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Updated: May 29, 2026
04:06
Minimally Invasive Surgical Decompression of Occipital Nerves
Published on: September 13, 2024
Infiltrative cervical lesions causing symptomatic occipital neuralgia
F Sierra-Hidalgo1, J Ruíz, A Morales-Cartagena
1Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre, Spain.
Cephalalgia : an International Journal of Headache
|September 14, 2011
Summary
Occipital neuralgia can stem from underlying structural lesions, even with typical symptoms. Cranio-cervical MRI is crucial for diagnosing occipital nerve pain, even with normal exams.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Radiology
Background:
- Occipital neuralgia presents as posterior head and neck pain, often without a clear local cause.
- While atypical features suggest underlying issues, typical cases can also mask structural lesions.
Observation:
- Two cases of occipital neuralgia are presented: one typical, one atypical.
- Both cases were secondary to paravertebral pyomyositis and vertebral multiple myeloma relapse.
Findings:
- These cases highlight that occipital neuralgia can be an isolated manifestation of serious underlying conditions.
- Even typical clinical presentations and normal neurological exams do not rule out structural lesions.
Implications:
- Cranio-cervical magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is recommended for all patients diagnosed with occipital neuralgia.
- Early and accurate diagnosis through MRI can prevent delayed treatment of potentially severe underlying pathologies.
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