Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
Turkiye Klinikleri Pediatri, cilt.31, sa.1, ss.53-58, 2022 (Scopus)
© 2022 OrtadogŸu Reklam Tanitim Yayincilik Turizm Egitim Insaat Sanayi ve Ticaret A.S.. All rights reserved.Objective: Occipital headaches are classically considered as secondary headaches that indicate neuroimaging. This study aimed to examine the clinical and radiological features of patients with occipital headache to evaluate the diagnostic contribution of brain imaging. Material and Methods: Patients who applied to the Tokat State Hospital Pediatric Neurology Outpatient Clinic between January 2018 and September 2019 with occipital headache were evaluated retrospectively. Results: During this period, a total of 596 patients applied to the pediatric neurology outpatient clinic with headache complaints, 56 (9.4%) of them had occipital headache. Of the patients with occipital headache, 41 (73%) were female and 15 (27%) were male. Their ages were between 4-17 years, with a mean of 13.4±3.2 years. Headache started an average of 15±3.2 months ago, and had recently increased significantly in 24 (43%). The frequency of headaches was 4±3.3 per week on average, and the duration varied from seconds to hours. Headache severity was evaluated as 7.3±1.5 on average. Thirty (53.5%) patients identified accompanying pain in a different head region. Diagnoses were refractive errors in 7 (12.5%) patients, hypertension in 7 (12.5%) patients, and epilepsy in 2 (3.5%) patients. Brain magnetic resonance imaging revealed millimetric T2 hyperintensity foci (5%), enlargement of perivascular spaces (5%), significant sinus inflammation (9%), and incidental findings (5%, 2 arachnoid cysts, 1 pineal cyst). No pathology was found that required changing the clinical approach or any intervention. Conclusion: Occipital headache is not uncommon in childhood and adolescence. Brain imaging does not make a significant contribution when there is only occipital headache without neurological deficits or other alarm symptoms. Patients should be examined in terms of headache causes such as refractive errors and hypertension.