Health

Do the paroxysmal hemicranias differ pathophysiologically from cluster headache? The PHs, like cluster headache, belong to a group of headache disorders known as the trigeminal autonomic cephalgias (TACs). The TACs are characterized by cyclical episodes of severe headaches that are associated with cranial autonomic activation. These disorders share a common pathophysiologic mechanism, the trigeminal autonomic …

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Are there different clinical variations of the paroxysmal hemicranias? Yes. Although there has been controversy regarding the nomenclature of the PH, there appear to be three related forms: • Chronic paroxysmal hemicrania (CPH), in which multiple headaches occur daily for years on end without remission or with remission periods of less than 1 month • Episodic paroxysmal …

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What distinguishes the paroxysmal hemicranias from cluster headache? The major distinguishing features of the PH and cluster headache lie in the frequency of the attack, the duration of the attack, and the response to treatment. In addition, the PHs do not show the striking preponderance among males that characterizes cluster headache. In cluster headache, attacks …

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What are the paroxysmal hemicranias? The paroxysmal hemicranias (PHs) are a group of rare, benign headache disorders that resemble cluster headache in most ways but are less responsive to medications typically effective for cluster headache. The PHs are characterized by severe, excruciating, throbbing, boring, or pulsatile pain affecting the orbital, supraorbital, and temporal regions. These …

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What percentage of brain tumor patients experience headaches? Approximately 50% to 70% of brain tumor patients report headaches. Patients with a history of primary headaches are more likely to experience headaches in the setting of brain tumor—64% versus 38% of headache-naïve patients.

What is the preferred treatment for brain tumor headaches? The definite treatment for brain tumor headache is often surgical resection. In the interim, medical management including steroids can minimize the vasogenic edema and increased intracranial pressure associated with many brain tumors. In an acute setting, mannitol and hypertonic saline can also provide relief from headache …

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Do primary brain tumors cause headaches? There are two types of primary brain tumor: extra- and intraaxial brain tumors. Extraaxial brain tumors develop around the brain mostly from the meninges and the bone. Intraaxial primary brain tumors develop from the brain parenchyma, in which glioma is the most common type. Both types of primary brain …

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