Smarter Medicine in Headache Care - presentation and discussion of 5 recommendations

Abstract

Smarter Medicine in Headache Care - presentation and discussion of 5 recommendations Abstract. An unequivocal headache diagnosis cannot always be made. The lack of diagnostic tests able to prove primary headaches often prompts physicians to perform unnecessary examinations to reduce their uncertainty. When setting out the therapeutic strategy, again, insecurity often leads to mendable choices. In this Delphi study, members of the therapy commission of the Swiss Headache Society collected, rated, and re-rated doubtful and questionable procedures. Five recommendations that resulted from this survey are presented and reviewed in this article. The recommendations are: (A) no repeated cerebral imaging in headaches with unchanged phenotype; (B) no computed tomography in the work-up of non-acute headaches; (C) no tooth extraction to treat persistent idiopathic facial pain, (D) no migraine surgery; (E) no removal of amalgam fillings to treat headache disorders.