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. 2021 Jun 9;21(5):392–402. doi: 10.1136/practneurol-2020-002782

Table 2.

Clinical differences between trigeminal neuralgia and SUNCT/SUNA

Features Trigeminal neuralgia SUNCT/SUNA
Predominant pain distribution V2/V3>V1 V1>V2/V3
Severity of pain Very severe Very severe
Duration (seconds) <1–120 1–600
Autonomic features None or sparse Prominent
Spontaneous attacks only None or rare 40%
Refractory period Present Absent
Periodicity Mostly episodic Mostly chronic
Preventive treatment of choice Carbamazepine or oxcarbazepine Lamotrigine

SUNA, short-lasting unilateral neuralgiform headache attacks with cranial autonomic symptoms; SUNCT, short-lasting unilateral neuralgiform headache attacks with conjunctival injection and tearing; V1, first division of the trigeminal nerve; V2, second division of the trigeminal nerve; V3, third division of the trigeminal nerve.