Cluster Headache Research Articles

Increased Prevalence of Headaches and Migraine in Patients with Psoriatic Arthritis and Axial Spondyloarthritis: Insights from an Italian Cohort Study.

Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) are inflammatory diseases with shared genetic backgrounds and clinical comorbidities. Headache, a common global health issue, affects over 50% of adults and encompasses various types, including migraine, tension-type, and cluster headaches. Migraine, the most prevalent, recurrent, and disabling type, is often associated with other medical conditions such as depression, epilepsy, and psoriasis, but little is known about the relationship between autoimmune disease and the risk of migraine. A cross-sectional study was conducted from July to November 2022, enrolling 286 participants, including 216 with PsA, 70 with axSpA, and 87 healthy controls. Headache prevalence was significantly higher in the PsA (39.81%) and axSpA (45.71%) patients compared to the healthy controls. The prevalence of migraine without aura was also significantly higher in both the PsA (18.52%) and axSpA (28.57%) groups compared to the healthy controls. These findings underscore the high burden of headache and migraine in PsA and axSpA participants, highlighting the need for improved management and treatment strategies for these patients.

Pathophysiology of cluster headache: From the trigeminovascular system to the cerebral networks.

Despite advances in neuroimaging and electrophysiology, cluster headache's pathogenesis remains unclear. This review will examine clinical neurophysiology studies, including electrophysiological and functional neuroimaging, to determine if they might help us construct a neurophysiological model of cluster headache. Clinical, biochemical, and electrophysiological research have implicated the trigeminal-parasympathetic system in cluster headache pain generation, although the order in which these two systems are activated, which may be somewhat independent, is unknown. Electrophysiology and neuroimaging have found one or more central factors that may cause seasonal and circadian attacks. The well-known posterior hypothalamus, with its primary circadian pacemaker suprachiasmatic nucleus, the brainstem monoaminergic systems, the midbrain, with an emphasis on the dopaminergic system, especially when cluster headache is chronic, and the descending pain control systems appear to be involved. Functional connection investigations have verified electrophysiological evidence of functional changes in distant brain regions connecting to wide cerebral networks other than pain. We propose that under the impact of external time, an inherited misalignment between the primary circadian pacemaker suprachiasmatic nucleus and other secondary extra- suprachiasmatic nucleus clocks may promote disturbance of the body's internal physiological clock, lowering the threshold for bout recurrence.

SUNCT, SUNA and short-lasting unilateral neuralgiform headache attacks: Debates and an update.

Short-lasting unilateral neuralgiform headache attacks (SUNHA) have the features of both short-lasting unilateral neuralgiform pain, such as trigeminal neuralgia or stabbing headache, and associated trigeminal autonomic symptoms, such as paroxysmal hemicrania or cluster headache. Recognizing and adequately treating SUNHA is essential but current treatment methods are ineffective in treating SUNHA. We reviewed the changes in the concept of short-lasting unilateral neuralgiform headache attacks and provide a narrative review of the current medical and surgical treatment options, from the first choice of treatment for patients to treatments for selective intractable cases. Unlike the initial impression of an intractable primary headache disorder affecting older men, SUNHA affects both sexes throughout their lifespan. One striking feature of SUNHA is that the attacks are triggered by cutaneous or intraoral stimulation. The efficacy of conventional treatments is disappointing and challenging, and preventive therapy is the mainstay of treatment because of highly frequent attacks of a very brief duration. Amongst them, lamotrigine is effective in approximately two-third of the patients with SUNHA, and intravenous lidocaine is essential for the management of acute exacerbation of intractable pain. Topiramate, oxcarbazepine and gabapentin are considered good secondary options for SUNHA, and botulinum toxin can be used in selective cases. Neurovascular compression is commonly observed in SUNHA, and surgical approaches, such as neurovascular compression, have been reported to be effective for intractable cases. Recent advances in the understanding of SUNHA have improved the recognition and treatment approaches for this unique condition.

Regulation of headache response and transcriptomic network by the trigeminal ganglion clock.

To characterize the circadian features of the trigeminal ganglion in a mouse model of headache. Several headache disorders, such as migraine and cluster headache, are known to exhibit distinct circadian rhythms of attacks. The circadian basis for these rhythmic pain responses, however, remains poorly understood. We examined trigeminal ganglion exvivo and single-cell cultures from Per2::LucSV reporter mice and performed immunohistochemistry. Circadian behavior and transcriptomics were investigated using a novel combination of trigeminovascular and circadian models: a nitroglycerin mouse headache model with mechanical thresholds measured every 6 h, and trigeminal ganglion RNA sequencing measured every 4 h for 24 h. Finally, we performed pharmacogenomic analysis of gene targets for migraine, cluster headache, and trigeminal neuralgia treatments as well as trigeminal ganglion neuropeptides; this information was cross-referenced with our cycling genes from RNA sequencing data to identify potential targets for chronotherapy. The trigeminal ganglion demonstrates strong circadian rhythms in both exvivo and single-cell cultures, with core circadian proteins found in both neuronal and non-neuronal cells. Using our novel behavioral model, we showed that nitroglycerin-treated mice display circadian rhythms of pain sensitivity which were abolished in arrhythmic Per1/2 double knockout mice. Furthermore, RNA-sequencing analysis of the trigeminal ganglion revealed 466 genes that displayed circadian oscillations in the control group, including core clock genes and clock-regulated pain neurotransmitters. In the nitroglycerin group, we observed a profound circadian reprogramming of gene expression, as 331 of circadian genes in the control group lost rhythm and another 584 genes gained rhythm. Finally, pharmacogenetics analysis identified 10 genes in our trigeminal ganglion circadian transcriptome that encode target proteins of current medications used to treat migraine, cluster headache, or trigeminal neuralgia. Our study unveiled robust circadian rhythms in the trigeminal ganglion at the behavioral, transcriptomic, and pharmacogenetic levels. These results support a fundamental role of the clock in pain pathophysiology. Several headache diseases, such as migraine and cluster headache, have headaches that occur at the same time each day. We learned that the trigeminal ganglion, an important pain structure in several headache diseases, has a 24-hour cycle that might be related to this daily cycle of headaches. Our genetic analysis suggests that some medications may be more effective in treating migraine and cluster headache when taken at specific times of the day.

Pulsed Radiofrequency on Sphenopalatine Ganglion as the Interventional Pain Management in Cluster Headache Secondary to Sphenoid Meningioma

Introduction: Cluster headache is one of the neurovascular headaches characterized by severe recurrent unilateral pain distributed around the orbit and accompanied by autonomic symptoms such as lacrimation, conjunctival injection nasal congestion or rhinorrhea, edema of the eyelid, sweating, and miosis. The attack usually lasts for 15 to 180 minutes. The possible mechanism of cluster headache is through the trigeminal-autonomic reflex. Management of the cluster headache is divided into pharmacological therapy including abortive and prophylaxis, as well as interventional pain management like deep brain stimulation, occipital nerve stimulation, and radiofrequency of the sphenopalatine ganglion. Objective: This report aims to demonstrate the effectivity of pulsed radiofrequency sphenopalatine ganglion on cluster headaches secondary to meningioma. Case Report: A 47-year-old female consulted the pain clinic with a chief complaint of profound facial pain for a year. The patient also reported autonomic symptoms such as rhinorrhea and lacrimation. The patient was diagnosed with meningioma and already treated with conventional therapy such as gabapentine, carbamazepine, omeprazole, and mecobalamin. Due to the location of meningioma which causes the tumor inoperable. The patient complained of constant and worsening pain, therefore pulsed radiofrequency on sphenopalatine ganglion was chosen to treat the patient. The patient reported relief of pain ever since. Discussion: Among the consequences and benefits, pulsed radiofrequency is the choice of interventional pain management. Possibly the pain from the compression of the greater palatine nerve, intervention on the sphenopalatine will cause relief of the pain. Pulsed radiofrequency on sphenopalatine ganglion was reported successful in alleviating the pain of the patient. Conclusion: Pulsed radiofrequency of the sphenopalatine ganglion successfully alleviates the pain of the cluster headache due to meningioma. However, further study with a bigger population is recommended to see the efficacy of interventional pain management objectively.

Neuromodulation Techniques for Headache Management.

This narrative review aims to summarize evidence regarding the current utilization and future applications of neuromodulation in patients with headaches, with special attention paid to migraine and chronic cluster headache. A search was conducted in PubMed in August of 2023 to survey the current literature on neuromodulation for the treatment of headache. In total, the search yielded 1989 results, which were further filtered to include only systematic reviews published between 2022 to 2023 to capture the most up-to-date and comprehensive research on this topic. The citation lists of these articles were reviewed to find additional research on neuromodulation and supplement the results presented in this paper with primary literature. Research on the use of neuromodulation for the treatment of headache has predominantly focused on four neuromodulation techniques: peripheral nerve stimulation (PNS), transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), deep brain stimulation (DBS), and spinal cord stimulation (SCS). Outcome measures reported in this article include impact on migraine and headache frequency and/or pain intensity, adverse effects of the neuromodulation technique, and associated costs, when available. We found that neuromodulation has developed utility as an alternative treatment for both chronic cluster headaches and migraines, with a reduction in frequency and intensity of headache most elucidated from the articles mentioned in this review.

Vagus nerve stimulation: Potential for treating chronic wounds.

Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) has been approved as a treatment for various conditions, including drug-resistant epilepsy, migraines, chronic cluster headaches and treatment-resistant depression. It is known to have anti-inflammatory, anti-nociceptive and anti-adrenergic effects, and its therapeutic potential for diverse pathologies is being investigated. VNS can be achieved through invasive (iVNS) or non-invasive (niVNS) means, targeting different branches of the vagus nerve. iVNS devices require surgical implantation and have associated risks, while niVNS devices are generally better tolerated and have a better safety profile. Studies have shown that both iVNS and niVNS can reduce inflammation and pain perception in patients with acute and chronic conditions. VNS devices, such as the VNS Therapy System and MicroTransponder Vivistim, have received Food and Drug Administration approval for specific indications. Other niVNS devices, like NEMOS and gammaCore, have shown effectiveness in managing epilepsy, pain and migraines. VNS has also demonstrated potential in autoimmune disorders, such as rheumatoid arthritis and Crohn's disease, as well as neurological disorders like epilepsy and migraines. In addition, VNS has been explored in cardiovascular disorders, including post-operative atrial fibrillation and myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury, and has shown positive outcomes. The mechanisms behind VNS's effects include the cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway, modulation of cytokines and activation of specialised pro-resolving mediators. The modulation of inflammation by VNS presents a promising avenue for investigating its potential to improve the healing of chronic wounds. However, more research is needed to understand the specific mechanisms and optimise the use of VNS in wound healing. Ongoing clinical trials may support the use of this modality as an adjunct to improve healing.

Involvement of the ipsilateral-to-the-pain anterior–superior hypothalamic subunit in chronic cluster headache

BackgroundDespite hypothalamus has long being considered to be involved in the pathophysiology of cluster headache, the inconsistencies of previous neuroimaging studies and a limited understanding of the hypothalamic areas involved, impede a comprehensive interpretation of its involvement in this condition.MethodsWe used an automated algorithm to extract hypothalamic subunit volumes from 105 cluster headache patients (57 chronic and 48 episodic) and 59 healthy individuals; after correcting the measures for the respective intracranial volumes, we performed the relevant comparisons employing logist regression models.Only for subunits that emerged as abnormal, we calculated their correlation with the years of illness and the number of headache attacks per day, and the effects of lithium treatment. As a post-hoc approach, using the 7 T resting-state fMRI dataset from the Human Connectome Project, we investigated whether the observed abnormal subunit, comprising the paraventricular nucleus and preoptic area, shows robust functional connectivity with the mesocorticolimbic system, which is known to be modulated by oxytocin neurons in the paraventricular nucleus and that is is abnormal in chronic cluster headache patients.ResultsPatients with chronic (but not episodic) cluster headache, compared to control participants, present an increased volume of the anterior–superior hypothalamic subunit ipsilateral to the pain, which, remarkably, also correlates significantly with the number of daily attacks. The post-hoc approach showed that this hypothalamic area presents robust functional connectivity with the mesocorticolimbic system under physiological conditions. No evidence of the effects of lithium treatment on this abnormal subunit was found.ConclusionsWe identified the ipsilateral-to-the-pain antero-superior subunit, where the paraventricular nucleus and preoptic area are located, as the key hypothalamic region of the pathophysiology of chronic cluster headache. The significant correlation between the volume of this area and the number of daily attacks crucially reinforces this interpretation. The well-known roles of the paraventricular nucleus in coordinating autonomic and neuroendocrine flow in stress adaptation and modulation of trigeminovascular mechanisms offer important insights into the understanding of the pathophysiology of cluster headache.

Comorbidity of migraine and fibromyalgia in patients with cluster headache: psychological burden and healthcare resource utilization. A cross-sectional study

The aim was to describe the comorbidity and impact of fibromyalgia and/or migraine on patients with cluster headache. Comorbid diseases can exacerbate the physical and psychological burden experienced by patients. The comorbidities of cluster headache have been scarcely investigated, with the exception of migraine, which is well-known to coexist with cluster headache. In contrast, the comorbidity of migraine and fibromyalgia has been well investigated and firmly established. An internet survey was uploaded to the webpage of a cluster headache patient association. The survey collected sociodemographic and clinical data, and patients completed questionnaires that assessed depression, sleep quality, health-related quality of life, and health care resource utilization (HCRU) over the preceding six months. Differences in total depression, sleep quality, and health-related quality of life scores among the groups were analyzed with the Kruskal-Wallis test, and differences in HCRU were analyzed with the chi-square test. Ninety-one patients with cluster headache participated in the survey; 39 (42.9%) experienced only cluster headache, 15 (16.5%) experienced cluster headache and migraine, 10 (11%) experienced cluster headache and fibromyalgia, and 27 (29.7%) experienced cluster headache with comorbid fibromyalgia and migraine. Moderate depression scores and positive suicidal ideation were found across all subgroups. Sleep quality and health-related quality of life were consistently poor across the different subgroups, with the cluster headache with comorbid fibromyalgia and migraine subgroup showing significantly lower scores. Heavy use of health care resources was observed across all subgroups, with no notable differences among them. The comorbidity of cluster headache with fibromyalgia and/or migraine does not seem to be infrequent. This comorbidity substantially increases the psychosocial burden experienced by patients and decreases their overall quality of life.

Prevalence, Risk Factors, and Management of Cluster headache; A systematic Review

Cluster headache (CH) is intricately linked to diverse risk factors, spanning hereditary, environmental, and lifestyle elements. This systematic study, guided by PRISMA guidelines, delves into the prevalence, risk factors, and management of CH. Examining English-language articles from 2010 to 2023 via PubMed/Medline, Scopus, and Embase, our findings reveal a significant association between cluster headaches and factors including family history, smoking, alcohol consumption, male predominance, and head trauma. Notably, a reevaluation of sex discrimination in familial cases is warranted, given the observed female predominance in familial history and CH association studies. Reviewing 739 studies, 7 met inclusion criteria, predominantly utilizing surveys and national database analyses (n=7). Improving our grasp of diagnosis and treatment holds promise for future evaluation and management. Our conclusion underscores global variability in CH prevalence, urging more rigorous population-based surveys. The substantial and persistent burdens associated with CH, from suicidality to economic stress, underscore the need for comprehensive research and intervention. CH transcends the label of a mere \"trigeminal autonomic headache,\" showcasing a diverse spectrum of attack and bout characteristics across countries and ethnicities. Despite the global efficacy of current diagnostic criteria, CH emerges as a dynamic illness, demonstrating progression or regression over time. This underscores the necessity for further research in comprehending its trajectory.

Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide Monoclonal Antibodies for Cluster Headache

Cluster headache is a disabling neurologic disorder that is characterized by daily, attacks of very severe, strictly unilateral pain occurring over a period of weeks or months. Recently, calcitonin gene-related peptide and its receptor complex have garnered attention as promising targets for treating primary headache disorders: particularly migraine and cluster headache. Calcitonin gene-related peptide is found in the trigeminal sensory innervation of major cerebral vessels thought to carry nociceptive information during a headache. Increased levels of calcitonin gene-related peptide have been seen in the ipsilateral jugular venous outflow during an attack phase, and indeed, calcitonin gene-related peptide itself can trigger an attack if administered to a patient in bout, suggesting its distinct role in the generation of attacks. Various monoclonal antibodies targeting calcitonin gene-related peptide and its receptor are emerging as a new frontier in migraine with potential further therapeutic use in cluster headache. This review summarizes the current therapeutic approaches of cluster headache before sharing the potential future role of calcitonin gene-related peptide and its relevance in cluster headache pathology and as targets for future treatment.

Timing of cluster headache preventives in episodic cluster headache: Protocol for an observational prospective cohort pilot study

Purpose: In cluster headache, patients often describe a ramp up period with initially milder headache and then build up to a persistent and severe pattern. It is possible that within the early ramp up, patients may be more treatment responsive. We propose to study if response to therapy for prevention of cluster headache is dependent on timing from onset of cluster cycle. Methods: We will conduct a prospective observational cohort study, where we examine the relationship between timing of start of preventive medication and likelihood of response to treatment. We will look at individuals exposed within 10 days of onset of cluster cycle, versus those exposed after 10 days, to preventive medication. Results: We plan to enroll patients into the study and present data on completion. Conclusion: We aim to study the relationship between cluster headache onset and response to therapy. We propose that there is some data to suggest that earlier in cycle cluster headache may be more easily prevented, and we aim to study this relationship systematically. This is an important question that can influence treatment decisions in clinical practice, as well as clinical trial design.

Efficacy of Oxygen Treatment Using Home Oxygen Concentrators for the Treatment of Cluster Headaches: A Randomized, Crossover, Multicenter Study.

Oxygen treatment is the first-line acute treatment for cluster headaches (CHs), but this can be impeded by insurance coverage and oxygen-tank maintenance. Oxygen concentrators filter nitrogen from ambient air to produce oxygen-rich gas, and can therefore be an alternative to conventional oxygen therapy using a tank. We investigated the effectiveness and safety of using two home oxygen concentrators and compared them with using oral zolmitriptan for the acute treatment of CHs. Forty patients with episodic CHs in an active cluster period were enrolled in this randomized, crossover, multicenter study. Two attacks during the cluster period were treated using oxygen delivered by connecting two home oxygen concentrators, whereas the other two attacks were treated using oral zolmitriptan (5 mg) in a random sequence. The primary endpoint was substantial pain reduction (0 or 1 on a five-point rating scale from 0 to 4 points) at 15 min after treatment. In total, 125 attacks among 32 patients were randomized and treated (63 attacks using oxygen and 62 using zolmitriptan) according to the study protocol. More attacks treated using oxygen reached the primary endpoint than did those treated using zolmitriptan (31.7% [20/63] vs. 12.9% [8/62], p=0.013). After 30 min, 57.1% of the patients who received oxygen and 38.7% who received zolmitriptan reported pain relief (p=0.082). All patients treated using oxygen reported an improvement in pain, and 61.3% preferred oxygen while only 9.7% preferred zolmitriptan. No adverse events occurred during the oxygen treatment. Oxygen treatment administered using two home oxygen concentrators resulted in better pain relief than oral zolmitriptan in patients with episodic CHs. Our results suggest that home oxygen concentrators are capable of efficiently supplying oxygen in a similar manner to using an oxygen tank.

An Analysis of the Determinants of the Health-Related Quality of Life in Asian Patients With Cluster Headaches During Cluster Periods Using the Time Trade-Off Method.

Patients with cluster headache (CH) exhibit impaired health-related quality of life (HRQoL). However, there have been few studies related to the HRQoL of patients with CH from Asian backgrounds. This study aimed to determine the impact of CH on HRQoL and to identify the factors affecting HRQoL in patients with CH during cluster periods. This prospective study enrolled patients with CH from 17 headache clinics in South Korea between September 2016 and February 2021. The study aimed to determine HRQoL in patients with CH using the EuroQol 5 Dimensions (EQ-5D) index and the time trade-off (TTO) method. Age- and sex-matched headache-free participants were recruited as a control group. The study included 423 patients with CH who experienced a cluster period at the time. EQ-5D scores were lower in patients with CH (0.88±0.43, mean±standard deviation) than in the controls (0.99±0.33, p<0.001). The TTO method indicated that 58 (13.6%) patients with CH exhibited moderate-to-severe HRQoL deterioration. The HRQoL states in patients with CH were associated with current smoking patterns, headache severity, frequency, and duration, and scores on the Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item scale (GAD-7), Patient Health Questionnaire 9-item scale (PHQ-9), 6-item Headache Impact Test, and 12-item Allodynia Symptom Checklist. Multivariable logistic regression analyses demonstrated that the HRQoL states in patients with CH were negatively correlated with the daily frequency of headaches, cluster period duration, and GAD-7 and PHQ-9 scores. Patients with CH experienced a worse quality of life during cluster periods compared with the headache-free controls, but the degree of HRQoL deterioration varied among them. The daily frequency of headaches, cluster period duration, anxiety, and depression were factors associated with HRQoL deterioration severity in patients with CH.

Cluster headache: understandings of current knowledge and directions for whole process management.

Cluster headache (CH) is a common primary headache that severely impacts patients' quality of life, characterized by recurrent, severe, unilateral headaches often centered around the eyes, temples, or forehead. Distinguishing CH from other headache disorders is challenging, and its pathogenesis remains unclear. Notably, patients with CH often experience high levels of depression and suicidal tendencies, necessitating increased clinical attention. This comprehensive assessment combines various reports and the latest scientific literature to evaluate the current state of CH research. It covers epidemiology, population characteristics, predisposing factors, and treatment strategies. Additionally, we provide strategic insights into the holistic management of CH, which involves continuous, individualized care throughout the prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation stages. Recent advances in the field have revealed new insights into the pathophysiology of CH. While these findings are still evolving, they offer a more detailed understanding of the neurobiological mechanisms underlying this disorder. This growing body of knowledge, alongside ongoing research efforts, promises to lead to the development of more targeted and effective treatments in the future.

Прекластерные симптомы и особенности патофизиологических механизмов пучковой (кластерной) головной боли

The prevalence of cluster headaches is about 0.4–1% in the general population and is more common than epilepsy and parkinsonism. This work examines several pathophysiologically significant ways for the disease development: the trigeminovascular pathway, the trigeminal-autonomic reflex with the release of several neuropeptides, and the involvement of the hypothalamus and its suprachiasmatic nucleus as the main circadian pacemaker in cluster headaches. The authors present data on the clinical manifestations of the attack and pre-cluster symptoms that occur in some patients several days before the onset of cluster headache. An average of 6 years may pass from the disease onset to the diagnosis and prescription of effective therapy. Awareness of pre-cluster symptoms allows for the preventive treatment of a cluster headache attack to reduce the duration and intensity of clinical manifestations and, as a result, reduce the negative impact of the disease on various aspects of the patient’s life. The heterogeneity of clinical manifestations of cluster headaches, and consequently, the difficulties in making a timely diagnosis, as well as the clinically significant role of concomitant diseases on the disease course and the treatment effectiveness, require further study of this problem and the application of the results obtained in clinical practice.

Recent Clinical Research on Acupuncture Therapy for Cluster Headache

Objectives: This study presents evidence by analyzing the research trends in acupuncture treatment for cluster headache in the last 10 years.Methods: Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) about acupuncture for cluster headache were searched from the China National Knowledge Infrastructure, PubMed, Cochrane Library, Oriental Medicine Advanced Searching Integrated System, ScienceON, Korean Studies Information Service System, and Research Information Sharing Service. The search terms were the combinations of “cluster headache”, “acupuncture”, and “needle therapy”, and the articles were restricted to those published between 2013 and 2023. Only RCTs were selected. The risk of bias (RoB) was assessed according to the revised Cochrane RoB2 criteria.Results: Six RCTs were selected and analyzed in this review. All selected studies were conducted in China. All RCTs comprised 628 participants. Manual acupuncture was used in all studies. Acupuncture targeting the sphenopalatine ganglion was performed in two papers published after 2020. ST8, Ex-HIN3, and GB14 were the most frequently used acupoints in acupuncture treatment. The most commonly used indicators for evaluation were headache attack frequency, clinical efficacy, and the visual analog scale. In each study, adding acupuncture treatment to conventional therapy had significant effects in relieving the symptoms of cluster headaches.Conclusion: The results suggest that acupuncture is an effective treatment for cluster headache. To ensure objective evidence for the effectiveness of acupuncture treatment in cluster headache, it is important to continue large-scale case reports and RCTs.

Review of craniofacial pain syndromes involving the greater occipital nerve: relevant anatomy, clinical findings, and interventional management.

Craniofacial pain syndromes exhibit a high prevalence in the general population, with a subset of patients developing chronic pain that significantly impacts their quality of life and results in substantial disabilities. Anatomical and functional assessments of the greater occipital nerve (GON) have unveiled its implication in numerous craniofacial pain syndromes, notably through the trigeminal-cervical convergence complex. The pathophysiological involvement of the greater occipital nerve in craniofacial pain syndromes, coupled with its accessibility, designates it as the primary target for various interventional procedures in managing craniofacial pain syndromes. This educational review aims to describe multiple craniofacial pain syndromes, elucidate the role of GON in their pathophysiology, detail the relevant anatomy of the greater occipital nerve (including specific intervention sites), highlight the role of imaging in diagnosing craniofacial pain syndromes, and discuss various interventional procedures such as nerve infiltration, ablation, neuromodulation techniques, and surgeries. Imaging is essential in managing these patients, whether for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes. The utilization of image guidance has demonstrated an enhancement in reproducibility, as well as technical and clinical outcomes of interventional procedures. Studies have shown that interventional management of craniofacial pain is effective in treating occipital neuralgia, cervicogenic headaches, cluster headaches, trigeminal neuralgia, and chronic migraines, with a reported efficacy of 60-90% over a duration of 1-9months. Repeated infiltrations, neuromodulation, or ablation may prove effective in selected cases. Therefore, reassessment of treatment response and efficacy during follow-up is imperative to guide further management and explore alternative treatment options. Optimal utilization of imaging, interventional techniques, and a multidisciplinary team, including radiologists, will ensure maximum benefit for these patients.

Analysis of Pharmaceutical Therapies for Primary Headache

Primary headaches, secondary headaches, neuropathies and facial pains, and other headaches are the four types of headache disorders, in which primary headache disorder includes migraine, cluster headache, tension-type headache, and new daily persistent headache. Pathologies of migraine and cluster headaches are still unclear but possible explanations are proved to be related to trigeminal neurons, calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) release, and neuroinflammation. This research listed these possible explanations and summarized the basic factors of migraine and cluster headache attacks. Based on the pathologies, various choices of therapies were introduced. This research mentioned typical pharmaceutical therapies for headaches, including nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, paracetamol, 5-HT1 receptor agonists involving triptan and dihydroergotamine mesylate, opioids, caffeine, and botulinum toxin. Furthermore, new medications in recent studies, including CGRP antagonists and caffeine were noticed as well. Related reliable mechanisms and side effects of all these drugs were highlighted in this review. Realizing the pros and cons of current treating medications is significant for better understanding on mechanism of headaches and designing more effective drugs in order to offer better promise on treating therapies.

Pediatric Cluster Headache Case Series: Symptomatic Cases and the Migraine Relationship.

Current criteria help differentiate cluster headache from migraine. However, children may have overlapping features making it difficult to distinguish the 2 conditions, which may delay diagnosis. Differentiating cluster headache from migraine is important regarding treatment as well as diagnostic workup of secondary headache etiologies. Cases at a single pediatric children's hospital from 2015 to 2023 diagnosed with cluster headache before the age of 18 years were reviewed. Twenty-five cases were identified of which 22 cases met criteria for either chronic, episodic, or probable cluster headache. Three cases were diagnosed with cluster headache by their provider, but documentation was insufficient to meet criteria for cluster headache. There were 16 females and 9 males between ages 6 and 17 years. Five cases were identified as symptomatic, 2 cases as chronic, 7 cases as episodic, and 13 cases as probable cluster headache. Symptomatic etiologies include Graves disease, optic neuritis, prolactinoma, hypothalamic pilocytic astrocytoma with carotid stenosis, and congenital right eye blindness. Migrainous features were common, including 76% with nausea, 36% with vomiting, 68% with photophobia, and 56% with phonophobia. Patients with cluster headache also had an independent diagnosis of migraine in 64%. Children with cluster headache have a high frequency of migrainous symptoms and co-occurrent diagnosis of migraine. A careful history may differentiate cluster headache from migraine and treated accordingly. Children with cluster headache features should undergo screening for secondary causes with appropriate imaging and other studies. Except for prolactinoma, the symptomatic associations noted in this case series have not been reported before.