A triad of cluster-like headaches with delayed development of a macroscopic prolactinoma: A case report

Abstract

Pituitary hormone testing is recommended in refractory cluster headache (CH), but supporting evidence is limited. We present a patient with cluster-like headaches and a negative brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) 1 year after headache onset. He failed multiple medication trials. Three years after headache onset, additional workup showed abnormal pituitary labs including hyperprolactinemia and a brain MRI with a 15 × 15 × 14 mm3 enhancing pituitary lesion. With cabergoline 0.25 mg twice weekly, the patient has been headache-free for over 2 years. This case supports the recommendations for pituitary testing in refractory CH, even if imaging is initially negative for a pituitary tumor.

Recent advances in the diagnosis and management of cluster headache

“…On the right is a diagram of the more frequent causes of secondary cluster-like headaches from reviews of case reports [55][56][57]. The imaging for the pituitary tumor is reprinted with permission58…”