Short-lasting unilateral neuralgiform headache attacks with conjunctival injection and tearing-like attacks in a pediatric patient found to have a pontine capillary telangiectasia and developmental venous anomaly: A case report exploring the root of the problem

Cephalalgia ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 37 (11) ◽  
pp. 1093-1097 ◽  
Author(s):  
Natalia A Liapounova ◽  
Juliana H VanderPluym ◽  
Ravi Bhargava ◽  
Hanna H Kolski
Keyword(s):  
Trigeminal Neuralgia ◽  
Trigeminal Nerve ◽  
Pediatric Population ◽  
Paroxysmal Hemicrania ◽  
Developmental Venous Anomaly ◽  
Venous Anomaly ◽  
Conjunctival Injection ◽  
Diagnostic Dilemma ◽  
Oxygen Administration ◽  
Capillary Telangiectasia

Introduction Short-lasting unilateral neuralgiform headache attacks with conjunctival injection and tearing (SUNCT)-like attacks are rarely reported in the pediatric population and may remain undiagnosed and under-investigated as a result. Case presentation We present a case of a 15–year-old male with intermittent, episodic, right-sided brief headaches most in keeping with SUNCT, initially diagnosed as paroxysmal hemicrania, but with no response to indomethacin. The pain was likewise not responsive to typical migraine treatments or steroids. Management and outcome Contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated a right pontine capillary telangiectasia with an associated developmental venous anomaly that was adjacent to the root of the right trigeminal nerve. Differential diagnosis included first division trigeminal neuralgia with autonomic features. The patient’s pain was partially alleviated by oxygen administration and responded well to carbamazepine; he remained pain free on carbamazepine a year later. Conclusion This case highlights the diagnostic dilemma of differentiating SUNCT from trigeminal neuralgia with autonomic features, both of which are rare diagnoses in pediatric patients, and the importance of appropriate neuroimaging to rule out secondary causes in patients presenting with trigeminal autonomic cephalalgias, recognizing that abnormalities identified on neuroimaging, such as vessels adjacent to the trigeminal nerve, may not be causative findings.

The Juxtaposition of a Capillary Telangiectasia, Cavernous Malformation, and Developmental Venous Anomaly in the Brainstem of a Single Patient: Case Report

Neurosurgery ◽  
2001 ◽  
Vol 49 (5) ◽  
pp. 1246-1250 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard E. Clatterbuck ◽  
İlhan Elmacı ◽  
Daniele Rigamonti
Keyword(s):  
Cavernous Malformation ◽  
Vascular Malformations ◽  
Magnetic Resonance Imaging Examination ◽  
Developmental Venous Anomaly ◽  
Venous Malformations ◽  
Venous Anomaly ◽  
Single Patient ◽  
Cavernous Malformations ◽  
Swallowing Problems ◽  
Capillary Telangiectasia

ABSTRACT OBJECTIVE AND IMPORTANCE Capillary telangiectasias, cavernous malformations, and developmental venous anomalies are all vascular malformations that occur on the capillary-venous side of the cerebral circulation. The associations of capillary telangiectasias with venous malformations, cavernous malformations with venous malformations, and capillary telangiectasias with cavernous malformations have all been described; however, the association of all three lesions in a single patient is extremely rare. CLINICAL PRESENTATION A 52 year-old Caucasian woman presented to our clinic with an extended history of confusion, distorted visual perceptions, photophobia, neck pain, swallowing problems, and poor balance. The patient's examination was remarkable for difficulty concentrating, mild rotatory nystagmus, subtle decreased sensation over the left side of the face and body, and brisk reflexes. Review of the patient's magnetic resonance imaging examination demonstrated a cavernous malformation, a capillary telangiectasia, and a developmental venous anomaly located adjacent to one another in the brainstem. INTERVENTION Given the patient's complex constellation of symptoms and relatively mild neurological findings, it was difficult to ascribe any one of them to a specific vascular malformation. Conservative management of this patient's vascular malformations was decided upon. CONCLUSION Juxtaposition of these three different vascular lesions in the brainstem of an otherwise normal individual suggests a relationship among them. Although there are several theories that link similar associations through physiological mechanisms such as venous hypertension, we propose that a developmental event disrupting local capillary-venous pattern formation is a plausible alternative.

Developmental Venous Anomaly of Petrous Veins: Intraoperative Findings and Indocyanine Green Video Angiographic Study

2008 ◽  
Vol 62 (suppl_5) ◽  
pp. ONS418-ONS422 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paolo Ferroli ◽  
Giovanni Tringali ◽  
Erminia Albanese ◽  
Giovanni Broggi
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Resonance Imaging ◽  
Magnetic Resonance ◽  
Indocyanine Green ◽  
Trigeminal Nerve ◽  
Near Infrared ◽  
Developmental Venous Anomaly ◽  
Venous Angioma ◽  
Venous Anomaly ◽  
Resonance Imaging ◽  
Angiographic Study

Abstract Objective: We describe the intraoperative findings and results of an indocyanine green (ICG) video angiographic study in a patient with a developmental venous anomaly of the petrous veins. Clinical Presentation: A 56-year-old man sought treatment after experiencing lacerating facial pain on the right side for almost 2 years. His neurological examination results were normal. A magnetic resonance imaging scan revealed the presence of a venous angioma in close relationship with the trigeminal nerve and the intrapontine tract of its fibers. The patient underwent a retrosigmoid craniotomy to explore the cerebellopontine angle. Near-infrared ICG video angiography was used to study the venous pattern of circulation. The venous angioma did not appear to be the source of any compression and was left untouched. At the entry zone of the nerve root, the trigeminal nerve was found to be compressed by a loop of the superior cerebellar artery, which was moved and repositioned away from the nerve. Results: Near-infrared ICG video angiography disclosed an unexpected difference in filling time between developmental venous anomaly drainage veins and normal veins. The patient's pain resolved after microvascular decompression. Conclusion: Near-infrared ICG video angiography was particularly accurate and useful in the study of the venous dynamic of circulation. Further studies are required to confirm the supposed capability of ICG video angiography to differentiate developmental venous anomaly drainage veins and normal veins. Although magnetic resonance imaging supported the involvement of the venous angioma in the etiopathogenesis of this patient's trigeminal pain, surgical exploration disclosed a different cause.

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