Neuroimaging clinics of North America
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Neuroimaging Clin. N. Am. · May 2019
ReviewIndications and Imaging Modality of Choice in Pediatric Headache.
Pediatric headache is a common problem, with various underlying causes. Appropriate patient selection for neuroimaging is necessary to optimize the clinical evaluation. This review aims to provide a focused discussion of the clinical evaluation of children with headache, including published guidelines pertaining to neuroimaging, technical considerations for neuroimaging, and tailoring of examinations for specific clinical entities known to cause pediatric headache.
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Headaches are exceedingly common, but most individuals who seek medical attention with headache will not have a serious underlying etiology such as a brain tumor. Brain tumors are uncommon; however, many patients with brain tumors do suffer from headaches. Generally these headaches are accompanied by other neurologic signs and symptoms. A careful clinical assessment for red flags should be undertaken when considering further work-up with neuroimaging to exclude a serious underlying condition.
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Headache is a common symptom in patients with Chiari I malformation (CMI), characterized by 5 mm or greater cerebellar tonsillar herniation below foramen magnum. Radiologists should be aware of the different types of headaches reported by CMI patients and which headache patterns are distinctive features of the diagnosis. A methodical imaging strategy is required to fully assess a CMI patient to exclude secondary causes of tonsillar herniation such as intracranial hypotension or associated conditions such as syrinx. Both anatomic and physiologic imaging can help determine if headaches are CMI associated, and assist clinicians in therapeutic decision making.
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Headache may be the most common presenting symptom of unruptured intracranial aneurysms. Unruptured intracranial aneurysm can be found in the work-up for headache but direct causality is not clear. ⋯ Many aspects of unruptured intracranial aneurysm-associated headaches are unclear, including the mechanism, discriminating characteristics, and localization. This article reviews basic knowledge on cerebral aneurysm and headache, and describes the possible mechanism and characteristics of aneurysm-associated headaches.
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Headaches and sinus disease are common reasons to seek medical care, with marked worldwide prevalence and large socioeconomic burdens. Headaches caused by sinus diseases are rare; many "rhinogenic headaches" are actually migraines. The similar symptoms may result from autonomic dysfunction and trigeminovascular pathways. Using the mnemonic ACHE, this article presents key Anatomy, Clinical cases, How to image, Essential clinical and radiographic features that help the radiologist, otolaryngologist, and neurologist evaluate sinus disease and headaches.