward paroxysms in the same patient: the first four cases

Background

The first description of epicrania fugax (EF) reported brief painful paroxysms that start in posterior regions of the scalp and move forward to reach the ipsilateral forehead, eye, or nose. A backward variation, wherein pain stems from frontal areas and radiates to the posterior scalp, has also been acknowledged. We report four patients with features reminiscent of EF and the coexistence of forward and backward pain paroxysms.

Methods

We considered all patients attending the headache outpatient office at two tertiary hospitals from March 2008 to March 2016. We enrolled four patients with paroxysms fulfilling criteria for EF and a combination of forward and backward radiations.

Results

In all cases, pain paroxysms moved both in forward and backward directions with either a zigzag (n=2) or linear (n=2) trajectory. Three patients presented two stemming points, in the occipital scalp and forehead (n=2) or in the parietal area and eye (n=1), whereas the fourth patient only had a stemming point located in the parietal region. Pain quality was mainly stabbing, and its intensity was moderate (n=1) or severe (n=3). The duration of the paroxysms was highly variable (3–30 seconds), and two patients reported autonomic symptoms.

Conclusion

The clinical picture presented by our patients does not fit with other types of known headache or neuralgia syndromes; we propose it corresponds to a bidirectional variant of EF.

Langerhans cell histiocytosis (eosinophilic granuloma) of the skull mimicking nummular headache. Report of two cases

Background

Nummular headache is a rare, recently described topographic headache defined by the circumscribed coin-shaped area of pain. It is classified as a primary headache. There is debate about whether it is due to a peripheral or central disturbance, and its relationship to migraine.

Case reports

We report two patients with presumed nummular headache secondary to Langerhans cell histiocytosis, both with resolution of their headaches after surgical resection.

Conclusion

Imaging in patients with clinical features of nummular headache is recommended, as this and other cases highlight that it may be symptomatic. There are no distinguishing clinical features to separate nummular headache from secondary mimics, and treatment of the underlying cause may be curative.

Epicrania Fugax

Epicrania fugax (EF) is a primary headache of recent description. EF essentially consists of brief paroxysms of pain describing a linear or zigzag trajectory across the surface of one hemicranium, commencing and terminating in the territories of different nerves. The pain of forward EF originates in a particular area of the occipital, parietal or temporal regions and moves anteriorly, whereas the pain of backward EF originates in the frontal area, the eye or the nose and moves posteriorly. Some patients have ocular or nasal autonomic accompaniments, and some have triggers. Between attacks, many patients have continuous or intermittent pain and/or tenderness at the stemming area. Pain frequency is extremely variable and some patients have spontaneous remissions. Preventive therapy is required when the paroxysms are frequent and non-remitting. Neuromodulators, indomethacin, amitryptiline, nerve anesthetic blockades, and trochlear steroid injections have been used in different cases, with partial or complete response.

Nummular headache: Clinico-epidemiological features in South Indian population

CONTEXT

Nummular headache (NH) is a primary disorder characterized by head pain exclusively felt in a small-rounded area typically 2-6 cm in diameter.

AIMS

The aim of this review is to study the clinical and epidemiological features of NH in a patient population of South India and to compare this with that of described in the international literature.

SETTINGS AND DESIGN

A prospective, observational study conducted in a tertiary care center.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Patients attending the medicine and neurology outpatient departments of a tertiary referral hospital in South India diagnosed to have NH as per the International Classification of Headache Disorders 3 beta (2013) criteria were studied over 30 months. All of the patients had a normal neurological examination. Neuroimaging findings were normal, except in one patient.

RESULTS

A total of 19 females and 10 males were studied. The mean age of onset was 47.62 years (range 36-60). The duration of headache varied from a minimum of 3 months to a maximum of 5 years, with a mean of 24.17 months. The site of headache was predominantly in the parietal area 15 (51.72%), followed by the occipital area 7 (24.13%). The mean diameter of the affected area was 3.23 cm. The intensity of the headache proved to be mild to moderate with a mean visual analog scale score of 5.03. The quality of pain was mainly felt as burning dysesthesia 12 (41.38%). In the majority of patients, i.e. 21 (72.41%), pain was chronic and continuous. None of the patients had any significant trophic change even though paresthesias, dysesthesias, and allodynia were reported by a significant minority of patients, i.e. 9 (31.03%). Only one (3.45%) patient gave a history of head injury. Ten (34.48%) out of 29 patients had other types of concurrent headaches; the majority of which proved to be migrainous, i.e. 7 (24.14%), 2 patients (6.89%) with tension headache, and 1 patient (3.45%) with trigeminal neuralgia.

CONCLUSION

Our study proves the existence of the newly described primary headache syndrome called NH in South Indian population. In comparing our results with the international literature, the number of similarities is much greater than the differences. The etiology of pain in our series appeared to be primarily peripheral with a role for central pain sensitization in some cases due to a variety of concurrent central causes of head pain.

Administration of palmitoylethanolamide in combination with topiramate in the preventive treatment of nummular headache

Nummular headache has been recently described as a primary disorder characterized by head pain exclusively felt in a small rounded area typically 2–6 cm in diameter, not attributed to another disorder. Both size and shape of the painful area remain constant since the onset of symptoms. A 57-year-old woman presented with a history of focal episodic pain in a circumscribed area on the right parietal region. The administration of standard oral doses of palmitoylethanolamide and topiramate in combination showed an improvement in pain symptoms and on pain measuring scales.

Nummular Headache: Three New Cases

Nummular headache is proposed as a distinct type of headache in the Appendix of the second edition of the International Classification of Headache Disorders (ICHD-II). It is a chronic condition, with the following characteristics: pain is felt on a small circumscribed cranial area; pain is of mild to moderate intensity; there is no evidence of a structural abnormality. Herein, three cases fulfilling the ICHDII proposed criteria (code A13.7.1) for nummular headache are reported.

Pericranial Tenderness is Not Related to Nummular Headache

The aim of the present study was to investigate whether nummular headache (NH) patients show increased pericranial tenderness in relation to healthy subjects, and to compare pericranial tenderness between both NH and chronic tension-type headache (CTTH) patients. Three tenderness (total, cephalic and neck) scores were objectively and blinded assessed in 10 NH patients, 10 CTTH subjects and 10 healthy matched controls. No significant differences were found in any tenderness score between the symptomatic and non-symptomatic sides in NH, or between right and left sides in either CTTH or control groups. All tenderness scores were significantly greater in CTTH patients compared with both NH patients and controls ( P < 0.001), but not significantly different between NH patients and controls. Therefore, NH patients had lower tenderness than patients with CTTH and did not show increased tenderness when compared with healthy subjects. In addition, tenderness in NH patients was quite symmetrical between both the symptomatic and the non-symptomatic sides. The absence of increased pericranial tenderness could be clinically useful in distinguishing NH from CTTH. Current findings expand the evidence supporting the notion that NH is a non-generalized and rather limited disorder, marking the presence of a well-delimited painful zone.

Headaches in brain tumor patients: primary or secondary?

BACKGROUND

Headaches occur commonly in all patients, including those who have brain tumors. It has been argued that there is a classic "brain tumor headache type" - defined by the International Headache Society as one that is localized, progressive, worse in the morning, aggravated by coughing or bending forward, develops in temporal and often spatial relation to the neoplasm, and resolves within 7 days of surgical removal or treatment with corticosteroids.

METHODS

Using the search terms "headache and brain tumors," "intracranial neoplasms and headache," and "facial pain and brain tumors," we reviewed the literature from the past 20 years on brain tumor-associated headache and reflected upon the International Classification of Headache Disorders-3 (ICHD-3). In a separate, complementary paper, the proposed mechanisms of brain tumor headache are reviewed.

RESULTS

We discuss multiple clinical presentations of brain tumor headaches, present the ICHD-3 diagnostic criteria for each type of headache, and then apply our findings to the ICHD-3. Our primary and major finding was that brain tumor headaches can present similarly to primary headaches in those with a predisposition to headaches, suggesting that following ICHD-3 criteria could cause a clinician to overlook a headache caused by a brain tumor. We further find that some types of headaches are not explicitly discussed in the ICHD-3 and also propose that the International Headache Society formally define SMART (Stroke-like Migraine Attacks after Radiation Therapy) syndrome given the increasing amount of literature on this disorder.

CONCLUSION

Our literature review revealed that brain tumor headache uncommonly presents with classic brain tumor headache characteristics and often satisfies criteria for a primary headache category such as migraine or tension-type. Thus, clinicians may miss headaches due to brain tumors in following ICHD-3 criteria, and the distinction between primary and secondary headache disorders may not be so clear-cut.

A recurrent headache circumscribed in a coronal line-shaped area around the head: a coronal linear headache

BACKGROUND

Linear headache (LH) has recently been described as a paroxysmal or continuous head pain restricted in a linear trajectory of 5-10 mm in width, linking one endpoint in occipital or occipitocervical region with another endpoint in ipsilateral nasion or forehead region. The sagittal line-shaped pain area of LH is close and parallel to a sagittal venous sinus, the superior sagittal sinus (SSS). For some patients, the LH had some features resembling the pattern of migraine without aura.

CASE DESCRIPTION

A 45 year-old woman complained with a distinct headache for more than half years. The pain trajectory of the headache is confined to a coronal line-shaped area of 5-10 mm in width linking the two points in the bilateral temporal regions with the occipital protuberance. This coronal line-shaped pain area is close and parallel to a coronal cambered venous sinus complex, the combination of the confluences of sinus and the bilateral cavernous sinus (CS), superior petrosal sinus (SPS) linking the CS with transverse sinus (TS) and TS into which the SPS feeds. The patient had a past history of migraine without aura for 10 years and her son had a benign paroxysmal vertigo (BPV) for 12 years. Both of her coronal line-shaped headache and her son's vertigo had well response to sodium valproate.

DISCUSSION AND EVALUATION

Its clinical characteristics were distinctly different from those of other two headache entities defined with topographical criteria, nummular headache and epicrania fugax, and different from other existing headache entities except for migraine without aura.

CONCLUSION

The distinct coronal line-shaped headache is suggestive of a variant of LH, a coronal LH, and probably belongs to a subtype of migraine without aura as proposed for LH. This coronal LH reinforces the proposal of LH as a new headache syndrome or a subtype of a previously known headache syndrome, probably of migraine.

Linear headache: clinical characteristics of eight new cases

Background

Linear headache (LH) has recently been described as a paroxysmal or continuous fixed head pain restricted in a linear trajectory of 5–10 mm in width, linking one endpoint in occipital or occipitocervical region with another endpoint in ipsilateral nasion or forehead region. For some patients, this headache had some features resembling migraine without aura.

Methods

We made a prospective search of patients presenting with a clinical picture comprised under the heading of LH and we have accessed eight new cases. A detailed clinical feature of the headache was obtained in all cases to differentiate with cranial neuralgia, paroxysmal hemicrania, cervicogenic headache, nummular headache and migraine.

Results

The eight LH patients complained of a recurrent moderate to severe, distending, pulsating, or pressure-like pain within a strictly unilateral line-shaped area. The headache duration would be ranged from 1 h to 2 days or persistent for 1–6 months with recurrent worsening of headaches. For some patients, this headache had couple of features similar to that of migraine pattern, such as accompaniments of nausea, vomiting, and phonophobia, diziness, triggering factors of noise, bright night, resting after physical activity, fatigue, menstruation, and response to anti-migraine therapy.

Conclusions

This description reinforces the proposal of LH as a new headache syndrome or a new variant of a previously known headache syndrome, probably of migraine.

Pressure pain sensitivity map of multifocal nummular headache: a case report

Background

Nummular headache (NH) is most commonly a localized unifocal headache; however, some patients infrequently exhibit multifocal symptomatic painful head areas retaining all features of NH. We present the pressure pain sensitivity map of an adolescent with multifocal NH.

Case presentation

We describe a case of a 14 year-old-girl with a 3-year history of continuous pain in four rounded areas, all of them with the same size and shape. Pressure pain thresholds (PPT) were assessed on 21 points over the scalp and over the symptomatic areas. A pressure pain sensitivity map of the head was constructed. The neurological exam was unremarkable, with neither sensory symptoms nor trophic changes within the painful areas. As previously shown, symptomatic points exhibited lower PPTs compared to the surrounding areas. The map reflected 4 restricted areas of mechanical hyperalgesia confined just to the painful areas. Treatment with gabapentin achieved complete remission.

Conclusion

This is the first pain sensitivity map of a patient with multifocal NH. Our results support peripheral mechanisms are maintained in multifocal NH.

Atypical nummular headache or circumscribed migraine: the utility of pressure algometry

Nummular headache is a type of headache that can be identified by continuous or intermittent pain occuring in a well-circumscribed area. The symptoms of nummular headache can overlap with those of migraine headache, and a failure to reach an accurate diagnosis can affect the choice of treatment. The authors report a case involving a 21-year-old woman with headache symptoms that appeared to represent nummular headache, for whom treatment with the typical first-line agent was unsuccessful. The authors subsequently generated a pressure algometry map of the painful area, leading to clarification of the diagnosis.

A peripheral mechanism has been proposed for nummular headache; however, there have been descriptions of atypical features resembling migraine. The authors describe a case in which algometry assessment facilitated the discrimination between atypical nummular headache and circumscribed migraine. A 21-year-old woman presented with a history of focal episodic pain in a circumscribed area on the left frontal region. The algometry study showed a unilateral and diffuse decrease of the pain pressure thresholds with frontal predominance, as has been proposed for migraine patients. This result led the authors to introduce a more specific preventive therapy with topiramate, with significant relief. In conclusion, cartographic investigation of pressure pain sensitivity is a simple tool that can help to differentiate between nummular headache and migraine. Further confirmatory investigations are needed.