Rhinogenic Headache: The International Classification of Headache Disorders, 3rd Edition

Abstract

Received March 31, 2014 Accepted July 4, 2014 Address for correspondence Kyung Soo Kim, MD Department of OtorhinolaryngologyHead and Neck Surgery, College of Medicine, Chung-Ang University, 102 Heukseok-ro, Dongjak-gu, Seoul 156-755, Korea Tel +82-2-6299-1765 Fax +82-2-825-1765 E-mail 99-21045@hanmail.net Rhinogenic headache may be defined as a headache directly caused by pathology within the nose or paranasal sinuses. Rhinogenic headache is a controversial, but distinct type of headache that has received an increased amount of attention in the literature over the past twenty years. The International Classification of Headache Disorders, 3rd edition has been released by the ‘International Headache Society’ in May 2013. As this version is based on a large body of research on headache, in contrast to previous editions that were mostly based on opinion of experts, it is being considered as a major step forward in the diagnosis and management of headache. The International Headache Society presented the diagnostic criteria of rhinogenic headache divided into three types: Headache Attributed to Acute Rhinosinusitis, Headache Attributed to Chronic or Recurring Rhinosinusitis, Headache Attributed to Disorder of the Nasal Mucosa, Turbinates or Septum. We herein present the salient features of the new classification, which are likely to be of interest to the rhinologist. In addition, I review the evidence that intranasal mucosal contact points cause facial pain or headache and present the important points to consider in diagnosis and treatment of mucosal contact point headache. Korean J Otorhinolaryngol-Head Neck Surg 2015;58(3):166-72