Headaches Flashcards

1
Q

Considerations for sudden (thunderclap) headaches

A

Subarachnoid hemorrhage
Pituitary apoplexy
Bleed into a tumor/AV malformation
Brain tumor

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2
Q

Tests for sudden headache

A

CT
MRI/MRA
Lumbare puncture

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3
Q

Considerations for headache that presents during exertion

A

Leaking cerebral aneurysm

AV malformation

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4
Q

What are the most common congenital cerebral aneurysms?

A

Anterior circulation-related (85%)

Specifically:
Anterior communicating
Middle cerebral

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5
Q

What are signs of meningeal irritation?

A
Kernig sign (resistance to full extension of leg at knee when hip flexed)
Brudzinski sign (flexion of both hips and knees when neck flexed passively)
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6
Q

What are signs of pituitary apoplexy?

A
Abrupt headache
Followed by:
Loss of sight
Diplopia (pituitary is right near optic chiasm)
Drowsiness
Confusion/AMA
Coma
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7
Q

What is the intracranial pressure triad?

A

Headache (frontal, parietal, or occipital)
Nausea/vomiting
Papilledema

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8
Q

Considerations and clinical approach for headaches that show an accelerating pattern

A

Brain tumor
Subdural hematoma
Medication overuse

What should be done:
MRI / MRA
Drug History / Drug Screen

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9
Q

Considerations and clinical approach for new onset headache in a patient with history of cancer or HIV

A

Meninigitis
Brain abscess (including toxoplasmosis)
Metastasis

What should be done:
MRI / MRA
LP

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10
Q

Considerations and clinical approach for new onset headache with fever, stiff neck, or rash

A
Meningitis
Encephalitis
Lyme disease
Systemic infection
Connective tissue disease

What should be done:
MRI / MRA
LP
Blood tests (CBC, ESR, ANA, Lyme Titre)

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11
Q

What is the difference between encephalitis and meningitis?

A

Encephalitis: infection of brain substance
Meningitis: infection of spinal fluid

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12
Q

Headaches associated with high/low blood pressure

A

Hypertensive/ischemic headache

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13
Q

Course of action if the patient has nuchal rigidity on physical exam

A
  1. Rule out subarachnoid hemorrhage–immediate CT scan
  2. If normal, hospitalize and perform LP to rule out meningitis
  3. Blood in fluid–>transfer to neurologist
  4. Clear fluid–>send to lab for cell count, gram stain, glucose, protein, and culture
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14
Q

What is meningism and what is it associated with?

A

The symptoms and signs of meningitis associated with an acute febrile illness or dehydration, but no actual infection of the meninges. Work up for meningitis anyway.

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15
Q

Possible etiologies for papilledema

A
  1. Brain tumor
  2. Meningitis
  3. Idiopathic intracranial hypertension (pseudotumor cerebri)
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16
Q

What does papilledema most likely represent?

A

Increased intracranial pressure

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17
Q

What are the Big Four headaches?

A
  1. Migraine
    - -with aura
    - -without aura
    - -atypical
  2. Muscle contraction headache
    - -episodic
    - -chronic
    - -atypical
  3. Cluster headache
    - -episodic
    - -chronic
  4. Secondary headache disorders
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18
Q

Patient presents with throbbing headache and associated nausea, vomiting, photophobia, and sonophobia. Neuro exam normal. What is the most likely diagnosis?

A

Migraine

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19
Q

25 y/o male presents with headache that woke him from sleep throughout the night. States pain moves around–not focused in one place. Presents with unilateral conjunctival injection, nasal congestion, and rhinorrhea. Neuro exam relatively normal. What is the most likely diagnosis?

A

Cluster headache

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20
Q

When do cluster headaches typically occur?

A

Fall or spring
Usually nocturnal
Average frequency 1-3 in 24 hours, lasting 15 minutes-3 hours

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21
Q

If a patient prefers to be upright and moving around, as opposed to lying still, what type of headache do they likely have?

A

Cluster

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22
Q

What is the principal source of pain in cluster headaches?

A

Dilation of the internal and external carotid arteries

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23
Q

Which serum levels are increased during a period of cluster headaches?

A

Serotonin and histamine (may be allergy-related)

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24
Q

What OMT should be utilized during a cluster headache?

A

NONE, YOU DUMB SHIT

OMT can exacerbate or prolong the head pain

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25
Q

Abortive treatment for cluster headache

A

100% O2 15-20 minutes
Subcutaneous sumatriptan injection (6 mg)
IM or IV dihydroergotamine 1.0 mg
Intranasal lidocaine 4-6% drops

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26
Q

Which headache type is most similar to a cluster headache?

A

Chronic paroxysmal hemicrania

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27
Q

30 y/o female presents with series of acute headaches, approximately 10 episodes per day lasting 5-20 minutes. Pain localized to one side of head. Denies lacrimation, rhinorrhea, nausea or vomiting. Neuro and CT normal. What is the most likely diagnosis and course of action?

A

Chronic paroxysmal hemicrania

Give NSAID or indomethacin

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28
Q

Which cluster headache symptoms are absent in CPH?

A

Symptoms of unilateral headache (lacrimation, rhinorrhea, and miosis)

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29
Q

Considerations for headache associated with nausea and vomiting

A
Migraine
Cluster
Brain tumor
Vascular bleed
Meningitis
Idiopathic intracranial hypertension
Encephalitis
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30
Q

When is the typical onset of migraines?

A

Puberty

31
Q

What is the possible genetic etiology of migraines?

A

Associated with a locus on chromosome #19

32
Q

What is the classic migraine?

A

Migraine with aura (any transient neurologic disturbance lasting 15-30 minutes preceding the headache)

33
Q

Typical symptoms of migraine with aura

A

Visual: blurred, cloudy, scotomata, teichopsia, flashes of light, metamorphopsia

Other: aphasia, vertigo, thick speech, tremor, unilateral numbness or weakness, auditory hallucinations, olfactory hallucinations

34
Q

16 y/o female presents with acute on chronic headache. Complains of nausea, vomiting, and vertigo. Mother notes marked photophobia prior to onset, ending just before the headache began. CT and neuro exam otherwise normal. What is the most likely diagnosis?

A

Migraine with aura

35
Q

What is scotomata?

A

Spots in front of the eyes

36
Q

What is teichopsia?

A

A luminous appearance before the eyes, with a zig-zag, wall-like outline

37
Q

What are the atypical migraines?

A

Ophthalmoplegic
Hemiplegic
Basilar artery

38
Q

25 y/o male presents with headache beginning four days ago. Pain constant since onset, waxing and waning in severity. Denies nausea, vomiting, photophobia, sonophobia. Pupils unequal and reactive to light. Extraocular motions not intact. What are your differential diagnoses?

A
  1. Ophthalmoplegic migraine (most likely)

2. Carotid artery aneurysm (angiography or MRA to rule out)

39
Q

What does a hemiplegic migraine mimic?

A

TIA (appropriate diagnostic studies must be done to rule out)

40
Q

What does a basilar artery migraine mimic?

A

Wallenberg syndrome

41
Q

What type of headache is associated with increased risk of stroke later in life?

A

Migraines

42
Q

Which somatic dysfunctions are common migraine triggers?

A

Upper four thoracic or costal segments (often T4ERrSr or inhaled/exhaled rib 4)

43
Q

Which OMT should be utilized during a migraine?

A

Indirect techniques and cranial (CV-4)

44
Q

Which OMT should not be utilized during a migraine?

A

ME or HVLA

45
Q

Level I, 1-6, migraine treatment

A

Non-Pharmacologic

  • -OMT
  • -Acupuncture
  • -Biofeedback
46
Q

Level II, 1-6, migraine treatment

A

NSAIDs with or without caffeine

47
Q

Level III, 1-6, migraine treatment

A

Triptans
Dihydroergotamine
Other Ergots

48
Q

Level IV, 1-6, migraine treatment

A

Mixed analgesics

Class III opioids

49
Q

Level II, 7-10, migraine treatment

A

Non-oral abortive migraine medications
Antiemetic
Prochlorperazine suppository

50
Q

Level IV, 7-10, migraine treatment

A

IM/SC DHE

SC Sumatriptan

51
Q

Level V, 7-10, migraine treatment

A

IV DHE
IV/IM Neuroleptics
IV/IM Corticosteroids
IV/IM Opioids

52
Q

When do rebound headaches occur?

A

With overuse of analgesic medications

53
Q

What are the symptoms of hemicrania continua?

A

A continuous, unilateral headache that varies in intensity, waxing and waning without disappearing completely. Frequently associated with stabbing headaches.

Patient may experience photophobia, phonophobia, and nausea.

54
Q

What is the main difference between migraine and hemicrania continua?

A

Migraines typically last 4-24 hours.

Hemicrania continua episodes last at least one month.

55
Q

What are the criteria for hemicrania continua from the International Headache Society?

A
  1. Headache present for at least one month
  2. Strictly unilateral headache
  3. Pain has all of the following present:
    a. Continuous, but fluctuating
    b. Moderate intensity
    c. Lack of a precipitating mechanism
  4. Absolute response to indomethacin OR one of the following autonomic features with severe pain exacerbations: conjunctival injection, lacrimation, nasal congestion, rhinorrhea, ptosis, or eyelid edema.
56
Q

Which headaches are exclusively responsive to indomethacin?

A

Hemicrania–chronic paroxysmal or continua.

57
Q

Which medications do not work for hemicrania continua?

A

Triptans

58
Q

Who is most often affected by muscle contraction headaches?

A

Women

F:M 4:1

59
Q

Pain characterization for muscle contraction headaches

A

Band-like around the head, a vise-like squeezing or just general tightness. Palpation over the involved muscles reproduces tenderness or head pain.

60
Q

Considerations if the headache is always in EXACTLY the same place

A

Local disease:

Sinsusitis
Brain tumor
AV malformation
Circle of Willis aneurysm

61
Q

Considerations if a patient over 50 presents with new onset headache

A

Temporal arteritis

Brain tumor

62
Q

Physical examination for ALL patients with new onset headaches

A

Complete neurologic examination

Ophthalmoscopy of the retina

63
Q

Physical examination for patients over 50 with new onset headaches

A

Neuro exam
ESR
CT or MRI

64
Q

Most worrisome diagnoses for headache w/ fever

A

Meningitis or encephalitis

65
Q

Most common diagnosis for headache w/ fever

A

URI

66
Q

New onset headache w/ abnormal neuro exam. What is the most pressing etiology?

A

Intracranial pathology

67
Q

If the headache is throbbing in character and associated with nausea, vomiting, photophobia, and sonophobia, and the neuro exam is normal–what is the most common cause?

A

Migraine

68
Q

If the headache is accompanied by UNILATERAL conjunctival injection, nasal congestion, and rhinorrhea, and the neuro exam is normal–what is the most common cause?

A

Cluster headache

69
Q

If it’s not migraine or cluster, what type of headache is it most likely going to be?

A

Muscle contraction headache

70
Q

What are the big things that a CT will miss?

A

Tumors (especially those in the posterior fossa–show up very nice on MRI)
Vascular disease

71
Q

What are the red flags for headache presentation?

A
New onset headache
Abrupt onset
Progressive symptoms
Abnormal neurological signs
Headache with exertion
Change with head position
Change with Valsalva maneuver, such as cough, sneeze, strain
Symptoms consistent with a trigeminal autonomic cephalalgia (TAC) diagnosis
72
Q

Typical age of onset for cluster headaches

A

20-30

73
Q

What are the symptoms of Horner syndrome? What headache is it associated with?

A
Ptosis, miosis, anhydrosis, flushing
Cluster headache (except anhydrosis-sweating instead)
74
Q

How does Horner syndrome present in patients with cluster headaches?

A

Partially…

Ptosis
Miosis
Flushing
NO anhydrosis-sweating instead