Diagnosis of Other Primary Headaches

Abstract

The other primary headaches are a heterogeneous collection of generally short primary headaches without autonomic features, distinguishing them from the trigeminal autonomic cephalalgias. Workup for secondary causes is particularly important in these headaches, as many have frequent and serious secondary etiologies, such as aneurysm in thunderclap headache or headache associated with sexual activity, or posterior fossa lesions or Chiari malformation in cough headache.

Some of the other primary headaches can be indomethacin responsive, such as primary cough headache, primary stabbing headache, primary exercise headache, and headache associated with sexual activity. Several of the other primary headaches are unique and orphan entities, a few with known treatments such as hypnic headache, many with no known treatments such as nummular headache.

A chapter on other primary headache is generally a trip down a buffet table, with offerings that vary widely.