title: Short-lasting unilateral neuralgiform headache attacks with conjunctival injection and tearing syndrome secondary to an epidermoid tumor in the cerebellopontine angle.
abstract: Short-lasting unilateral neuralgiform headache attacks with conjunctival injection and tearing (SUNCT) syndrome is classified under trigeminal autonomic cephalalgias. This rare headache syndrome is infrequently associated with secondary pathologies. In this paper the authors report on a patient with paroxysmal left retroorbital pain with associated autonomic symptoms of ipsilateral conjunctival injection and lacrimation, suggestive of SUNCT syndrome. After failed medical treatment an MRI sequence was obtained in this patient, demonstrating an epidermoid tumor in the left cerebellopontine angle. The patient's symptoms completely resolved after a gross-total resection of the tumor. This case demonstrates the effectiveness of resection as definitive treatment for SUNCT syndrome associated with tumoral compression of the trigeminal nerve. Early MRI studies should be considered in all patients with SUNCT, especially those with atypical signs and symptoms.
authors: Department of Neurosurgery, New York University Langone Medical Center, New York, New York, USA.
authors: Shaun D
authors: SD
authors: Rodgers
authors: Bryan J
authors: BJ
authors: Marascalchi
authors: Russell G
authors: RG
authors: Strom
authors: Paul P
authors: PP
authors: Huang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002526:Cerebellar Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D002530:Cerebellopontine Angle / Q000601:surgery*; D003229:Conjunctival Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D003399:Craniotomy / Q000379:methods*; D003680:Deglutition Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D057210:Delayed Diagnosis; D003951:Diagnostic Errors; D004814:Epidermal Cyst / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D051271:Headache Disorders, Secondary / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D009437:Neuralgia / Q000209:etiology*; D012074:Remission Induction; D012220:Rhinitis / Q000209:etiology; D013577:Syndrome; D013666:Tears / Q000378:metabolism; D014276:Trigeminal Nerve / Q000503:physiopathology; D014277:Trigeminal Neuralgia / Q000175:diagnosis; D014786:Vision Disorders / Q000209:etiology