Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW This article provides a systematic diagnostic approach to the patient with headache. RECENT FINDINGS The vast majority of patients presenting with headache in clinical practice have a primary headache disorder. The most common primary headache disorder in clinical practice is overwhelmingly migraine. Unfortunately, a substantial proportion of patients with migraine do not receive an accurate diagnosis. In addition, the clinical features of migraine overlap with secondary causes of headache, making a careful history and deliberative evaluation for warning symptoms or signs of a secondary headache disorder of paramount importance. SUMMARY The approach to the patient with headache requires knowledge of the diagnostic criteria for primary headache disorders, recognition of the importance of a systematic evaluation for red flags associated with secondary headache disorders, and awareness of the pearls and pitfalls encountered in the diagnostic evaluation of a patient with headache.
Original language | English (US) |
---|---|
Pages (from-to) | 572-585 |
Number of pages | 14 |
Journal | CONTINUUM Lifelong Learning in Neurology |
Volume | 27 |
Issue number | 3 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - 2021 |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Clinical Neurology
- Genetics(clinical)