Epicrania Fugax: 19 Cases of an Emerging Headache

Abstract

EF appears as a distinct headache syndrome and could be eventually included in future editions of the International Classification of Headache Disorders.

Facial Pain Radiating Upwards: Could the Pain of Epicrania Fugax Start in the Lower Face?

“…All our patients had normal neuroimaging, but a neurovascular contact was not specifically searched with magnetic resonance angiography or MRI‐dedicated views. Otherwise, pain irradiation could be due to ephaptic transmission through different peripheral nerve fibers or to functional convergence of the trigeminal and cervical afferents at the trigeminal nucleus caudalis . The ample movement of some forms of EF with the pain crossing different structures of the face and the head would support this latter theory.…”

“…Epicrania fugax (EF) has been recently classified as a primary headache in the appendix of the International Classification of Headache Disorders, 3rd edition, beta version . Since EF was first proposed as a new syndrome by Pareja et al in 2008, more than 60 cases have been reported . The essential feature of EF is the occurrence of dynamic painful paroxysms, with a quick and ample movement through the surface of one side of the head.…”

“…According to prior descriptions, forward EF may start in the occipital, parietal, or temporal regions, and rapidly moves forwards to reach the ipsilateral eye, the forehead or temple, or the nose. On the other hand, backward EF may stem from the frontal area, the eye, or the nose, and rapidly moves in the opposite direction toward the parietal or occipital regions on the same side of the head . Former EF descriptions have not involved the V2 or V3 dermatomes.…”

Epicrania fugax combining forward and backward paroxysms in the same patient: the first four cases

“…The phenotype of EF has become even broader during the last few years. For instance, it has been reported that pain paroxysms may occur at shifting sides,1,7 along the mid-sagittal plane,9 with coronal radiation10 or even in a multidirectional fashion 11. A facial variant of EF4 has also been proposed.…”

Pain Paroxysms With Coronal Radiation: Case Series and Proposal of a New Variant of Epicrania Fugax

“…Some patients with EF present autonomic symptoms during the attacks. Interictal pain or tenderness in the stemming area is also a common feature . EF was included as a primary headache in the Appendix of the International Classification of Headache Disorders, 3rd edition, beta version (ICHD‐3 beta), among other entities pending further research .…”