SUNCT and trigeminal neuralgia attributed to meningoencephalitis

J Headache Pain. 2008 Feb;9(1):51-3. doi: 10.1007/s10194-008-0008-z. Epub 2008 Jan 23.

Abstract

We describe a 46-year-old female with viral meningoencephalitis (likely varicella-zoster virus) who developed a SUNCT syndrome followed a few days later by trigeminal neuralgia. Both disorders resolved in parallel with the resolution of encephalitis, which suggests a causal link. In conclusion, headache attributed to intracranial infection may have the clinical features of SUNCT or TN.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Anticonvulsants / therapeutic use
  • Brain / pathology
  • Brain / physiopathology
  • Brain / virology
  • Encephalitis, Varicella Zoster / complications*
  • Epilepsy / drug therapy
  • Epilepsy / etiology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Middle Aged
  • Nerve Fibers, Myelinated / pathology
  • Nerve Fibers, Myelinated / virology
  • Recurrence
  • SUNCT Syndrome / diagnosis
  • SUNCT Syndrome / physiopathology
  • SUNCT Syndrome / virology*
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Trigeminal Ganglion / physiopathology
  • Trigeminal Ganglion / virology
  • Trigeminal Nerve / physiopathology
  • Trigeminal Nerve / virology*
  • Trigeminal Neuralgia / diagnosis
  • Trigeminal Neuralgia / physiopathology
  • Trigeminal Neuralgia / virology*

Substances

  • Anticonvulsants