Just as last year they wanted to paint a nurse as bad for waking us up for a patient with myasthenia, this year they entertain us by presenting a patient asking for a CT scan. I interpret that they show a patient stressed by her children with recurrent headaches of occipital location that she previously relieved with a low dose of paracetamol and now she does not. Both the initially occipital location, the 2-year evolution time, and the sensation of weight lead to answer 4, a tension headache. Migraine and vascular disorders, accompanied by other neurological symptoms or nausea, photophobia, etc., are quickly ruled out, as well as the rare temporal arteritis before the age of 50 years. Tumor headache is usually "in crescendo", not recurrent as the case suggests, and is accompanied by other neurological symptoms or intracranial hypertension.

Just as last year they wanted to paint a nurse as bad for waking us up for a patient with myasthenia, this year they entertain us by presenting a patient asking for a CT scan. I interpret that they show a patient stressed by her children with recurrent headaches of occipital location that she previously relieved with a low dose of paracetamol and now she does not. Both the initially occipital location, the 2-year evolution time, and the sensation of weight lead to [HIDDEN], a tension headache. Migraine and vascular disorders, accompanied by other neurological symptoms or nausea, photophobia, etc., are quickly ruled out, as well as the rare temporal arteritis before the age of 50 years. Tumor headache is usually "in crescendo", not recurrent as the case suggests, and is accompanied by other neurological symptoms or intracranial hypertension.

A 42-year-old married woman with 2 school-age children consults her family physician for a severe headache of about 7 days' evolution. Although she has been having similar episodes for more than a year, in the last 2 months they have worsened considerably. The pain is like a weight that starts in the occipital area, spreads to both temporal regions and is barely relieved by taking 650 mg paracetamol tablets, so she requests a CT scan (she is convinced that "something must be wrong with her head"). Which of the following is the most plausible cause of her headache?

[Swimming induced vascular headache].

We experienced 3 cases of characteristic headache induced by swimming. The first case was a 51-year-old woman who suffered from a sudden attack of throbbing headache in the parieto-temporal region, accompanied by nausea, after 20 minutes of swimming practice in a pool. The headache disappeared after about 3 hours of bed rest. However, soon after she began to practice swimming in the pool a few days later, throbbing headache in the same region recurred. Though the headache improved upon bed rest, dull pain was persistent till bed time that evening. Two days later, as she squatted down with alacrity at her home, she felt intense pain in the whole head as if struck with a hammer. She was seen at our neurological clinic the following day but was found to be neurologically normal with a blood pressure of 130/70 and a pulse rate of 78/min. Blood chemistry tests, hematology, head digital subtraction angiography, cerebral CT and X-ray films of the cervical spine were all normal. After swimming was prohibited, the prognosis was good and the patient experienced no episode of headache at all during the intervening period of 2 years and 5 months after the first visit. The second case was a 45-year-old man who felt throbbing headache affecting the whole head immediately after diving in a swimming pool. The headache improved after about 3 hours of bed rest. One week later, an attack of similar headache occurred immediately after a dive in the swimming pool.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Warning symptoms of sinister headache.

Headache is a common complaint. In most patients, it is usually a problem of migrainous or tension-type headache. It is crucial that a physician is able to differentiate sinister causes of headache from the more benign ones. Six cases are presented to illustrate the fact that there are clues in the history to suggest a sinister cause of headache even though there are minimal or no neurological deficits on physical examination. At some point of time, these cases were examined by a senior physician but they were diagnosed as migrainous or tension-type headaches. The first case is a 41-year-old labourer with cryptococcal meningitis. He presented with severe headaches at a relatively late age. A 20-year-old female complained of the worst headache she ever had and this was due to a subarachnoid haemorrhage. The third case was a young woman with a large parietal meningioma. Her headaches had recently assumed a different character. The fourth case involved an investment manager who developed headaches with transient diplopia and projectile vomiting and investigations revealed an ependymoma. A shipyard worker complained of a constant headache which disturbed his sleep. Two weeks after medical consultation, the character of his headache changed and he developed diplopia in all directions of gaze. He succumbed to pituitary apoplexy. The final case is a 28-year-old woman who had a complicated migraine. CT scan of the brain showed a large arterio-venous malformation.

[Abdominal migraine in adults].

A case of a 35-year-old woman with abdominal migraine is presented. For four years she had been suffering from abdominal pains occurring only at night, always between 1 and 3 a.m. The patient always woke with abdominal pains and nausea. Each time she had diarrhoea and vomited and found that this gave her relief from the pain. Sometimes she lost consciousness for 1-2 minutes. After the attack she felt very weak, her legs and feet became numb and she found it difficult to get to sleep. The attacks and the fainting fits increased in frequency until she had several a month. Numerous gastrological examinations did not reveal any deviations from the normal. At the anti- epileptic consulting unit, abdominal epilepsy was excluded (no abnormalities were found in the eeg and CT examinations of the cranium). As a child she had paroxysmal abdominal pains. When the patient was 10 years old, she had an attack lasting one week and though the pain was severe on the left side, appendectomy was performed. Her mother suffers from migraine with very severe head pains. The patient was referred to our consulting unit where she was treated with Pizotifen in doses of 0.5 mg morning and noon and 1 mg in the evening for three months during which time she had no attacks. A few weeks after discontinuing this treatment, the nocturnal attacks again occurred though the pains were not so severe. She was then prescribed Nitrendipine, 5 mg nightly, and the attacks ceased. However, the patient said that she had felt better when taking Pizotifen.

Margaret Fuller

in the Western Messenger in June: criticisms of recent biographies on George Crabbe and Hannah More. In the fall of that year, she suffered a terrible migraine with a fever that lasted nine days. Fuller continued to experience such headaches throughout her life. While she was still recovering, her father died of cholera on October 2, 1835. She was deeply affected by his death: "My father's image follows me constantly", she wrote. She vowed to step in as the head of the family and take care of her widowed mother and younger siblings. Her father had not left a will, and two of her uncles gained control of his property and finances, later assessed at $18,098.15, and the family had to rely on them for support. Humiliated by the way her uncles were treating the family, Fuller wrote that she regretted being "of the softer sex, and never more than now".

[Sporadic hemiplegic migraine-like headache in a patient with systemic lupus erythematosus].

A 39-year-old woman suddenly developed numbness of the left arm following mild weakness of the left upper and lower extremities, blindness in the left visual field, and difficulty finding words. Her symptoms lasted for two hours with no deficit remaining. Six months after the first episode, the first of several more occurred. Two of the episodes were followed by nausea and a non-pulsative headache around the left temporo-parietal regions and the orbit. She had also been suffering recurrent skin eruptions for the previous two years. There was no family history of migraine. Her neurological symptoms fulfilled the criteria of sporadic hemiplegic migraine (SHM). Biopsy of skin eruption revealed lymphocytic infiltration and liquefied degeneration of basal lamina. These findings were compatible with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). There were no lesions evident on brain MR. We diagnosed SLE and after administration of aspirin (100 mg/day) and lomerizine hydrochloride (10 mg/day), her neurological symptom completely disappeared. SHM-like headache in patients with SLE is extremely rare. Although an autoimmune or thrombotic mechanism has been suggested for neurological symptoms in SLE, further studies are needed to elucidate the mechanism. We propose that SLE should be considered as one of the differential diagnoses of SHM.

[Three Japanese cases of hypnic headache].

We described three cases of hypnic headache with successful treatment by lithium carbonate or caffeine. This is the first detail report of Japanese cases. An endocrinological test and rhythm analyses of ambulatory blood pressure (ABP) and heart rate variability in a case suggested possible association between hypnic headache and hypothalamic-pituitary dysfunction. Case 1: A 48-year-old female migraineur complained of new-onset nocturnal headaches. Her headache awakened her from sleep between 1 AM and 2 AM. The headache occurred 3-4 times per week and lasted from 1 hour to 2 hours. The headache were moderate intensity and bilateral dull throbbing pain that located in the forehead to temples. There was no accompanying symptoms such as nausea, phonophobia, photophobia, nor the other autonomic features including conjunctival injection or tearing during the headache attacks. Physical and neurological examinations showed normal results except slight weakness and mild dysesthesia of the left arm due to a vertebral disk herniation at C5/6 level. In the pituitary endocrinological test, the prolactin level remarkably increased in response to the TRH loading. The single cosinor analysis demonstrated significant circadian rhythm of ABP parameters. However, the analysis did not demonstrate any significant circadian rhythm of Holter ECG parameters of time domain analysis and frequency analysis. Receiving 200 mg lithium bicarbonate before sleep, her nocturnal headache completely disappeared. Case 2: A 68-year-old woman had been followed up by her chronic tension-type headache since her forties. At her 66-years, she suffered from a new nocturnal headache. She awoke from sleep by the headache about 3 AM and the headache lasted 30 min. Moderate, dull headache located on her left temple to parietal head, 3-4 times/week. She was able to go back asleep without any medication after spontaneous headache cessation. She first complained the nocturnal headache at the 10 months later of the new headache appearance. She received 200 mg caffeine just before sleep and her headache has been disappeared. Case 3: 70-year-old women had been regularly visited our clinics for her migraine and chronic tension-type headache. She received amitriptyline and her headaches was well controlled. At her 69 years, she complained nocturnal headache. It occured every other day. The headache was moderate pulsative dull pain on the occipital region and lasted 90 minutes without any autonomic symptoms. Headache began between midnight and 1 AM. She told us her new nocturnal headache one year later of the onset. Oral caffeine (200 mg) just before sleep did not improve her headache and caused insomnia. Receiving 100 mg lithium before sleep, her hypnic headache disappeared completely. These three cases are compatible with the diagnostic criteria proposed in ICHD-II. There were some patients with hypnic headache in Japan and neurologists should pay attentions to this form of benign headache, because some beneficial treatments are currently available.

[Headache among oldest old (+75 years): findings from 736 consecutive subjects in outpatient neurological clinic].

Although the elderly generally suffer less often from headache, many authors suggest that symptomatic headache and concomitant diseases could be more frequent. We performed a retrospective chart review of oldest old (+75 years) patients who seek medical attention from headache. A retrospective chart review (9 years) was carried on all oldest old subjects (> or =75 years) who were studied from outpatient neurological clinic. Headache diagnosis was made according to the new classification of the International Headache Society. Seven hundred and thirty six patients were reviewed. 77,7% were females. Median age was 81,5 years (standard desviation: 5,3). This subjects were 1,7% from all consultations. 89,4% subjects suffered primary headaches. Tensional headache was the most frequent diagnosis. Serious causes were unusual. No patients had headache relationship with neoplasm or infections diseases. Only four subjects (0,6%) had temporal arteritis. Subjects with 81 years and more had less migraine and more Arnold's neuralgia (Greater occipital neuralgia). In our study, headache among oldest old had relationship with benign causes like tensional headache. Although serious causes like neoplasm or infections disease were not detected in our patients, temporal arteritis could be an important cause to screen from outpatient neurological clinic.

Post-COVID Headache: A Literature Review.

Post-COVID headache may be unique in presentation and mechanism, often presenting as a new phenotype in patients with a history of a primary headache disorder or resulting in a new headache syndrome in those without history of headache. This review presents a description of the literature published focused on post-COVID headache. Additionally, we discuss potential mechanisms and considerations for treatment of post-COVID headache. Headache is one of the most common symptoms of COVID. Common characteristics are revealed when reviewing the phenotypes of headaches that have been described in patients with COVID-19, with most headache phenotypes resembling migraine and new persistent daily headache. Post-COVID headaches are often described as moderate to severe, persistent, and treatment refractory. This review highlights the diversity of presentation of headaches that present as a complication of COVID-19. Treatment of post-COVID headache is challenging, especially in the setting of a pandemic where resources are limited. A 42-year-old woman with a history of episodic migraine without aura presents over video visit with a new headache type. Her typical headaches are predominantly left sided, throbbing in nature, and associated with photophobia and phonophobia. They are fully relieved by oral sumatriptan 2 h after treatment. She describes this new headache as a constant, pulsating, holocephalic pain with no other migrainous features that have been ongoing for 6 weeks. She notes that the headache has been persistent since that time. She has tried over-the-counter acetaminophen and ibuprofen and her typical migraine abortive therapy without relief. She is debilitated and wonders if there is anything that will take the pain away. She shares that she tested positive for COVID-19 about 2 days prior to headache onset and has associated rhinorrhea, anosmia, and ageusia.

[Various problems of transformation of migraine].

Fifty-four patients aged 25 to 66 years suffering from hemicrania were examined. 21 patients showed certain changes in the clinical picture and course of hemicrania itself: enhancement of paroxysms or transformation of one form of hemicrania to the other one, more severe (e.g. a simple form transforms to an ophthalmic or an associated one). In 15 patients, ++vegeto-dystonic manifestations associated mostly with a significant reduction of migrainous paroxysms themselves and, more rarely, with their dramatic enhancement began with time to play the leading part in the disease clinical picture. Superimposition of essential hypertension or atherosclerosis was also coupled with changes in the course of hemicrania, in particular by an increase of the period of cephalgia and appearance of constant headaches.

[Effectiveness of midazolam for L-arginine-resistant headaches during stroke-like episodes in MELAS: a case report].

A 14-year-old girl was referred to us with severe migraine-like headaches associated with vomiting and right homonymous hemianopsia. On admission, MRI examination showed high signals in the left occipital cortex and subcortex on T2-weighted images, without reduction of apparent diffusion coefficient suggestive of cerebral infarction. Her EEG demonstrated periodic sharp waves in the left posterior region, and laboratory tests revealed she had increased levels of lactic and pyruvic acid both in blood plasma and CSF. Gene analysis confirmed mitochondrial DNA A3243G mutation. Based on this data, we diagnosed her as having mitochondrial myopathy, encephalopathy, lactic acidosis and a stroke-like episode (MELAS). L-arginine infusion was unsuccessful for her severe headaches, which remained prolonged. She received a low dose (0.05 mg/kg/h) midazolam infusion, resulting in immediate improvement and the disappearance of headaches and abnormal EEG findings. By the age of 18, she had been readmitted eight times for stroke-like episodes accompanied by headaches. While L-arginine infusions alleviated her headaches when administered on day 1 of her episodes, they were not effective when started on or after day 2. Her L-arginine-resistant headaches were relieved by midazolam. Although the pathogenesis of headaches in MELAS is still unknown, neuronal hyperexcitability and trigeminovascular activation are considered important. Midazolam may play a role in suppressing neuronal hyperexcitability and trigeminovascular activation. Treatment with midazolam is advisable for headaches in patients with MELAS, in the event that L-arginine therapy is unsuccessful.

[Recent-onset headache is a risk factor of intracranial lesion. A prospective study of 299 patients].

There is some controversy in the medical literature concerning the need to perform neuroimaging studies in neurologically normal patients complaining of headaches. The objective of the study is to determine the detection rate of intracranial abnormalities by computed tomography in patients with different headache durations. Consecutive patients with the chief complaint of headache referred for neurological evaluation from January 1996 to April 1997 were studied both clinically and by computed tomography scanning. Brain magnetic resonance imaging was performed in 15 patients. Cerebrospinal fluid and/or blood analyses were performed when clinically indicated to rule out subarachnoid hemorrhage, meningitis or temporal arteritis. 15 (5%) out of the 299 patients available for study had significant intracranial lesion. 3 (1%) out of the 266 patients with headaches lasting for more than 1 month had computed tomography findings considered clinically significant and neurological examination was normal in 2 (0.7%) patients with abnormal scans. Patients with a headache duration of 1 month or less had the following case-finding rate: an overall significant intracranial abnormality of 36% (12/33) and significant intracranial abnormality in neurologically normal patients of 15% (5/33). Patients with headache of recent onset (duration of 1 month or less), even with normal neurological examination, are at greater risk of significant intracranial abnormality than patients with long-lasting headaches. These patients at risk should be studied by cranial computed tomography and lumbar puncture if the computed tomography scan is normal and the cause of the headaches cannot be clinically determined.

Breathlessness with pulmonary metastases: a multimodal approach.

Case Study  Sarah is a 58-year-old breast cancer survivor, social worker, and health-care administrator at a long-term care facility. She lives with her husband and enjoys gardening and reading. She has two grown children and three grandchildren who live approximately 180 miles away. SECOND CANCER DIAGNOSIS  One morning while showering, Sarah detected a painless quarter-sized lump on her inner thigh. While she thought it was unusual, she felt it would probably go away. One month later, she felt the lump again; she thought that it had grown, so she scheduled a visit with her primary care physician. A CT scan revealed a 6.2-cm soft-tissue mass in the left groin. She was referred to an oncologic surgeon and underwent an excision of the groin mass. Pathology revealed a grade 3 malignant melanoma. She was later tested and found to have BRAF-negative status. Following her recovery from surgery, Sarah was further evaluated with an MRI scan of the brain, which was negative, and a PET scan, which revealed two nodules in the left lung. As Sarah had attended a cancer support group during her breast cancer treatment in the past, she decided to go back to the group when she learned of her melanoma diagnosis. While the treatment options for her lung lesions included interleukin-2, ipilimumab (Yervoy), temozolomide, dacarbazine, a clinical trial, or radiosurgery, Sarah's oncologist felt that ipilimumab or radiosurgery would be the best course of action. She shared with her support group that she was ambivalent about this decision, as she had experienced profound fatigue and nausea with chemotherapy during her past treatment for breast cancer. She eventually opted to undergo stereotactic radiosurgery. DISEASE RECURRENCE  After the radiosurgery, Sarah was followed every 2 months. She complained of shortness of breath about 2 weeks prior to each follow-up visit. Each time her chest x-ray was normal, and she eventually believed that her breathlessness was anxiety-related. Unfortunately, Sarah's 1-year follow-up exam revealed a 2 cm × 3 cm mass in her left lung, for which she had a surgical wedge resection. Her complaints of shortness of breath increased following the surgery and occurred most often with anxiety, heat, and gardening activities, especially when she needed to bend over. Sarah also complained of a burning "pins and needles" sensation at the surgical chest wall site that was bothersome and would wake her up at night. Sarah met with the nurse practitioner in the symptom management clinic to discuss her concerns. Upon physical examination, observable signs of breathlessness were lacking, and oxygen saturation remained stable at 94%, but Sarah rated her breathlessness as 7 on the 0 to 10 Borg scale. The nurse practitioner prescribed duloxetine to help manage the surgical site neuropathic pain and to assist with anxiety, which in turn could possibly improve Sarah's breathlessness. Several nonpharmacologic modalities for breathlessness were also recommended: using a fan directed toward her face, working in the garden in the early morning when the weather is cooler, gardening in containers that are at eye level to avoid the need to bend down, and performing relaxation exercises with pursed lip breathing to relieve anxiety-provoked breathlessness. One month later, Sarah reported relief of her anxiety; she stated that the fan directed toward her face helped most when she started to feel "air hungry." She rated her breathlessness at 4/10 on the Borg scale. SECOND RECURRENCE: MULTIPLE PULMONARY NODULES  Sarah's chest x-rays remained clear for 6 months, but she developed a chronic cough shortly before the 9-month exam. An x-ray revealed several bilateral lung lesions and growth in the area of the previously resected lung nodule. Systemic therapy was recommended, and she underwent two cycles of ipilimumab. Sarah's cough and breathlessness worsened, she developed colitis, and she decided to stop therapy after the third cycle. In addition, her coughing spells triggered bronchospasms that resulted in severe anxiety, panic attacks, and air hunger. She rated her breathlessness at 10/10 on the Borg scale during these episodes. She found communication difficult due to the cough and began to isolate herself. She continued to attend the support group weekly but had difficulty participating in conversation due to her cough. Sarah was seen in the symptom management clinic every 2 weeks or more often as needed. No acute distress was present at the beginning of each visit, but when Sarah began to talk about her symptoms and fear of dying, her shortness of breath and anxiety increased. The symptom management nurse practitioner treated the suspected underlying cause of the breathlessness and prescribed oral lorazepam (0.5 to 1 mg every 6 hours) for anxiety and codeine cough syrup for the cough. Opioids were initiated for chest wall pain and to control the breathlessness. Controlled-release oxycodone was started at 10 mg every 12 hours with a breakthrough pain (BTP) dose of 5 mg every 2 hours as needed for breathlessness or pain. Sarah noted improvement in her symptoms and reported a Borg scale rating of 5/10. Oxygen therapy was attempted, but subjective improvement in Sarah's breathlessness was lacking. END OF LIFE  Sarah's disease progressed to the liver, and she began experiencing more notable signs of breathlessness: nasal flaring, tachycardia, and restlessness. Opioid doses were titrated over the course of 3 months to oxycodone (40 mg every 12 hours) with a BTP dose of 10 to 15 mg every 2 hours as needed, but her breathlessness caused significant distress, which she rated 8/10. The oxycodone was rotated to IV morphine continuous infusion with patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) that was delivered through her implantable port. This combination allowed Sarah to depress the PCA as needed and achieve immediate control of her dyspneic episodes. Oral lorazepam was also continued as needed. Sarah's daughter moved home to take care of her mother, and hospice became involved for end-of-life care. As Sarah became less responsive, nurses maintained doses of morphine for control of pain and breathlessness and used a respiratory distress observation scale to assess for breathlessness since Sarah could no longer self-report. A bolus PCA dose of morphine was administered by Sarah's daughter if her mother appeared to be in distress. Sarah died peacefully in her home without signs of distress.

[Focal migraine attacks without headaches (author's transl)].

The migraine without headaches is a special form of focal migraine, a migraine accompagnée without headaches. The diagnostic classification of the transient focal disturbances is made possible by careful analysis of the attacks. This type of attack starts in a localized manner (primarily in the ophthalmic area), develops corresponding to the cortical representation, and is not always restricted to one vascular area. Typical is the slow spread of symptoms over a period of ten minutes, on the average. This allows a differentiation from transient ischemic attacks or focal epilepsy. The diagnosis is supported by hereditary factors, early onset of manifestation and change of the side of focal symptoms (in 11 of 16 patients). Of 409 migraine patients, 16 were such cases, corresponding to an occurrence of 4%. There were no signs of symptomatic etiology for these transient focal disturbances.

Refractory headaches treated with bilateral occipital and temporal region stimulation.

To describe use of bilateral temporal and occipital stimulator leads for a refractory headache disorder. A 31-year-old female had a 10-year history of chronic, severe occipital and temporal region headaches. The patient underwent permanent implant of an occipital stimulator system that resulted in sustained, compete resolution of her occipital pain. However, she continued to suffer disabling (10/10) temporal region headaches and was bedbound most days of the week. Therefore, bilateral temporal stimulator leads were implanted and tunneled to her internal pulse generator. At 12-month follow-up, the patient enjoyed sustained improvement in her pain scores (8/10) and marked increase in her level of functioning. Taking into account increased activity level, she rated her overall improvement at 50%. Unfortunately, infection and erosion of her right temporal lead necessitated temporal stimulator removal. Headache disorders may require stimulation of all painful cephalic regions. However, our success in this case must be considered in light of the technical challenges and expense of placing stimulator leads subcutaneously around the head and neck, including the risk of infection, lead breakage, erosion, and migration.

Acute Headache -- History and Physical

What is the patient's medical history? Does the patient take new medications, or have they recently changed them? Does the patient take "blood thinners"? Is this the worst headache the patient has ever experienced? Was the pain maximal at the onset? Has the patient had any difficulty moving or speaking normally? Did the patient have nausea or vomiting? Does the patient have a fever? Does the patient have any changes in vision or hearing? Does the patient have eye pain? Does the patient have any neck or facial pain? Did the patient have a seizure? Does the patient have dizziness? Does the patient have any sensitivity to light? Does the patient feel generally weak? Is there a weakness in a specific area of their body? Has the patient traveled recently? Has the patient been around sick contacts? Is the patient less than six weeks postpartum? Does the patient have a history of immunosuppression or take immunosuppressive medication?

Paraneoplastic Encephalopathy in a Patient With Metastatic Lung Cancer: A Case Study.

<bCASE STUDY</b RS, a 36-year-old female, presented to the emergency department (ED) of a large academic medical center upon the advice of her primary care provider because of 3 weeks of progressive mental status changes, weakness, and decreased oral intake. According to her husband, RS was diagnosed with stage IIIA large cell lung cancer 8 months earlier and was treated with concurrent chemotherapy (carboplatin, pemetrexed, and bevacizumab) and radiation therapy that was completed 4 months prior to admission. No other specific information about her treatment or outside health records was available. According to her husband, RS had been in her usual state of health until approximately 3 weeks prior, when she began having significant mental status changes. She first exhibited some difficulty finding words and later was noted to be putting food in a coffee maker. This spontaneously resolved after approximately 1 week; however, she rapidly developed slurred speech and began to make nonsensical statements. These manifestations also slowly improved but were followed by worsening speech deficit, difficulty walking, and impaired balance. During one of these episodes, she had an occurrence of incontinence. Her husband also noted an incident where her "eyes were beating back and forth and the left side of her face was twitching." RS also had periods (according to her husband) where she "did not seem to be interacting with her environment." These progressively worsened during the last week, and she completely stopped walking and talking 2 days prior to coming to the ED. According to her husband, RS had rheumatoid arthritis and no surgical history. Her family history was unknown except that RS's mother had "seizures." RS had reportedly not used tobacco, alcohol, or drugs, and she was sexually active with her husband. Home medications included transdermal fentanyl 12 μg/hr patch changed every 72 hours; oxycodone-acetaminophen tablets 5-325 mg, two every 4 hours as needed for pain; prednisone 10 mg, one tablet daily; and megestrol 40 mg/mL suspension, 20 mL once daily for appetite stimulation. RS was admitted to an inpatient medical oncology service and evaluated by the oncology advanced practitioner (AP) on her second inpatient day. Upon exam, RS was nonverbal except for moaning in response to painful stimuli and to her sister's voice. Her vital signs were normal. She appeared ill but well-nourished, and she was mildly diaphoretic. Neurologic examination revealed that her pupils were slightly sluggish but equal, round, and reactive to light. Extraocular muscle movements were intact, but she did not move her eyes in response to commands. She tracked the AP and family members around the room with her eyes. Cranial nerve examination was intact with the exception of cranial nerves IX, X, and XI, which were difficult to examine given her inability to cooperate and open her mouth. Motor examination revealed increased tone throughout and intermittent, inconsistent resistance to passive movement. She was seen to move all four extremities spontaneously although not in response to commands. Deep tendon reflexes were intact and equal in all extremities. Examination of other body systems was as follows: there was dry, peeling skin on her lips, but her mucous membranes were moist and free of erythema or lesions. Her lungs were clear to auscultation bilaterally. Her heart rate and rhythm were regular, there were no murmurs, rubs, or gallops, and distal pulses were intact. Her abdomen was nondistended with normally active bowel sounds in all four quadrants. Her abdomen was soft, nontender to palpation, and without palpable masses. There was no peripheral discoloration, temperature changes, or edema, and examination of her skin was benign. <bWorkup</b On admission to the emergency department, serum laboratory studies were unrevealing for any potential causes of encephalopathy. Kidney and liver function were normal, making diagnoses of uremic and hepatic encephalopathies less likely. Cultures of the urine and blood were negative. Samples of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) were obtained via lumbar puncture and were unrevealing for any abnormalities. Computed tomography (CT) of the head without contrast was negative for any acute intracranial process. Ultrasound of the right upper quadrant revealed a single, nonspecific, hypoechoic hepatic lesion. Computed tomography scans of the chest, abdomen, and pelvis demonstrated the primary malignancy in the upper lobe of the left lung, as well as possible metastatic disease within the left lung, right lung, and liver, and widespread osseous metastatic disease. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain performed 1 day after admission demonstrated numerous scattered punctate foci of enhancement throughout the supratentorial and infratentorial brain parenchyma, measuring at most 3 to 4 millimeters in diameter. There was no significant mass effect or midline shift. A paraneoplastic panel was sent to an outside laboratory and returned positive for antivoltage-gated potassium channel (VGKC) autoantibodies. <bDifferential Diagnosis</b Clinically, RS was exhibiting signs of encephalopathy, a broad term that indicates general brain dysfunction, the hallmark of which is altered mental status. Diagnosing encephalopathy is challenging, as many differential diagnoses must be considered. The clinician must consider metabolic derangements, toxic and infectious etiologies, psychiatric disorders, and less commonly, prion disorders and progressive dementia. Cultures of RS's blood and urine as well as other specialized endocrine tests were negative, decreasing the likelihood of a metabolic or infectious cause for her presentation. The abnormalities on her brain MRI were reviewed by a neuro-oncology team, who felt that the faint, nondescript nature of the visualized lesions was not suspicious for metastatic disease. Sequelae of seizures was also considered by neuro-oncology but dismissed given a grossly normal prolonged electroencephalogram. Some encephalopathies are caused by autoimmune or inflammatory mechanisms, which are confirmed by the presence of autoantibody markers and/or clear response to immunomodulatory treatment (Vernino, Geschwind, & Boeve, 2007). These types of encephalopathies have been seen in patients with cancer and have thus been termed paraneoplastic. The presence of anti-VGKC antibodies on RS's paraneoplastic panel directed the inpatient medical oncology team toward a paraneoplastic neurologic disorder (PND) as the most likely diagnosis.

Headache due to an extra joint between head and neck.

A girl, born in 1973, started having headache in preschool age. After a head trauma in 1985, there was a clear worsening of the headache, and the headache became chronic at around 14 years, making regular school attendance impossible. The headache was "symptom poor," bilateral-occipital, but with a clear left-sided preponderance and occasionally spreading to the forehead. The headache was always worst in the morning hours, easing up by noontime. Neck rotation to the right could provoke long-lasting exacerbations. Neck movement was restricted on rotation to the left. A sore bony structure was discovered on palpation just underneath the mastoid process of the left side. This proved to correspond to a bony "bridge" with an extra joint between the first vertebra on the left side and the skull, medially to the mastoid process that could be demonstrated on x-ray tomography and CT scanning. This bony bridge was removed surgically more than 2 years ago, and the pain disappeared on the day of operation and has not recurred in the intervening time. Such bony bridges have in the past been considered to be innocuous and not symptom producing. Although this may be the general rule, the present case tends to show that even to this rule, there are exceptions.

Trichotillomania: Bizzare Patern of Hair Loss at 11-Year-old Girl.

Trichotillomania (TTM) is defined by the Diagnostics and Statistic Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th edition (DMS-IV) as hair loss from a patient`s repetitive self-pulling of hair. The disorder is included under anxiety disorders because it shares some obsessive-compulsive features. Patients have the tendency towards feelings of unattractiveness, body dissatisfaction, and low self-esteem (1,2). It is a major psychiatric problem, but many patients with this disorder first present to a dermatologist. An 11-year-old girl came to our department with a 2-month history of diffuse hair loss on the frontoparietal and parietotemporal area (Figure 1). She had originally been examined by a pediatrician with the diagnosis of alopecia areata. The patient`s personal history included hay fever and shortsightedness, and she suffered from varicella and mononucleosis. Nobody in the family history suffered from alopecia areata, but her father has male androgenetic alopecia (Norwood/Hamilton MAGA C3F3). The mother noticed that the child had had changeable mood for about 2 months and did not want to communicate with other persons in the family. The family did not have any pet at home. At school, her favorite subjects were Math and Computer Studies. She did not like Physical Education and did not participate in any sport activities during her free time. This was very strange because she was obese (body-mass index (BMI) 24.69). She was sometimes angry with her 13-year-old sister who had better results at school. The girl had suddenly started to wear a blue scarf. The parents did not notice that she pulled out her hair at home. Dermatological examination of the capillitium found a zone of incomplete alopecia in the frontoparietal and parietotemporal area, without inflammation, desquamation, and scaring. Hairs were of variable length (Figure 1). There was a patch of incomplete alopecia above the forehead between two stripes of hair of variable length (Figure 2). The hair pull test was negative along the edges of the alopecia. Mycological examination from the skin capillitium was negative. The trichoscopy and skin biopsy of the parietotemporal region of the capillitium (Figure 3) confirmed trichotillomania. Laboratory tests (blood count, iron, ferritin, transferrin, selenium, zinc, vitamin B12, folic acid, serology and hormones of thyroid gland) were negative. We referred the girl for ophthalmologic and psychological examination. Ophthalmologic examination proved that there was no need to add any more diopters. The psychological examination provided us with a picture in which she drew her family (Figure 4). The strongest authority in the family was the mother because she looked after the girls for most of the day. She was in the first place in the picture. The father had longer working hours and spent more time outside the home. He worked as a long vehicle driver. He was in the second place in the picture. There was sibling rivalry between the girls, but the parents did not notice this problem and preferred the older daughter. She was successful at school and was prettier (slim, higher, curly brown hair, without spectacles). Our 11-years-old patient noticed all these differences between them, but at her level of mental development was not able to cope with this problem. She wanted to be her sister's equal. The sister is drawn in the picture in the third place next to father, while the patient's own figure was drawn larger and slim even though she was obese. Notably, all three female figures had very nice long brown hair. It seemed that the mother and our patient had better quality of hair and more intense color than the sister in the drawing. The only hairless person in the picture was the father. The girl did not want to talk about her problems and feelings at home. Then it was confirmed that our patient was very sensitive, anxious, willful, and withdrawn. She was interested in her body and very perceptive of her physical appearance. From the psychological point of view, the parents started to pay more interest to their younger daughter and tried to understand and help her. After consultation with the psychiatrist, we did not start psychopharmacologic therapy for trichotillomania; instead, we started treatment with cognitive behavioral therapy, mild shampoo, mild topical steroids (e.g. hydrocortisone butyrate 0.1%) in solution and methionine in capsules. With parents' cooperation, the treatment was successful. The name trichotillomania was first employed by the French dermatologist Francois Henri Hallopeau in 1889, who described a young man pulling his hair out in tufts (3-5). The word is derived from the Greek thrix (hair), tillein (to pull), and mania (madness) (5). The prevalence of TTM in the general adult population ranges from 0.6% to 4%, and 2-4% of the general psychiatric outpatient population meet the criteria for TTM (2-5). The prevalence among children and adolescents has been estimated at less than 1% (5). The disease can occur at any age and in any sex. The age of onset of hair pulling is significantly later for men than for women (3). There are three subsets of age: preschool children, preadolescents to young adults, and adults. The mean age of onset is pre-pubertal. It ranges from 8 to 13 years (on average 11.3 years) (2-5). The occurrence of hair-pulling in the first year of life is a rare event, probably comprising <1% of cases (5). The etiology of TTM is complex and may be triggered by a psychosocial stressor within the family, such as separation from an attachment figure, hospitalization of the child or parent, birth of a younger sibling, sibling rivalry, moving to a new house, or problems with school performance. It has been hypothesized that the habit may begin with "playing" with the hair, with later chronic pulling resulting in obvious hair loss (2). Environment is a factor because children usually pull their hair when alone and in relaxed surroundings. The bedroom, bathroom, or family room are "high-risk" situations for hair-pulling (5). Men and women also differed in terms of the hair pulling site (men pull hair from the stomach/back and the moustache/beard areas, while women pull from the scalp) (3). Pulling hair from siblings, pets, dolls, and stuffed animals has also been documented, often occurring in the same pattern as in the patient (5). Genetic factors contributing to the development of TTM are mutations of the SLITRK1 gene, which plays a role in cortex development and neuronal growth. The protein SAPAP3 has been present in 4.2% of TTM cases and patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). It may be involved in the development of the spectrum of OCD. A significantly different concordance rate for TTM was found in monozygotic (38.1%) compared with dizygotic (0%) twins in 34 pairs (3). The core diagnostic feature is the repetitive pulling of hairs from one`s own body, resulting in hair loss. The targeted hair is mostly on the scalp (75%), but may also be from the eyebrows (42%), eyelashes (53%), beard (10%), and pubic area (17%) (3,5). There are three subtypes of hair pulling - early onset, automatic, and focused. Diagnostic criteria for TTM according to DSM-IV criteria are (2,3,5): 1) recurrent pulling of one`s hair resulting in noticeable hair loss; 2) an increasing sense of tension immediately prior to pulling out the hair or when attempting to resist the behavior; 3) pleasure, gratification, or relief when pulling out the hair; 4) the disturbance is not better accounted for by another mental disorder and is not due to a general medical condition (e.g., a dermatologic condition); 5) the disturbance causes clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning. The differential diagnosis includes alopecia areata (Table 1) (6), tinea capitis, telogen effluvium, secondary syphilis, traction alopecia, loose anagen syndrome, lichen planopilaris, alopecia mucinosa, and scleroderma (2-5). Biopsy of an involved area (ideally from a recent site of hair loss) can help to confirm the diagnosis (5). On histologic examination, there are typically increased numbers of catagen and telogen hairs without evidence of inflammation. Chronic hair pulling induces a catagen phase, and more hairs will be telogen hairs. Pigment casts and empty anagen follicles are often seen. Perifollicular hemorrhage near the hair bulb is an indicator of TTM (2). Complications of TTM are rare, but they comprise secondary bacterial infections with regional lymphadenopathy as a result of picking and scratching at the scalp. Many patients play with and ingest the pulled hairs (e.g. touching the hair to lips, biting, and chewing). Trichophagia (ingestion of the hair) can lead to a rare complication named trichobezoar (a "hair ball" in stomach). This habit is present in approximately 5% to 30% of adult patients, but it is less frequent in children. Patient with trichophagia present with pallor, nausea, vomiting, anorexia, and weight loss. Radiologic examination and gastroscopy should not be delayed (2,4,5). The management of the disease is difficult and requires strong cooperation between the physician, patient, and parents. The dermatologist cannot take part in the therapy, strictly speaking, but without the psychological, psychopharmacologic, and topic dermatologic treatment a vicious circle will be perpetuated.

[Reasons for requesting neuroimaging studies in the evaluation of primary headache].

There is some controversy concerning the need to perform neuroimaging studies in patient complaining of headache. 90% of the people had a complaint of headache during their life, and it is impossible to perform neuroimaging studies in all of them. The aim of this study is knowing the reasons for indications neuroimaging studies in the evaluation of primary headaches and the effectiveness at the diagnosis. The clinical records of patients who a neuroimaging study was performed for headache during 1998 were retrospectively studied. We analysed in all patients: the age, sex, diagnosis of headache, suspicion of diagnosis, reason and time for indication the neuroimaging study, and if the study modified the diagnosis. During 1998, were performed 107 neuroimaging studies in 96 patients. The mean age were 38 years. 60% were females. The suspicion of diagnosis was primary headache in 71% patients. Only one patient had an abnormality. The reasons for applying a neuroimaging study were: in 20 of the patients the migraine was more frequent and they didn t relieve with abortive drugs, in 20 there was a migraine aura, in 11 because the migraine turned to daily headache, in 17 the family asked for a neuroimaging study, there was a 17 of patients seemed to have an organic disease, in 2 the headache appeared daily, and in 7 of the cases weren't any reasons. Headache is the most frequent reason for asking a neuroimaging study. Primary headache is the type of headache that justifies most of indications. The most frequent reasons for performing a study were common changes in characteristics of migraine.

[Child abuse: report of three cases].

Child abuse, a clinical condition in young children who have received serious physical abuse, is a frequent cause of permanent injury or death. The first case is a 7-year-old boy suffering from abdominal distension and pain for 3 days. He was beaten by his mother as a result of inadequately learning his lessons. Sonogram and CT of the abdomen showed massive ascites and a pseudocyst of the pancreatic body about 3 x 3 cm in diameter. The second case is a 4-year-old girl who developed a semicomatose state after her father impulsively struck her with a chair. CT of the brain revealed subdural hematoma over the left fronto-temporal region and midline shift to the right. She expired 5 days later. The third case, a 2-year-old girl, suffered from headache, seizure, vomiting and general malaise. CT of the brain showed severe brain swelling over the right side and midline shift to the left. She expired 1 month later. Psychiatric factors are probably of prime importance in the pathogenesis of the disorder, but our knowledge of these factors is limited. Parents who inflict abuse on children do not necessarily have psychopathic or sociopathic personalities or come from borderline socioeconomic groups, although most published cases fall into one of these categories. It is clearly the responsibility of all physicians serving children to be aware of, to recognize, and to properly manage any child who has been the victim of abuse.

First_Aid_Step2

If a 20-year-old female develops headaches after drinking red wine, think migraine. Associated symptoms/signs: Significant findings include fever or rash (consider meningitis or other infectious causes), jaw claudication (specific for temporal arteritis), or constitutional symptoms such as weight loss (associated with neoplastic, inﬂammatory, or infectious conditions). Photophobia, nausea, and vomiting are associated with migraine, aneurysmal SAH, and meningitis, but neck stiffness is more likely to accompany the latter two. Neurologic sequelae: Look for diplopia, mental status changes or associated symptoms (numbness, weakness, dizziness, ataxia, visual disturbances), papilledema, or pupillary abnormalities (partial CN III palsy or Horner’s syndrome). Patient risk factors: High-risk patients are > 50 years of age, immunocompromised, or with preexisting malignancy. If SAH is suspected, obtain a head CT without contrast. If CT is , LP is mandatory. Obtain a CBC.

Migraine with aura, bipolar depression, ACM aneurysm. A case report.

B.D. is a 48-year-old professional woman. She has been suffering for migraine since she was 28, but she did not have serious problems until last year, when headache episodes became more frequent and it was necessary an admission to emergency room. At the beginning, the events were about 6 per month, lasting from 2 to 4 days, beating and of high intensity together with nausea, vomit, photo and phonophobia and visual area. Looking at the anamnesis, we report a psychiatric treatment since about ten years, because of type II bipolar disorder. In spite of the psychopharmacological treatment, as the patient came in our Regional Headache Center, she talked about 7 events with aura (scintillating scotomas, emianopsia) per month, lasting 2-4 days with photo and phonophobia, nausea, crying crisis, anxiety. Although the neurological examination was normal, the sudden aggravation of pain symptomatology and the unresposiveness to usual painkillers, suggested a cerebral CT and CT-angiography. CT and CT-angiography discovered the presence of an aneurysm of the right middle cerebral artery (MCA) of 4 mm diameter, with parietal irregularities. The patient was operated to reduce the hemorrhagic risk, with a positive result. One year after the operation, the patient reports a decrease of headache events with a frequency of 2 per month, lasting only a few hours, which she can now solve with COXIB.

Experience in the diagnosis of headaches that start in elderly people.

The diagnoses of the 193 patients aged 65 and over who attended the service of neurology in the past 15 years with de novo headache as their initial and main symptom were specifically analysed. Headaches beginning in elderly people represented only 5.4% of headaches in all ages, whereas 12.1% of the population in this health area was 65 or over. Head pain appeared more often in women (63%), although post-traumatic, cluster, and benign cough headaches were almost restricted to men. Tension type headache (83 patients, 43% of the aged patients) and idiopathic trigeminal neuralgia (36, 19%) were the most frequent diagnoses. Fifteen per cent of the elderly patients v 1.6% of patients under 65 presented headache secondary to serious conditions, such as stroke, temporal arteritis, or intracranial neoplasm. Only one patient over 65 met migraine criteria. It is concluded that whereas the incidence of patients with headache attending a general hospital decreases with age, the risk of headaches due to serious conditions increases 10-fold after 65.

A case of migraine without aura that was successfully treated with an herbal medicine.

Migraine is a common neurologic condition characterized by the disabling effects it has on the patient. Despite recent progress in drug development, better pharmacotherapies against migraine are still needed. This report describes an herbal medicine that has a strong pain-relieving effect against migraine. This case involved a 49-year-old woman with a 16-year history of headaches. Migraine without aura had been diagnosed at age 47 years. Despite taking antiepileptic drugs as prophylaxis, she had migraines almost three times a week, especially in the morning. As a result, 3 months before her visit to the study clinic she was prescribed sumatriptan, which she had to take for each attack. However, sumatriptan sometimes failed to work as a painkiller, and the patient did not want to continue taking it because she was worried about overuse. According to traditional Japanese (Kampo) and Chinese herbal medicine, the patient was prescribed an oral sanno-shashin-to (Xie Xin Tang) extract formula to take at night to prevent her migraines. Soon after she started taking the formula, the intensity of her morning headaches markedly decreased, to the extent that triptans were no longer needed. Furthermore, her residual headaches quickly disappeared after the additional administration of the formula in the morning. Sanno-shashin-to might have both prophylactic and therapeutic effects against migraine without aura. Although the underlying mechanism behind the effectiveness of this herbal medicine against migraine has not been fully elucidated, it is a possible option for the treatment of this type of headache.

Migraine

Differential diagnosis Other conditions that can cause similar symptoms to a migraine headache include temporal arteritis, cluster headaches, acute glaucoma, meningitis and subarachnoid hemorrhage. Temporal arteritis typically occurs in people over 50 years old and presents with tenderness over the temple, cluster headache presents with one-sided nose stuffiness, tears and severe pain around the orbits, acute glaucoma is associated with vision problems, meningitis with fevers, and subarachnoid hemorrhage with a very fast onset. Tension headaches typically occur on both sides, are not pounding, and are less disabling. Those with stable headaches that meet criteria for migraines should not receive neuroimaging to look for other intracranial disease. This requires that other concerning findings such as papilledema (swelling of the optic disc) are not present. People with migraines are not at an increased risk of having another cause for severe headaches. Prevention

[The importance of neurological examinations in the age of the technological revolution].

Neurologic practice and care have been modified in many important ways during the past ten years, to adapt to the explosion of new information and new technology. Students, residents and practicing physicians have been continuing programs to a model that focuses almost exclusively on the applications to neurologic disorders of the new knowledge obtained from biomedical research. On the other hand high demand for outpatient neurologic care prevents adequate patient's evaluation. Case 1: 65 years old female. Occipital headache diagnosed of tensional origin (normal computerized tomography). Two months later is re-evaluated due to intractable pain and hypoglossal lesion. An amplified computerized tomography revealed a occipital condyle metastasis. Case 2: 21 years old female. Clinical suspicion of demyelinating disease due to repeated facial paresis and sensitive disorder. General exploration and computerized tomography revealed temporo-mandibular joint. Case 3: 60 years old female. Valuation of anticoagulant therapy due to repeated transient ischemic attacks. She suffered from peripheral facial palsy related to auditory cholesteatoma. Neurologic education is nowadays orientated to new technologies. On the other hand, excessive demand prevents adequate valuation and a minute exploration is substituted by complementary evaluations. These situations generate diagnostic mistakes or iatrogenic. It would be important a consideration of the neurologic education profiles and fulfillment of consultations time recommendations for outpatients care.

Neurology_Adams

Headaches of Temporal Arteritis (Giant Cell Arteritis) (See Also Chap. 33) This type of inflammatory disease of cranial arteries is an important cause of headache in older persons. All of our patients have been older than 55 years of age, most of them older than age 65. From a state of normal health, the patient develops an increasingly intense throbbing or nonthrobbing headache, often with superimposed sharp, stabbing pains. In a few patients the headache has had an almost explosive onset. The pain is usually unilateral, sometimes bilateral, and often localized to the site of the affected arteries in the scalp. The pain persists to some degree throughout the day and is particularly severe at night. It lasts for many months if untreated. The superficial temporal and other scalp arteries are frequently thickened and tender and without pulsation. Jaw claudication and ischemic nodules on the scalp, with ulceration of the overlying skin, have been described in severe cases.

Combination of acupuncture and spinal manipulative therapy: management of a 32-year-old patient with chronic tension-type headache and migraine.

The purpose of this case study is to describe the treatment using acupuncture and spinal manipulation for a patient with a chronic tension-type headache and episodic migraines. A 32-year-old woman presented with headaches of 5 months' duration. She had a history of episodic migraine that began in her teens and had been controlled with medication. She had stopped taking the prescription medications because of gastrointestinal symptoms. A neurologist diagnosed her with mixed headaches, some migrainous and some tension type. Her headaches were chronic, were daily, and fit the International Classification of Headache Disorders criteria of a chronic tension-type headache superimposed with migraine. After 5 treatments over a 2-week period (the first using acupuncture only, the next 3 using acupuncture and chiropractic spinal manipulative therapy), her headaches resolved. The patient had no recurrences of headaches in her 1-year follow-up. The combination of acupuncture with chiropractic spinal manipulative therapy was a reasonable alternative in treating this patient's chronic tension-type headaches superimposed with migraine.

[Spontaneous intracranial internal carotid artery dissection: 6 case reports and a review of 39 cases in the literature].

Angiographic, CT and MR findings, precipitating factors, and clinical features of spontaneous intracranial internal carotid artery dissection, in particular the terminal segment of the ICA, are described. Patients who had a possible posttraumatic dissection were excluded from the study. Six patients, 3 men and 3 women, mean age 25.8 years, were studied. Spontaneous ICA dissection accounted for 0.63 percent of 797 patients with ischemic stroke and 14 percent of 36 patients with ischemic stroke who were 45 years of age or younger. Headache was absent in two but clearly preceded the onset of cerebral stroke in four patients, the interval ranging from less than a few minutes to 6 hours. Focal cerebral ischemic symptoms were present in all six patients. Four presented with loss of consciousness. Only one patient had a subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). Dissection occurred at the level of the carotid knee portion just beyond the origin of the ophthalmic artery in all the patients. Moreover, there was additional involvement of the ipsilateral MCA in four and ipsilateral ACA in three. Angiographic features of the six ICAs that involved dissection were a smooth tapered luminal narrowing or occlusion in two patients, irregular narrowing in three, a pearl and string sign in one, and retention of the contrast media in three. Follow up angiography or magnetic resonance (MR) angiography was performed on all the patients. The interval from the initial to follow-up angiography was one to six months. Stenosis persisted in one artery but was resolved in the other five arteries. MR angiography showed segmental narrowing of the right supraclinoid internal carotid artery in one patient. MR angiographic source images showed a narrow lumen in the right intracavernous portion of the ICA and a crescent-shaped filling defect. Follow-up MR imaging and MR angiography, 6 months after the initial study, showed amelioration of the luminal narrowing and no filling defect. The filling defect is considered to be due to a thrombosed pseudolumen. Treatment consisted of anticoagulation therapy for two patients, hyperbaric therapy for two, and supportive measures only for two. Follow-up ranged from ten months to three years. Of these six patients with completed stroke, four had full recovery, and two some residual neurological deficits. Trivial precipitating events were reported by five of the patients (playing tennis, running, bicycling, and drinking alcohol). Migraine headaches were cited by one patient, use of oral contraceptives by another, and use of tobacco by a third. All the patients were normotensive. In none of them was family history contributory, nor was any underlying arteriopathy identified. Of the six personal cases and the reviewed 25 cases during the last 15 years, represented on the Glasgow Outcome Scale, good recovery was achieved in 61%. The outcomes for these patients was better than previously reported. Spontaneous intracranial ICA dissection may cause ischemic stroke, with or without subarachnoid hemorrhage, especially in young patients.

An evidence-based approach to managing the anticoagulated patient in the emergency department.

You start another busy shift with a double row of charts waiting to be seen. Your first patient is an elderly man who fell 1 hour prior to presentation. He did not lose consciousness, but he was dazed for a few minutes. He complains of a mild headache but denies any neck pain. He takes warfarin for valvular heart disease. He looks good and has no focal neurological complaints. His mental status is normal, he has a negative head CT scan, and his INR is 3.9. His family wants to take him home, which would help relieve some of the congestion in the ED, but you wonder what would be best. To observe and repeat imaging? Reverse his anticoagulation? Change his dosing regimen of warfarin? In the next room, you quickly evaluate a 51-year-old obese woman with nonspecific back and abdominal pain that started 24 hours before and has slowly progressed to become intolerable. She denies fever, chills, nausea, or vomiting. She is on the last day of a 5-day course of ciprofloxacin for a UTI. She takes warfarin for a pulmonary embolus that occurred 2 months prior. Her hematocrit is mildly decreased, and her white blood count is normal; however, the INR is 6.8. You wonder if her abdominal pain is related to the UTI, or if it could be somehow related to the prolonged INR. In fact, you wonder why her INR is so prolonged...

Neurology_Adams

One accepts that the headache of migraine may be almost exclusively on one side of the head but the invariant occurrence of migraine-like headache on the same side of the head increases the likelihood of an underlying arteriovenous malformation (AVM) or other structural lesion. R.D. Adams, who studied more than 1,200 patients with AVM found that the headaches, which occurred in more than 30 percent of these individuals, usually did not include the other features of either migraine or cluster headache. However, in about 5 percent, the headaches were associated with visual aura, making them indistinguishable from migraine with aura. In most, the AVM was in the occipital region and on the side of the headache. Approximately half of the patients with AVM and migraine had a family history of migraine. It is unclear to us if AVM can be regarded as an acknowledged cause of recurrent migraine-like headache. It is, of course, possible that given the ubiquity of migraine in the population, that

Confusion recurs 2 weeks after fall.

A 77-year-old woman presented to the emergency department complaining of a headache following a syncopal episode (while standing) earlier that day. She said that she'd lost consciousness for several minutes, and then experienced several minutes of mild confusion that resolved spontaneously. On physical exam, she was oriented to person and place, but not time. She had a contusion in her left occipitoparietal region without extensive bruising or deformity. The patient had normal cardiopulmonary, abdominal, and neurologic exams. Her past medical history included hypertension and normal pressure hydrocephalus, and her vital signs were within normal limits. She was taking aspirin once daily. The patient's initial head and neck computerized tomography (CT) scans were normal, but she was hospitalized because of her confusion. During her hospitalization, the patient had mild episodic headaches that resolved with acetaminophen. The next day, her confusion resolved, and repeat CT scans were unchanged. She was discharged within 24 hours. Two weeks later, the patient returned to the hospital after her daughter found her on the toilet, unable to stand up from the sitting position. She was confused and experienced a worsening of headache during transport to the hospital. No recurrent falls or additional episodes of trauma were reported. A CT scan was performed. WHAT IS YOUR DIAGNOSIS? HOW WOULD YOU TREAT THIS PATIENT?