title: A boy with sudden headache.
abstract: Headache is a common presenting complaint in pediatric emergency departments. The goal of emergent evaluation is to identify those children with potentially life-threatening conditions. We present the case of an adolescent boy presenting with headache and hypertension who was diagnosed with a catecholamine-secreting abdominal paraganglioma. Genetic testing eventually led to the diagnosis of SDHB-related hereditary paraganglioma-pheochromocytoma syndrome. Alarm features ("red flags") in children presenting with headache are reviewed, as well as the main features of paragangliomas and the indications for genetic testing.
authors.affiliation: From the *Institute for Maternal and Child Health IRCCS "Burlo Garofolo;" and †Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy.
authors.forename: Stefania
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Norbedo
authors.forename: Samuele
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Naviglio
authors.forename: Flora Maria
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Murru
authors.forename: Roberta
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cavallin
authors.forename: Nagua
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Giurici
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rabusin
authors.forename: Egidio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Barbi
mesh_terms: D000008:Abdominal Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D000293:Adolescent; D004630:Emergencies; D006261:Headache / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010235:Paraganglioma / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis