Bilateral Temporal Headache As the Presenting Symptoms for a Case of Graves’ Disease

Abstract

Headache is not typically a presenting symptom of Graves' disease. Only a few studies suggest hyperthyroidism can cause headaches, and the connection remains indeterminable. While some cases report hyperthyroidism presenting as a simple headache, it is not specific to Graves' disease. This report details a middle-aged male patient who visited a primary healthcare center with a two-month history of bilateral temporal headaches. He was initially diagnosed as a query case of temporal arteritis due to his age and affected area and was transferred to the emergency department for a comprehensive evaluation. After discussions with specialists and various laboratory tests and CT scans, he was diagnosed with Graves' disease. Treatment led to fast improvement and relief of his headaches. This case represents a rare instance of Graves' disease where the patient's sole complaint was a simple headache without any other symptoms. We advise doctors to consider diseases related to increased thyroid gland activity when dealing with headaches.