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Sturge-weber syndrome: a case report with persistent headache.
Ece Balkuv1, Nihal Isik1, Ilknur Aydin Canturk1
1Istanbul Medeniyet University Goztepe Education and Research Hospital, Neurology Department, Istanbul, Turkey.
The Pan African Medical Journal
|November 18, 2014
Summary
Sturge-Weber syndrome (SWS) can present with various headache types, not just migraines. This case highlights episodic tension-type headaches in an SWS patient, expanding our understanding of SWS-related neurological symptoms.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Genetics
Background:
- Sturge-Weber syndrome (SWS) is a rare congenital neurocutaneous disorder.
- It is characterized by facial vascular malformations (port-wine stains) and intracranial leptomeningeal angiomas.
- Headaches are a known, though infrequent, symptom, typically presenting as migraines.
Observation:
- A 21-year-old female patient with diagnosed SWS presented with severe, frequent headaches.
- Physical examination revealed a facial nevus and mild upper extremity asymmetry.
- The patient reported a two-year history of non-pulsating, bilateral, pressing headaches lasting for hours, without nausea or aura.
Findings:
- The patient's headache presentation was consistent with episodic tension-type headache, differing from the commonly reported migraine-like headaches in SWS.
- This case underscores the variability of headache presentations in Sturge-Weber syndrome.
Implications:
- Recognizing diverse headache types in SWS is crucial for accurate diagnosis and management.
- This case broadens the clinical spectrum of neurological manifestations associated with SWS.
- Further research into the pathophysiology of varied headaches in SWS is warranted.
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