Hemicrania Continua-like headache due to nonmetastatic lung cancer--a vagal cephalalgia.
A 72-year-old man presented with a 7-week history of a new onset constant severe right-sided headache associated with redness and tearing of the right eye, which resolved on indomethacin due to nonmetastatic small cell carcinoma producing a large suprahilar mass. This is the first case report of a hemicrania continua-like headache with autonomic features due to lung cancer. I propose the term "vagal cephalalgia" to include headache and/or facial pain due to nonmetastatic lung cancer and cardiac cephalalgia which result from vagal afferent stimulation.
Evans
Randolph W
RW
Park Plaza Hospital - Neurology, Houston, TX 77004, USA.
D000368:Aged; D001341:Autonomic Nervous System / Q000503:physiopathology; D018288:Carcinoma, Small Cell / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000150:complications*; D008297:Male; D008881:Migraine Disorders / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D009626:Terminology as Topic