Secondary cluster headache and numb chin syndrome as initial manifestation of high-grade B-lymphoma: a case report

Background Cluster headache is a primary condition characterized by severe headache accompanied by trigeminal autonomic signs. By definition, it is not attributed to underlying etiologies; however, under certain clinical characteristics, secondary etiologies must be ruled out. Case presentation We present the case of a 48-year-old Hispanic man with a history of episodic right orbital pain, lasting 30 minutes, associated with ipsilateral tearing, who prior to the onset of his symptoms reported loss of appetite, weight loss, and paresthesias in the right chin region. After work-up studies, high-grade lymphoma with infiltration to the right submental nerve was diagnosed, in which numb chin syndrome was the initial presentation. Despite initiation of treatment, the patient died 3 weeks after the diagnosis. Conclusions In the study of cluster headache, underlying etiologies must be considered when there are atypical clinical manifestations. Within these etiologies, metastases to pericranial nerves must be included, which, besides generating localized symptoms, can activate the trigeminal vascular system simulating headaches of primary etiology.

Jaw Metastasis from a Prostate Adenocarcinoma Associated with Numb Chin Syndrome: Case Report

Numb chin syndrome is an uncommon maxillofacial manifestation involving mental neuropathic complications of mandibular bone metastasis with prostate adenocarcinoma. We report a case of a male, 68 years, with a history of bone tibia and spinal metastatic prostate cancer, undergoing bilateral orchiectomy for hormonal blockade and chemotherapy; disease progression was confirmed by bone scintigraphy which noted no critical points but an increase in alkaline phosphatase; therapy with abiraterone and zoledronic acid quarterly was introduced 1 year after diagnosis. The patient attended a dental appointment after 10 months of bisphosphonate use, complaining of a “tingling” sensation in the right chin mental region, 6 months after tooth extraction, with diagnostic hypothesis of medication-related jaw osteonecrosis. Intra-oral exam showed edema in the right mandibular body region extending to the painless, hardened chin, with exudate drainage as compression. An incisional biopsy was performed and anatomopathological and immunohistochemical analysis showed positive staining for cytokines and NKX3, confirming the diagnosis of adenocarcinoma metastasis. The patient was referred to continue treatment with radiotherapy and, subsequently, Xofigo and zoledronic acid to improve symptomatology and control of the adenocarcinoma. Facial numbness should alert clinicians to the potential of metastatic disease in any patient who presents with chin or jaw numbness and has no other obvious cause for their complaint, and early differential diagnosis between jaw osteonecrosis and bone metastasis in the jaw is important for immediate management and improvement in treatment and quality of life.