Atypical facial pain--application of the IHS criteria in a clinical sample.
Atypical facial pain is a residual category for otherwise unclassifiable pain syndromes in the facial region. In 35 patients (31F, 4M) with a mean age of 53.2 +/- 14.9 years and a chronic facial pain syndrome we tested the new diagnostic criteria of the International Headache Society (IHS). There was a marked female preponderance, vague description of symptoms and a long history of incorrect diagnoses. A high number of invasive procedures (3.5 +/- 3.0 (1-13)) were performed in this group. In agreement with the IHS criteria, an operation or injury to the face was a suspected cause in 43%. In contrast to the IHS criteria, our patient sample had dysaesthesiae (63%), bilateral occurrence (37%), remission periods (57%), pain attacks (23%) and superficial as well as deep pain. The IHS classification is insufficient to separate atypical facial pain from other primary headache and facial pain syndromes. We suggest a modified version of the IHS criteria for atypical facial pain.
Pfaffenrath
V
V
Marianne-Strauss-Klinik, Berg, Germany.
Rath
M
M
Pöllmann
W
W
Keeser
W
W
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005157:Facial Pain / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008499:Medical Records; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010166:Palliative Care; D012955:Societies, Medical; D013997:Time Factors