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Headache attributed to non-vascular intracranial disorder
Hans-Christoph Diener1, U Johansson, David W Dodick
1Department of Neurology, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany. hans.diener@uni-duisburg-essen.de
Handbook of Clinical Neurology
|September 7, 2010
Summary
This chapter explores non-vascular intracranial disorders causing headache, including those linked to cerebrospinal fluid pressure, inflammation, neoplasms, and seizures. It details conditions like idiopathic intracranial hypertension and Chiari malformation type I.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Neurosurgery
- Internal Medicine
Background:
- Headache is a common symptom with diverse underlying causes.
- Non-vascular intracranial disorders represent a significant category of headache etiology.
- Accurate diagnosis of these disorders is crucial for effective management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To comprehensively review non-vascular intracranial disorders that manifest as headache.
- To categorize headaches based on their underlying pathophysiological mechanisms.
- To provide an overview of specific conditions and their diagnostic considerations.
Main Methods:
- Literature review and synthesis of existing knowledge on non-vascular intracranial headache causes.
- Classification of headaches based on cerebrospinal fluid pressure abnormalities, inflammatory conditions, neoplasms, and other neurological events.
- Description of specific headache syndromes and their associated pathologies.
Main Results:
- Headaches associated with cerebrospinal fluid pressure include idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH), secondary intracranial hypertension, low CSF pressure, post-dural puncture headache, and CSF fistula headache.
- Non-infectious inflammatory diseases like neurosarcoidosis and aseptic meningitis can cause headaches.
- Headaches can also result from intracranial neoplasms, hypothalamic/pituitary dysfunction, epileptic seizures, Chiari malformation type I, and HaNDL syndrome.
Conclusions:
- Non-vascular intracranial disorders encompass a wide spectrum of headache etiologies.
- Understanding the specific causes, such as cerebrospinal fluid dynamics, inflammation, or neoplasms, is key to diagnosis.
- This review highlights the importance of considering these diverse intracranial conditions in headache evaluation.
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