A case of short-lasting unilateral neuralgiform headache with conjunctival injection and tearing (SUNCT). Discussion of clinical features and differential diagnosis

Abstract

Chronic short-lasting headaches, in which trigeminal autonomic cephalalgias (TACs) are included, are relatively rare syndromes and not always well recognised. We present a case highly suggestive of short-lasting unilateral neuralgiform headache with conjunctival injection and tearing (SUNCT) and we try to affirm essential points to distinguish the diagnosis from other TACs and chronic short-lasting headaches. We conclude that the qualifying points for differential diagnosis are number and duration of attacks in a day, presence of autonomic features and lack of indomethacin effect. © Springer-Verlag Italia 2005.