Cervicogenic headache: a comparison with migraine and tension-type headache
Corresponding Author
MB Vincent
Serviço de Neurologia, Hospital Universitário Clementino Fraga Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Av. das Amæricas, 1155/504, 22631-000 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Tel. +5521 4399245, fax. +5521 4943648, email. [email protected]Search for more papers by this authorRA Luna
Serviço de Neurologia, Hospital Universitário Clementino Fraga Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Search for more papers by this authorCorresponding Author
MB Vincent
Serviço de Neurologia, Hospital Universitário Clementino Fraga Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Av. das Amæricas, 1155/504, 22631-000 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Tel. +5521 4399245, fax. +5521 4943648, email. [email protected]Search for more papers by this authorRA Luna
Serviço de Neurologia, Hospital Universitário Clementino Fraga Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Search for more papers by this authorAbstract
Cervicogenic headache (CEH) is a neck-generated headache syndrome. Attacks may be similar to migraine (M) or tension-type headache (TTH). In order to test the accuracy of the IHS diagnostic criteria for M and episodic TTH and of the criteria for CEH of Sjaastad et al., 33 CEH, 65 M, and 29 TTH were evaluated according to the CEH criteria, and CEH patients were tested for M and TTH according to the IHS criteria. Only 30% of the CEH patients met the criteria for M, 3% met the criteria for TTH, and 66% were neither M nor TTH. The mean number of criteria met, sex, age, and age of onset were also analysed, and the results indicate an inequality among these three headache types. The most important differentiating aspects were the site and radiation of the pain, the temporal pattern, and the induction of attacks from neck posture, movements, and/or digital pressure. CEH clearly differs from M and TTH. Existing criteria adequately distinguish the three headaches.
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