title: Imaging for headache: what the otolaryngologist looks for.
abstract: Diagnosing a rhinogenic cause of headache or facial pain outside of the classic definitions of chronic, acute, and subacute sinusitis can be challenging for the practicing otolaryngologist. Contact-point headaches have been clinically characterized as causing facial pain secondary to abutting mucosal contact from the lateral nasal wall to the septum. Imaging landmarks may help identify these potential contact points radiographically through revealing anatomic variants such as septal spurs and abnormally large lateral nasal structures. However, other potential rhinologic sources, such as barosinusitis, recurrent barotrauma, or recurrent acute sinusitis occurring between active episodes, are challenging to identify through hallmark imaging findings.
authors.affiliation: Pasha Snoring and Sinus Center, 12121 Richmond Avenue, Suite 304, Houston, TX 77082, USA. Electronic address: rpasha@PashaMD.com.
authors.forename: Raza
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pasha
authors.affiliation: University of Texas Medical Branch, 310 Watercrest Harbor Lane, League City, TX 77573, USA.
authors.forename: Rafay Qamer
authors.initials: RQ
authors.lastname: Soleja
authors.affiliation: 9717 Cypresswood Drive Apartment 2002, Houston, TX 77070, USA.
authors.forename: Mohammad Nadir
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Ijaz
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005157:Facial Pain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006261:Headache / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015508:Nasal Obstruction / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D009300:Nasal Septum / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D009668:Nose Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D010036:Otolaryngology; D010254:Paranasal Sinus Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D010256:Paranasal Sinuses / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D012220:Rhinitis / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D012852:Sinusitis / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014420:Turbinates / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging
keywords: Computed tomography; Contact-point headache; Imaging; Otolaryngology; Rhinogenic headache; Sinusitis