INTRODUCTION Peripheral nerve blocks have been used in primary headache treatment since a long time. In this study, we aimed to examine the efficiency of greater occipital nerve (GON) block in migraine prophylaxis. METHODS Data from migraine without aura patients who had GON block were collected and divided into two groups: Group PGON (n=25), which included patients who were under medical pro...

Schwannomas are common tumors of the head and neck region, but they rarely develop in the suboccipital region. A 34-year-old woman presented with a left suboccipital mass causing local pain and neck stiffness. Following physical examination, fine needle aspiration biopsy was performed, which revealed benign cytology. In the light of preoperative radiologic examination and intraoperative observa...

Here we report a unique case of chronic occipital neuralgia caused by pathological vascular contact of the left greater occipital nerve. After 12 months of left-sided, unremitting occipital neuralgia, a hypesthesia and facial pain developed in the left hemiface. The decompression of the left greater occipital nerve from pathological contacts with the occipital artery resulted in immediate relie...

OBJECTIVE Fibromyalgia causes widespread musculo-skeletal pain in the four quadrants of the body. Greater occipital nerve stimulation has recently shown beneficial effects in fibromyalgia patients on pain, fatigue, and mood disorders. Laser-evoked potentials (LEPs) are used for research to understand the pathophysiological mechanisms of pain and to evaluate the effects of pain treatment. In fib...

Dr. Fabrizio Di Stani – Dipartimento di Scienze Neurologiche / Università di Roma “La Sapienza” Roma, Italy. E-mail: [email protected] Cluster headache (CH) is characterised by attacks of severe unilateral pain in the orbital, supraorbital and/or temporal areas that last from 15 to 180 min, with recurrence up to 8 times daily and accompanied by ipsilateral autonomic symptoms. Althoug...

Important structures involved in the pathogenesis of occipital headache include the aponeurotic attachments of the trapezius and semispinalis capitis muscles to the occipital bone. The greater occipital nerve (GON) can become entrapped as it passes through these aponeuroses, causing symptoms of occipital neuralgia. The aim of this study was to identify topographic landmarks for accurate identif...