Tension headache differential diagnosis

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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1] Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Sabeeh Islam, MBBS[2]

Overview

Differential diagnosis of tension-type headache includes; Migraine, Cluster headache, Secondary headaches such as Medication overuse, Sinus headache and Cervicogenic headache.

Differential diagnosis

Differential diagnosis of tension-type headache includes[1][2][3][4]

Differential diagnosis of headache includes: Migraine, tension-type headache, cluster headache, seizure, meningitis, encephalitis, neurosyphilis, SAH, subdural hematoma, brain tumor, hypertensive encephalopathy, brain abscess, multiple sclerosis, hemorrhagic stroke, Wernickes encephalopathy, and drug toxicity etc.[5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23]


Disease History and Physical Examination PMHx Diagnostic approach
Bilateral Throbbing character Autonomic symptoms Fever Photophobia Aphasia LOC Aura Nause/

Vomiting

Rash Neck stiffness Vision changes Neurologic deficits Labs and CSF findings CT/MRI Gold standard test
Migraine - + - - + - - + + - - + - Trigger factors, family hx - - Clinical assesment
Tension-type headache (TTH) + - - - - - - - - - - - - stress, genetics - - Clinical assesment
Cluster headache - - + - - - - - - - - + - episodic history - - Clinical assesment
Seizure + - - - - +/- + +/- - - - - +/- Hx of seizures prolactin level +/- mass lesion EEG [24]
Meningitis + - - + +/- +/- - - +/- +/- + - + Hx of fever, malaise <math>\uparrow</math>WBC

<math>\uparrow</math>Protein

<math>\downarrow</math>glucose

+/- CSF analysis[25]
Encephalitis + +/- - + +/- +/- - - - +/- + - + Hx of fever, malaise elevated WBC, low glucose + CSF PCR
Brain tumor[26] + - - - - +/- - - +/- - - +/- +/- weight loss, fatigue neuromarkers,

Cancer cells[27]

+/- mass MRI
Subdural hemorrhage -/+ +/- - - - +/- - - - - - +/- +/- Trauma, fall Xanthochromia + CT w/o contrast
Subarachnoid hemorrhage -/+ +/- - - +/- +/- - - - - +/- +/- +/- thunderclap headache <math>\uparrow</math>opening pressure, xanthochromia + CT w/o contrast
Hypertensive encephalopathy + +/- - - +/- - - - - - - +/- - Hypertension UA +/- +/- clinical assessment
CNS abscess -/+ - - + - +/- - - +/- +/- +/- +/- +/- History of drug abuse, endocarditis, immunosupression leukocytes, glucose and protien + MRI
Conversion disorder -/+ - - - - +/- - - - - +/- +/- +/- History of emotional stress - - Diagnosis of exclusion
Multiple sclerosis -/+ - - - - - - - - - - + +/- History of relapses and remissions CSF IgG levels

(monoclonal bands)

+ MRI
Hemorrhagic stroke -/+ +/- - - - +/- - - - - - +/- +/- HTN - + CT scan without contrast[28][29]
Neurosyphilis[30][31] -/+ - - - - - +/- - - +/- - +/- +/- STIs Leukocytes and protein + CSF VDRL-specifc

CSF FTA-Ab -sensitive[32]

Wernicke’s encephalopathy -/+ - - - - +/- - - - - - +/- +/- History of alcohal abuse blood ethanol levels +/- Clinical assesment and lab findings
Drug toxicity -/+ - - +/- - - +/- - +/- - +/- +/- +/- Medication hx Drug levels - Drug screen test
Metabolic disturbances -/+ - - - - - - - +/- - - +/- +/- Underlying CKD, CLD Hypoglycemia, hypo and hypernatremia, hypo and hyperkalemia - Cause dependent
Sinusitis -/+ - - +/- - - - - - - - - - allergies, seasonal leukocytosis + CT

Diagnsotic Labs For Meningitis

Diagnosis of meningitis, is based on clinical presentation in combination with CSF analysis. CSF analysis has major role for diagnosis and rule out other possibilities. The following table summarizes the CSF findings in different types of meningitis.[6][7][8][9][10]

Cerebrospinal fluid level Normal level Bacterial meningitis[9] Viral meningitis[9] Fungal meningitis Tuberculous meningitis[33] Neoplastic meningitis[6]
Cells/ul < 5 >300 10-1000 10-500 50-500 >4
Cells Lymphocyte Leukocyte > Lymphocyte Lymphocyte > Leukocyte Lymphocyte > Leukocyte Lymphocyte > Leukocyte Lymphocyte > Leukocyte
Total protein (mg/dl) 45-60 Typically 100-500 Normal or slightly high High Typically 100-200 >50
Glucose ratio (CSF/plasma)[7] > 0.5 < 0.3 > 0.6 <0.3 < 0.5 <0.5
Lactate (mmols/l)[8] < 2.1 > 2.1 < 2.1 >3.2 > 2.1 >2.1
Others Intra-cranial pressure (ICP) = 6-12 (cm H2O) CSF gram stain, CSF culture, CSF bacterial antigen PCR of HSV-DNA, VZV CSF gram stain, CSF india ink PCR of TB-DNA CSF tumour markers such as alpha fetoprotein, CEA

References

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