A 37 years old woman presents with a 12-year history of episodic headaches. She experiences these 4 times a week, typically beginning at the end of a workday. The pain is generalized and described as similar to wearing a tight band around her head. The headaches are bothersome, but not disabling, and she denies any nausea or vomiting. She is slightly sensitive to noise but has no photophobia. Pain during her attacks typically responds to ibuprofen. Examination reveals tenderness of her scalp and both trapezius muscles. What are the most important differential diagnoses?

Of the relevant differential diagnoses, it is important to rule out pituitary or brain tumor, increased intracranial pressure, meningeal irritation, and temporal arteritis.

Categorised in:

This post was written by Omar Rifai