Hemicrania Continua With Scintillating Scotoma: A Rare Presentation

Cureus. 2020 Sep 27;12(9):e10680. doi: 10.7759/cureus.10680.

Abstract

Headache can be a primary or secondary disorder. The characteristics of headache and its associated features, especially the presence of red flag signs, are important in distinguishing secondary from primary causes. Hemicrania continua is a type of primary headache disorder characterized by a continuous unilateral headache with episodes of exacerbations and association with cranial autonomic symptoms, which include several ocular symptoms. The absolute response to indomethacin remains the hallmark of this disease. We would like to report a rare case of hemicrania continua with scintillating scotoma during exacerbations apart from the typical autonomic features of conjunctival injection, ptosis, eyelid edema, and lacrimation.

Keywords: headache with aura; hemicrania continua; scintillating scotoma; trigeminal autonomic cephalalgia.

Publication types

  • Case Reports