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The Journal of Headache and Pain logoLink to The Journal of Headache and Pain
. 2008 Apr 17;9(3):181–183. doi: 10.1007/s10194-008-0033-y

Cluster-like headache and idiopathic intracranial hypertension: a case report

Lucia Testa 1,, Daniela Mittino 1, Emanuela Terazzi 1, Marco Mula 1, Francesco Monaco 1
PMCID: PMC3476194  PMID: 18418548

Abstract

Cluster headache (CH) is a well-defined primary headache syndrome, but cases of symptomatic headache with clinical features of CH have been previously reported. Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension (IIH) is a secondary headache disorder characterized by headache and visual symptoms, without clinical, radiological or laboratory evidence of intracranial pathology. Both papilloedema and IIH-related headache are typically bilateral, however asymmetrical or even unilateral localizations are described in literature. We report the case of a previously headache-free woman who presented cluster-like headache and asymmetrical papilloedema related to IIH. In our opinion the asymmetrical presentation supports, in this case, the hypothesis of cavernous sinus involvement in the IIH-related cluster-like headache pathogenesis.

Keywords: Cluster-like headache, Idiopathic intracranial hypertension, Papilloedema, Asymmetrical, Symptomatic, Cluster

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Acknowledgments

Conflict of interest

None.

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