Differentiating occipital neuralgia from migraine and tension-type headache

Abstract

Objective. To establish differential diagnosis in patients presenting occipital neuralgia, tension-type headache, and migraine with aura. Method. We analyzed 32 patients with Occipital neuralgia (mean age=38.0; females=75%), 102 with tension-type headache (mean age=33.0; females=92.2%), and 16 with migraine without aura (mean age=37.0; females=56.3%). The specific symptoms of headaches were used in according to International Classification of Headache Disorders (ICHD) in patients with for craniomandibular disorders and bruxing behavior. Results. Occipital neuralgia group presented more nausea (78.1%; p=0.0001), vomiting (62.5%; p=0.0001), photophobia (71.8%; p=0.0001), throbbing (53.1%; p=0.0001), stabbing pain (78.1%; p=0.0001), severe pain (93.7%; p=0.0001), burning (68.8%; p=0.0001), and occipital nerve tenderness (100%; p=0.0001) than tension-type headache group. Occipital neuralgia group showed more stabbing (78.1%; p=0.0001), burning (68.8%; p=0.0005), and occipital nerve tenderness (100%; p=0.0001) than migraine without aura group. Migraine without aura group showed more vomiting (94%; p=0.03) and photophobia (100%; p=0.02) than occipital neuralgia group. Conclusions. Nausea, vomiting, photophobia, throbbing, stabbing, severer pain, a burning description and occipital nerve tenderness, better differentiated occipital neuralgia from tension-type headache. Stabbing pain, burning and occipital nerve tenderness, better differentiated occipital neuralgia from migraine without aura.