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No Laughing Matter: Gelastic Migraine and Other Unusual Headache Syndromes

  • Uncommon and/or Unusual Headaches and Syndromes (J Ailani, Section Editor)
  • Published:
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Abstract

Primary and secondary headache disorders have established diagnostic criteria in the International Classification of Headache Disorders IIIb, as well as classic findings, which although not part of the formal criteria are often suggestive of a particular diagnosis. At times, headache disorders can involve unusual symptoms that lack an identifiable secondary cause. This review will discuss some of these unusual symptoms, including headache associated auditory and olfactory symptoms, as well as two case reports involving gelastic migraine and migrainous thoracalgia.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. John R. Graham Headache Center, Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, 1153 Centre Street, Suite 4970, Boston, MA, 02130, USA

    Paul G. Mathew

  2. Department of Neurology, Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates, Braintree, MA, USA

    Paul G. Mathew

  3. Division of Neurology, Cambridge Health Alliance, Cambridge, MA, USA

    Paul G. Mathew

  4. Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA

    Paul G. Mathew

  5. Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, MN, USA

    Carrie E. Robertson

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  1. Paul G. Mathew
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Correspondence to Paul G. Mathew.

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Paul G. Mathew and Carrie E. Robertson declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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This article is part of the Topical Collection on Uncommon and/or Unusual Headaches and Syndromes

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Mathew, P.G., Robertson, C.E. No Laughing Matter: Gelastic Migraine and Other Unusual Headache Syndromes. Curr Pain Headache Rep 20, 32 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11916-016-0560-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11916-016-0560-1

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