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Huge supratentorial arachnoid cyst presenting as an orgasmic headache
Sa-Yoon Kang1, Jay Chol Choi, Ji-Hoon Kang
1Department of Neurology, College of Medicine, Jeju National University, 1 Ara 1-dong, Jeju, 690-756, Jeju-do, Korea. neurokang@jejunu.ac.kr
Headache related with sexual activity (HAS) is a rare benign condition. This case report highlights a unique association between orgasmic headache and a large supratentorial arachnoid cyst.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Neuroscience
- Neurosurgery
Background:
- Headache related with sexual activity (HAS) is a rare primary headache disorder.
- It is classified into pre-orgasmic and orgasmic headache types.
- The Valsalva maneuver during orgasm is a proposed mechanism for orgasmic headache, potentially increasing intracranial pressure.
Observation:
- A patient presented with symptoms of orgasmic headache.
- The patient was found to have a large supratentorial arachnoid cyst.
- This cyst was identified as a potential contributing factor to the headache.
Findings:
- The case suggests a possible link between large supratentorial arachnoid cysts and orgasmic headache.
- This association is unusual and warrants further investigation.
- The arachnoid cyst may play a role in the pathophysiology of HAS in this patient.
Implications:
- This finding expands the differential diagnosis for orgasmic headache.
- It suggests that structural intracranial abnormalities should be considered in the evaluation of HAS.
- Further research is needed to understand the relationship between arachnoid cysts and sexual headaches.
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