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A Case Report About Cluster‐Tic Syndrome Due to Venous Compression of the Trigeminal Nerve
Author(s) -
de Coo Ilse,
van Dijk J. Marc C.,
Metzemaekers Jan D.M.,
Haan Joost
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
headache: the journal of head and face pain
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.14
H-Index - 119
eISSN - 1526-4610
pISSN - 0017-8748
DOI - 10.1111/head.12990
Subject(s) - trigeminal nerve , medicine , anatomy
Background The term “cluster‐tic syndrome” is used for the rare ipsilateral co‐occurrence of attacks of cluster headache and trigeminal neuralgia. Medical treatment should combine treatment for cluster headache and trigeminal neuralgia, but is very often unsatisfactory. Case Here, we describe a 41‐year‐old woman diagnosed with cluster‐tic syndrome who underwent microvascular decompression of the trigeminal nerve, primarily aimed at the “trigeminal neuralgia” part of her pain syndrome. After venous decompression of the trigeminal nerve both a decrease in trigeminal neuralgia and cluster headache attacks was seen. However, the headache did not disappear completely. Furthermore, she reported a decrease in pain intensity of the remaining cluster headache attacks. Discussion This case description suggests that venous vascular decompression in cluster‐tic syndrome can be remarkably effective, both for trigeminal neuralgia and cluster headache.