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Headache as Complication of Cancer

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Cancer Neurology in Clinical Practice

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Abstract

Headache is a common symptom of brain tumors. Here we will review the epidemiology, clinical characteristics and management of the brain tumor headache. The classic brain tumor headache, typically progressive, worse in the morning and aggravated by Valsalva-like maneuvers, is an uncommon occurrence in clinical practice. Brain tumor headaches can present similarly to primary headaches in individuals predisposed to headaches. This suggests that there may be a shared pathophysiology between the primary headaches and the brain tumor headache. Patients with a history of headaches should undergo neuroimaging if the headache is accompanied by new symptoms, abnormal neurological exam or is different from their usual headache. New onset headache patients should be imaged if the headache is progressive, severe, associated with nausea or vomiting or an abnormal neurological exam. The treatment of the brain tumor headache should be tailored according to the specific etiology of the headache. A rigorous management of the brain tumor headache will contribute to preservation of quality of life in brain tumor patients.

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Abbreviations

MRI:

Magnetic resonance imaging

ICHD:

International classification of headache disorders

CSF:

Cerebrospinal fluid

ICP:

Intracranial pressure

CNS:

Central nervous system

ATAC trial:

Arimidex, Tamoxifen, Alone or in combination trial

SMART syndrome:

Stroke-like migraine attacks after radiation therapy syndrome

PRES:

Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome

AZT:

Azidothymidine

DDI:

Didanosine

PCNU:

1-(2-chloroethyl)-3-(2,6-dioxo-1-piperidyl)-1-nitrosourea

OKT3:

Murine monoclonal anti-CD3 antibody

GM-CSF:

Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurology, University of Virginia, PO Box 800394, Charlottesville, VA, 22908, USA

    Surabhi Ranjan

  2. Neuro-oncology center, University of Virginia, Hospital West, Room 6225, Jefferson Park Avenue, Charlottesville, VA, 22908, USA

    David Schiff

Authors
  1. Surabhi Ranjan
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Surabhi Ranjan .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Harrison Distinguished Teaching, Professor of Neurology, Neurological Surgery, and Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA

    David Schiff

  2. Instructor, Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital, Department of Neurology/Neuro-Oncology, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

    Isabel Arrillaga

  3. Professor of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Dana-Farber/Brigham and Women’s Cancer Center, Center for Neuro-Oncology, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

    Patrick Y. Wen

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Ranjan, S., Schiff, D. (2018). Headache as Complication of Cancer. In: Schiff, D., Arrillaga, I., Wen, P. (eds) Cancer Neurology in Clinical Practice. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-57901-6_8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-57901-6_8

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

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  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-57901-6

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