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Updated: Jul 17, 2026
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3D-Neuronavigation In Vivo Through a Patient's Brain During a Spontaneous Migraine Headache
Published on: June 2, 2014
The Sinus, Allergy and Migraine Study (SAMS)
Eric Eross1, David Dodick, Michael Eross
1Scottsdale Headache Center at Arizona Neurological Institute, Scottsdale, AZ 85255, USA. ericeross@yahoo.com
Headache
|February 16, 2007
Summary
Most self-diagnosed sinus headaches are actually migraines. Misdiagnosis often stems from triggers, pain location, and symptoms mistaken for sinus issues, highlighting the need for accurate headache diagnosis.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Headache Medicine
- Clinical Diagnosis
Background:
- Migraine affects millions, with many undiagnosed or misdiagnosed as sinus headache.
- Sinus headache is a common but poorly understood diagnosis in clinical practice.
Purpose of the Study:
- To classify headache types in patients with self-diagnosed sinus headache using International Headache Society criteria.
- To identify barriers contributing to the misdiagnosis of headache conditions.
Main Methods:
- Recruited 100 adults with self-diagnosed sinus headache in the Phoenix metropolitan area.
- Conducted detailed patient history and physical examinations.
- Applied International Headache Society (ICHS-II) criteria for headache diagnosis.
Main Results:
- Migraine (with or without aura) was diagnosed in 52% of subjects; probable migraine in 23%.
- Common migraine triggers included weather changes, seasonal variations, and allergens.
- Associated symptoms like nasal congestion and eyelid edema were frequent, contributing to misdiagnosis.
Conclusions:
- The majority of patients with self-diagnosed sinus headache have migraine or probable migraine.
- Misdiagnosis is linked to triggers, pain location, and symptoms often attributed to sinus headache.
- A subset of patients presented with unclassifiable headaches, featuring maxillary pressure and autonomic symptoms without migraine features.