[Carotidynia as a form of presentation of paraxysmal hemicrania].
BACKGROUND
Paroxysmal hemicrania is a well-defined clinical condition about which many articles have been published. Attempts have been made to explain the response of this illness to indomethacin, suggesting its possible cervical origin. In some patients it is set off by stimulation of certain trigger zones situated in this region. The exceptional radiation of the pain seen in our patient clearly supports this theory.


METHODS
A 34 year old man with a past history of a similar but briefer episode 5 years previously presented to us. He complained of repeated episodes of stabbing pain with no obvious cause. The pain started at the base of the neck and radiated along the right carotid vessels to the cheek, base of the nose and ipsilateral eye. This was accompanied by injection of the conjunctivae, tears, nasal congestion and nasal discharge. Each episode lasted 15 to 30 minutes and was repeated 20 to 25 times a day without any particular relation to the time of day. The neurological examination, MR and angio-MR were normal. Before being seen by us he had been treated with prednisone and verpamil without effect. Indomethacin at a dose of 100 mg/day controlled the problem completely.


CONCLUSIONS
We report a case of paroxysmal hemicrania with a spontaneous description of pain starting at the base of the neck and radiating along the carotid vessels. We consider this clinical description to be of interest since it supports the theories of a cervicogenic origin of this type of headache.
Guerrero-Peral
A L
AL
Unidad de Neurología, Hospital Río Carrión, Palencia, España. aguerrerop@medynet.com
Marcos-Ramos
R A
RA
Martín-Pérez
M V
MV
Herranz-Sánchez
M N
MN
Jiménez de la Fuente
D
D
Ponce-Villares
M A
MA
D000328:Adult; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D007213:Indomethacin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008881:Migraine Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D011239:Prednisolone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014700:Verapamil / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D011239:Prednisolone; D014700:Verapamil; D007213:Indomethacin