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Updated: Oct 7, 2025

Author Spotlight: Minimally Invasive Relief for Occipital Neuralgia at the Nuchal Line
Published on: September 13, 2024
Refractory occipital scalp pruritus treated with computed tomography-guided greater occipital nerve ablation
Jeffrey Rosenthal1, Nicholas AuYong2, Robert Swerlick3
1Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, 1364 Clifton Road Northeast, Suite BG20, Atlanta, GA 30319, USA.
Abstract:
Greater occipital nerve blocks and thermal ablations have been widely discussed as an efficacious treatment strategy for multiple difficult to treat conditions, including occipital neuralgia, migraines, and cervicogenic headaches. Nerve blocks have also recently been presented as a method of treating neuropathic itch in the upper extremities, where pruritus occurs without visible dermatologic manifestations. We report a case of refractory occipital scalp pruritus in a patient who had excellent although time-limited response to greater occipital nerve blocks but achieved durable symptom control with CT-guided greater occipital nerve ablation.

