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Nummular headache
Brian M Grosberg1, Seymour Solomon, Richard B Lipton
1Montefiore Headache Center, Bronx, NY 10461, USA. bgrosber@montefiore.org
Current Pain and Headache Reports
|August 10, 2007
Summary
Nummular headache is a rare primary headache causing distinct, fixed head pain. This condition, more common in middle-aged women, may involve sensory disturbances and can be treated with certain medications.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Headache Medicine
Background:
- Nummular headache is a rare primary headache disorder.
- It is defined by focal, well-circumscribed pain in a fixed head region.
Observation:
- The pain is typically mild to moderate, but can be severe.
- It predominantly affects women aged 40-50.
- Headaches are unilateral, fixed, and often in the parietal region.
Findings:
- Temporal patterns include chronic, chronic evolved, or episodic.
- Patients frequently report sensory phenomena like paresthesias and allodynia.
- Pain exacerbations can range from seconds to days.
Implications:
- Nummular headache diagnosis requires careful clinical evaluation.
- Potential treatments include gabapentin, tricyclic antidepressants, and botulinum toxin.
- Further research may elucidate underlying mechanisms and optimize therapeutic strategies.
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