title: Epicrania fugax: 19 cases of an emerging headache.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Epicrania fugax (EF) is a primary headache of recent description. We aimed to report 19 new cases of EF, and thus contribute to the characterization of this emerging headache.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  EF is characterized by painful paroxysms starting in a particular area of the head, and rapidly radiating forwards or backwards through the territories of different nerves. The pain is felt in quick motion along a lineal or zigzag trajectory. To date, 47 cases have been published, 34 with forward EF and 13 with backward EF.
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed a descriptive study of all EF cases attending our Headache Unit from April 2010 to December 2012. Demographic and clinical data were recorded with a structured questionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall, there were 12 women and 7 men. Mean age at onset was 51.7 ± 16.2. Fourteen patients had forward EF, while 5 patients had backward EF. Painful paroxysms lasted 1-4 seconds. Pain intensity was usually moderate or severe, and pain quality was mostly electric. Four patients had ocular autonomic accompaniments. Pain frequency was extremely variable, and 7 patients identified some triggers. Between attacks, 13 patients had some pain or tenderness in the stemming area. Thirteen patients required therapy for their pain. Neuromodulators, indomethacin, anesthetic blockades, and steroid injections were used in different cases, with partial or complete response.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  EF appears as a distinct headache syndrome and could be eventually included in future editions of the International Classification of Headache Disorders.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Hospital Clínico San Carlos, Universidad Complutense, Madrid, Spain. mlcuadrado@med.ucm.es
authors.forename: María Luz
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Cuadrado
authors.forename: Carlos M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Ordás
authors.forename: María
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sánchez-Lizcano
authors.forename: Javier
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Casas-Limón
authors.forename: Jordi A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Matías-Guiu
authors.forename: María Eugenia
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: García-García
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fernández-Matarrubia
authors.forename: Raúl
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Barahona-Hernando
authors.forename: Jesús
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Porta-Etessam
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006261:Headache / Q000145:classification* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged