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Arachnoid cysts are benign, fluid-filled, cyst-liked malformations related to the arachnoid mater. Arachnoid cysts involving the posterior fossa are less common and exert local mass effect resulting in the symptoms and signs of cerebellar and brainstem dysfunction. Here, we present a case of a 14-year-old female with a retrocerebellar arachnoid cyst.

Background Recurrent and especially chronic headaches are associated with psychiatric comorbidities such as depression and anxiety. Only few studies examined the impact of depression and anxiety on episodic (EH) and chronic headache (CH), and data for Austria are missing at all. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to assess the impact of depression and anxiety on burden and management of EH and CH in patients from eight Austrian headache centres. Methods We included 392 patients (84.1 % female, mean age 40.4 ± 14.0 years) who completed the Eurolight questionnaire. The treating physician recorded details about ever-before prophylactic medications. We used Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale to assess depression and anxiety and compared patients with anxiety and/or depression to those without. Results Depression and anxiety were more common in CH than in EH (64 % vs. 41 %, p

Headache is one of the most recurrent complaints in orofacial pain clinics, in the same way that is also very frequent signs and symptoms of temporomandibular disorder (TMD) in patients with headache. However, the literature is controversial regarding the association of these two diseases. ObjeTo identify frequency of TMD and its severity in individuals with headache. 60 adults of both genders were assessed, with age averaging 36.84 years, and divided into three groups of 20 individuals: chronic daily headadche (CDH), episodic headache (EH) and a control group without headache (WH). Headache diagnosis was conducted by a neurologist, according to the criteria of International Society of Headache, and the TMD diagnosis was achieved using the Research Diagnostic Criteria (RDC-TMD), and its severity was defined by the Temporomandibular Index (TMI). The TMD symptoms were always more frequent in individuals with headache, specially the cervical pain (CDH, n=17; EH, n=19; WH, n=12), pain in TMJ area (CM, n=16; EM, n=12; WM, n=6) and teeth grinding (CDH, n=8; EH, n=10; WH, n=4). Similarly, TMD clinical signs have always prevailed on individuals with headache diagnosis, notably pain to palpation on the lateral pterygoid (CCD, n=19; EH, n=16; WH, n=11) and posterior digastric muscles (CDH, n=19; EH, n=15; WH, n=10) and pain to palpation on the TMJ area (CDH, n=18; EH, n=16; WH, n=11). The episodes of TMD were high in all assessed groups: it did not show any statistically significant difference between the groups, but was numerically higher in patients with headache. However, the mean values of TMD severity in headache patients evaluated according to TMI criteria were statistically higher than in patients of the control group, notably the articular (CDH=0,38; EH=0,25; WH=0,19) and muscular (CDH=0,46; EH=0,51; WH=0,26) indices. The findings presented in this study allow us to state that thereis a higher risk of the presence of TMD signs and symptoms, especially TMJ and masticatory muscles pain as well as bruxism in patients suffering from headache. Accordingly, the TMD and its severity appears to be higher in patients suffering from headache, which indicates the need for a multidisciplinary diagnosis and treatment of such patients, given that the associated treatment of headache and TMD brings more benefits regarding the symptoms relief of such individuals. A dor de cabeça é um achado muito comum em clínicas de dor orofacial, da mesma maneira que é muito frequente a presença de sinais e sintomas de disfunção temporomandibular (DTM) em pacientes com cefaléia, no entanto a associação dessas duas condições clínicas ainda é muito controversa na literatura. Verificar a presença de DTM e sua gravidade entre pacientes com cefaléia. Foram avaliados 60 adultos de ambos os gêneros, com média de idade de 36,84 anos, divididos em três grupos de 20 indivíduos com diagnóstico de cefaléia crônica diária (CCD), cefaléia episódica (CE) e sem cefaléia (grupo controle). O diagnóstico da cefaléia foi realizado por um cefaliatra, segundo os critérios de Sociedade Internacional de Cefaléia e o diagnóstico da DTM foi realizado através do Research Diagnostic Criteria (RDC-DTM), sendo sua gravidade determinada pelo Indice Temporomandibular (ITM). Os sintomas de DTM foram numericamente mais comuns nos pacientes com cefaleia, destacando-se significativamente a dor na nuca (CCD, n=17; CE, n=19; Controle, n=12), dor na ATM (CCD, n=16; CE, n=12; Controle, n=6) e ranger dos dentes (CCD, n=8; CE, n=10; Controle, n=4). Da mesma forma, os sinais clínicos de DTM foram sempre mais prevalentes nos sujeitos com diagnóstico de cefaleia, especialmente a dor à palpação nos músculos pterigoideo lateral (CCD, n=19; CE, n=16; Controle, n=11) e digástrico posterior (CCD, n=19; CE, n=15; Controle, n=10) e a dor à palpação na ATM (CCD, n=18; CE, n=16; Controle, n=11). A frequência de DTM foi alta em todos os grupos avaliados sem diferença estatisticamente significativa, mas numericamente maior nos pacientes com cefaléia (CCD, n=19; CE, n=19; Controle, n=17). No entanto, os valores médios de gravidade da DTM nos pacientes com cefaléia, avaliados pelo ITM, foram estatisticamente superiores em relação ao grupo controle, destacando-se os subíndices articular (CCD=0,38; CE=0,25; Controle=0,19) e muscular (CCD=0,46; CE=0,51; Controle=0,26). Os achados do presente estudo nos permitem afirmar que existe um risco maior da presença de sinais e sintomas de DTM, principalmente dor na ATM, músculos mastigatórios e o bruxismo em pacientes com cefaléia. Da mesma forma, a DTM e, principalmente a sua gravidade parece ser maior nos pacientes com cefaléia, o que indica a necessidade de diagnóstico e tratamento multidisciplinar desses pacientes, visto que o tratamento associado da cefaléia e DTM podem trazer mais benefícios no alívio sintomático desses sujeitos.

Objective. —To explore beliefs and behavior with respect to analgesic drug taking in headache patients. To compare episodic headache to chronic headache sufferers. Methods. —A consecutive series of 280 headache patients, newly admitted to the Headache Center of the University of Modena, all referred by their general practitioner, were asked to fill out a brief questionnaire, specially compiled for this survey. The questionnaire invited patients to indicate how they themselves thought they should best cope with their headache, and how they actually did so in practice. Results. —The majority of our patients had a positive attitude towards over-the-counter analgesics, which they believed to be more adequate than prescription drugs for acute treatment of their headache. They handled analgesics very carefully, believing it correct to take the drug only when the pain became unbearable, if it was not possible for them to stop work. Chronic headache patients tended to consume more prescription drugs than episodic headache sufferers. Furthermore, the majority of chronic sufferers, as opposed to episodic sufferers, took the analgesic even when not at work. Conclusions. —The use of over-the-counter drugs is considered the best way to treat acute headache even by subjects suffering from severe idiopathic headache and seeking professional care in specialized clinics. Prescribed analgesics are underused by patients with serious episodic headache, which is precisely the group for which they are principally intended.

Background Episodic and chronic headaches (EH, CH) are highly prevalent disorders. Severely affected patients are usually referred to headache centres. In Austria, at least one headache centre is available in seven of nine states, but detailed multicentre data are missing. Therefore we studied prevalence rates, use of medication and health care services, impact of headaches, and comorbid depression and anxiety. Methods We included consecutive patients from eight Austrian outpatient headache centres. The patients filled-in the Eurolight questionnaire. In addition, the treating neurologist completed a questionnaire on clinical diagnoses and ever-before prophylactic medications. Results Of 598 patients screened, 441 questionnaires were analysed (79 % female, mean age 41.1 years). According to the Eurolight algorithm, 56.4 % of the patients had EH, 38.3 % had CH and 5.2 % did not give their headache frequency. The prevalence rates of migraine, tension-type headache, and probable medication overuse headache (pMOH) were 48.5 %, 6.3 % and 15.9 %, respectively. The concordance between clinical and Eurolight diagnoses was good for EH and moderate for CH. During the preceding month, acute medication was used by 90.9 % of the patients and prophylactic medication by 34 %. Ever-before use of five standard prophylactic drugs was recorded in 52.3 %. The proportion of patients with current pharmacoprophylaxis did not differ in EH and CH, whereas ever-before use was more common in CH (62.5 % was 45,3 %, p = 0.02). Patients with CH significantly more often consulted general practitioners and emergency departments, had a lower quality of life and more often signs of depression and anxiety. Conclusion This study provides comprehensive data from eight Austrian headache centres for the first time. We found a substantial number of patients with CH including pMOH and its association with more common utilization of health care facilities and greater burden. The low use of prophylactic medication requires further examination.