Imaging of Headache

The lifetime prevalence of headache is so high. (Almost 95% of people) Head pain is also one of the most common causes of outpatient office visits. Many of these patients are worried about an intracranial lesion. So if the treating physician wants to perform imaging for most of them, it will impose a high cost on the healthcare system. In this lecture, we want at first to clear the scientific indications of performing imaging (usually brain MRI) for headache patients. The most important indication of performing imaging is finding an abnormality in neurological exam, especially papilledema. Other indications such as new-onset headache after 50 years old, sudden onset headache and history of malignancy are other important considerations. Then the main significant findings, which are valuable in headache patients, are demonstrated. Clues suggesting a mass lesion and rise of intracranial pressure are so important and sometimes are very subtle. In the end, some radiologic findings, which suggest a rhinogenic cause, would be discussed. Images of mucosal contact area, which cause contact point headache, would be shown.