Evidence-Based Practice: Best Neuroimaging Practice in Non Traumatic Headaches

Abstract

Headache is a common complaint. This disorder affects 46% of the world’s adult population. 1 Stovner L. Hagen K. Jensen R. et al. The global burden of headache: a documentation of headache prevalence and disability worldwide. Cephalalgia. 2007; 27: 193-210 Crossref PubMed Scopus (1612) Google Scholar The importance of treating traumatic headaches is widely known. 2 Hoffman JM Lucas S. Dikmen S. et al. Natural history of headache after traumatic brain injury. J Neurotrauma. 2011; 28: 1719-1725 Crossref PubMed Scopus (170) Google Scholar , 3 Edlow JA Panagos P.D. Godwin S.A. et al. Physicians ACoE. Clinical policy: critical issues in the evaluation and management of adult patients presenting to the emergency department with acute headache. Ann Emerg Med. 2008; 52: 407-436 Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (170) Google Scholar It is debated whether similar perseverance should be used when managing patients with nontraumatic headaches (NTHs). 4 Grimaldi D Cevoli S. Cortelli P Headache in the emergency department. How to handle the problem?. Neurol Sci. 2008; 29: S103-S106 Crossref PubMed Scopus (7) Google Scholar , 5 Grimaldi D Nonino F. Cevoli S. et al. Risk stratification of non-traumatic headache in the emergency department. J Neurol. 2009; 256: 51-57 Crossref PubMed Scopus (14) Google Scholar According to the 2012 Annual Report of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 3.3% of adult patients visit emergency departments seeking treatment for headaches. 6 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Health, United States. 2012 Google Scholar Kiran Ejaz is Clinical Research Coordinator, Biopharma Informatic, Inc, Katy, TX. Waqas Shuaib is Research Associate, Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Emory University, Atlanta, GA. Safiya G. Dalmida is Assistant Professor, Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing, Emory University, Atlanta, GA. Faisal Khosa is Assistant Professor, Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, and American Roentgen Ray Scholar (2013-2015). Muhammad Shahzeb Khan is Medical Student, Dow Medical College, Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi, Pakistan. Mariyam Hashm is Medical Student, Dow International Medical College, Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi, Pakistan. Moeed Ahmad is Intern, Department of Medicine, Queens Hospital Center, Jamaica, NY. Jamlik-Omari Johnson is Assistant Professor, Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Emory University, Atlanta, GA.