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Symptomatic cluster-like headache triggered by forehead lipoma: a case report and review of the literature

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Abstract

We describe the case of a patient with symptomatic strictly unilateral paroxysmal headache mimicking cluster headache related to an ipsilateral forehead lipoma. Interestingly, immediately after the surgical excision of the lipoma pain attacks disappeared with no recurrence during a follow-up period of 18 months. Like other descriptions of cluster-like headaches secondary to extracranial lesions, this case report focuses on the hypothetical role of a peripheral trigger factor for trigeminal autonomic cephalgias (TACs). To our knowledge, this is the first well-described cluster-like headache case secondary to an extracerebral lipoma. This case offered the opportunity to discuss the possible pathophysiological mechanisms underlying probable TACs and the relationship with peripheral extracerebral activation of the trigeminal-autonomic reflex.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Clinical Neurophysiology, Department of Neuroscience, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria “Ospedali Riuniti”, Foggia, Italy

    Daniela Cologno

  2. IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation, Laboratory of Clinical and Behavioral Neurology, Via Ardeatina, 306, 00179, Rome, Italy

    Maria Gabriella Buzzi, Paola Cicinelli, Carlo Caltagirone & Gianfranco Spalletta

  3. Neuroscience Department University “Tor Vergata”, Rome, Italy

    Carlo Caltagirone & Gianfranco Spalletta

Authors
  1. Daniela Cologno
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  2. Maria Gabriella Buzzi
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  3. Paola Cicinelli
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  4. Carlo Caltagirone
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  5. Gianfranco Spalletta
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Correspondence to Gianfranco Spalletta.

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Cologno, D., Buzzi, M.G., Cicinelli, P. et al. Symptomatic cluster-like headache triggered by forehead lipoma: a case report and review of the literature. Neurol Sci 29, 331–335 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10072-008-0990-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10072-008-0990-6

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