Diagnostic testing for headache.
A careful and complete headache history supplemented by a neurologic and general physical examination, as appropriate, enables the astute physician to diagnose most headaches correctly without diagnostic testing. When indications are present (see Box 1), some headache patients with a normal physical examination require testing even though the yield may be low. Failure to test may result in misdiagnosis of potentially serious and life-threatening causes of headaches, such as brain tumors, chronic meningitis, SAH, and temporal arteritis.
Evans
R W
RW
Department of Neurology, Park Plaza Hospital, Houston, Texas, USA. rwevans@pol.net
D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging; D006261:Headache / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D008881:Migraine Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D009460:Neurologic Examination; D010808:Physical Examination; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests