title: Deep brain stimulation of the posterior hypothalamic area in intractable short-lasting unilateral neuralgiform headache with conjunctival injection and tearing (SUNCT).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  SUNCT (short-lasting unilateral neuralgiform headache with conjunctival injection and tearing) is a rare syndrome characterized by the sudden onset of excruciating unilateral periorbital pain that is accompanied by conjunctival injection and lacrimation or further autonomic signs. Similar to patients with chronic cluster headache, Leone and Lyons showed a beneficial effect of deep brain stimulation of the posterior hypothalamic region in two patients with a chronic SUNCT.
  
  
  METHODS
  Here, we present the case of a man with a chronic SUNCT responding to deep brain stimulation of the posterior hypothalamic area.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This case supports the idea of a central origin of SUNCT and shows that deep brain stimulation of the hypothalamic region can be effective in the treatment of the chronic form of this rare disorder.
authors.affiliation: University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. t.bartsch@neurologie.uni-kiel.de
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bartsch
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Falk
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Knudsen
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Reese
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Raethjen
authors.forename: H M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Mehdorn
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Volkmann
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Deuschl
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000700:Analgesics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D015897:Comorbidity; D046690:Deep Brain Stimulation; D003951:Diagnostic Errors; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging; D004351:Drug Resistance; D006801:Humans; D007034:Hypothalamus, Posterior / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D012008:Recurrence; D012074:Remission Induction; D050798:SUNCT Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D014277:Trigeminal Neuralgia / Q000175:diagnosis
chemical_list: D000700:Analgesics