[Headaches in the emergency context]

J Neuroradiol. 2004 Sep;31(4):262-70. doi: 10.1016/s0150-9861(04)97005-8.
[Article in French]

Abstract

Headaches constitute one of the most frequent reason of consultation. Their causes are extremely varied. The first step consists in the analysis of the characteristics of the pain and the associated signs in order to distinguish primary and secondary headaches. Primary headaches, including migraines and tension-type headaches are the most frequent types and do not require imaging evaluation. Secondary headaches are related to an organic cause and require specific investigations. In case of suspected symptomatic or secondary headaches, brain imaging plays an important role in the etiologic work-up. The main purpose of imaging in an emergency setting is to diagnose a life-threatening disease.

Publication types

  • English Abstract
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Acute Disease
  • Algorithms
  • Brain Neoplasms / diagnosis
  • Causality
  • Cerebral Infarction / diagnosis
  • Craniocerebral Trauma / diagnosis
  • Decision Trees
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Emergencies
  • Emergency Treatment / methods*
  • Encephalitis / diagnosis
  • Headache* / diagnosis
  • Headache* / etiology
  • Humans
  • Hypertension, Pregnancy-Induced / diagnosis
  • Hypertensive Encephalopathy / diagnosis
  • Intracranial Thrombosis / diagnosis
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Meningitis / diagnosis
  • Neuroradiography / methods
  • Stroke / diagnosis
  • Subarachnoid Hemorrhage / diagnosis