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Query: UMLS:C0018681 (headache)
 56,091 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Because subdural empyema (SDE) is an unusual central nervous system infection, recognition is not always prompt. Consequently delays can allow a serious but curable infection to become irreparably damaging or even fatal. This condition, particularly in the early stages, is relatively easy to treat. Personal experience with six patients during the past 3 years promoted us to review the data from UCLA and its affiliated hospitals. Among the 23 cases of SDE reviewed, the predisposing factor in 16 was sinusitis, mastoiditis, or otitis media. The clinical presentation, encompassing a systemic febrile illness, headache, and neurological deficit, was monotonously uniform. The high incidence of paranasal sinus involvement in the adult, middle ear infections in infants, and seizures in 15 patients comprised further clinical clues suggesting the diagnosis. Although usually diagnosed as an intracranial inflammatory process, an initial failure to suspect a purulent collection in the subdural compartment was typical. Although the findings of definitive diagnostic studies (computed tomography or angiography) are strikingly positive in advanced cases, in the earlier stages of this disorder they may be subtly abnormal. Because the mortality and morbidity rates, in some measure, depend on the stage at which the process is arrested, the real challenge lies in making a prompt diagnosis. The most favorable results are associated with early, decisive surgical treatment.
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PMID:Subdural empyema--importance of early diagnosis. 744 93

Two hundred and nineteen patients, with intracranial complications of sinusitis, are presented. Sinusitis is still a life-threatening condition and if neglected, or mismanaged, can lead to intracranial complications that result in a high mortality and morbidity. Twenty-two patients had meningitis, 127 subdural empyema, 38 brain abscess, 15 combined brain abscess and subdural empyema and 17 extradural empyema. The diagnosis of intracranial abscess and sinusitis was made with the aid of a CT scan, and that of meningitis on cerebrospinal fluid microscopy, chemistry and culture. The most frequent presenting signs were fever (68 per cent) and headache (54 per cent). The most common localizing neurological sign was hemiparesis (35.5 per cent). Orbital inflammation was present in 41.5 per cent of patients. Treatment entailed immediate, appropriate, intravenous antibiotic therapy and prompt surgery, performed within 12 hours of admission. In patients with meningitis, the surgery entailed surgery of the sinus disease only. In patients with subdural empyema, brain abscess and extradural empyema, evacuation of the primary source of infection by the radical frontoethmoidectomy approach, immediately after drainage of the intracranial collection of pus, was carried out. There were 35 deaths (16 per cent). The highest mortality rate was recorded in patients with meningitis (45 per cent) followed by brain abscess (19 per cent) and subdural empyema (11 per cent). Despite advances in medicine, i.e. antibiotics and CT scan for early and accurate diagnosis, the mortality from sinogenic intracranial complications has remained significant. This can only be eliminated through education.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
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PMID:Sinogenic intracranial complications. 749 46

The number of brain abscesses has been reduced since the preantibiotic era. This was accomplished by judicious use of antibiotics, by the advent of computed tomography, and by improvements in patient care and surgical techniques. Analysis from 122 patients with brain abscess demonstrated this trend of progress. Our series had a 3.2-to-1 male predominance. The underlying conditions included otolaryngologic infections (26 cases), cyanotic heart diseases (27 cases), implantation abscess (25 cases), lung infections (5 cases), meningitis (4 cases), osteomyelitis (2 cases), decreased immunity from chronic systemic diseases (12 cases), and unknown causes (21 cases). Otolaryngologic subgroups can be detailed as chronic otitis media with cholesteatoma (15 cases), chronic otitis media with mastoiditis (4 cases), sinusitis (2 cases), esophageal stenosis (3 cases), cheek cellulitis (1 case), and nasopharyngeal carcinoma (1 case). The initial symptoms and signs were headache (46 cases), fever (36 cases), altered consciousness (30 cases), neurologic deficits (33 cases), vomiting (11 cases), and seizure (17 cases). Of the brain abscesses treated, multiple brain abscess represented 16.4% of all cases. The overall percentage of patients with full recovery was 52.5%, whereas 84.8% of otolaryngologic subgroup recovered fully. The overall mortality was 19.7%. The mortality rate of brain abscess from otolaryngologic sources was 3.8%, whereas that from nonotolaryngologic sources was 24%.
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PMID:Brain abscess: with special reference to otolaryngologic sources of infection. 760 12

The styloid process is a slender spike-like bony process that is attached to the base of the skull that has been of interest to physicians for centuries. From this process is the attachment for five structures--three muscles and two ligaments are attached to it. Any of these soft tissues of the styloid process are prone to be torn due to trauma by way of detachment of the periosteum from the bone. These lesions may occur from auto accidents, falls, sports injuries, to prolonged medical or dental procedures requiring excessive mouth opening. The detachment of Sharpey's fibres results in the release of noxious chemicals such as kinins, histamines, prostaglandins, etc, which can produce a withdrawal reflex, causing muscle tension, ischaemia, spasm and pain. Pain transmission via C fibres may induce a host of autonomic responses as well. We have observed 11 common pains and symptoms that are associated with soft tissue lesions of the styloid process and stylomandibular ligament. They are (1) headaches localised in the anterior temporal fossa, (2) sore throat and difficulty swallowing in the absence of inflammation, (3) pain radiating to the temporomandibular joint and ear, (4) voice alteration, (5) dry, non-productive cough, (6) pain in the masseter muscle, (7) restricted mandibular opening or the "closed lock", (8) development of the "open lock", (9) sinusitis, congested stuffy nose or post nasal drip, (10) tinnitus, and (11) excessive lacrimation and bloodshot eyes. A few drops of local anesthetic into the styloid process and stylomandibular ligament attachment can temporarily relieve the pain and symptoms.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
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PMID:Temporal headaches and associated symptoms relating to the styloid process and its attachments. 760 81

The presence of a radiographic sinusal opacification without any other clinical sign or symptom cannot lead to the diagnosis of "Sinusitis", if considered alone. In a previous paper we observed a high prevalence of patients with both clinical and radiographic signs of sinusitis and a high prevalence of neutrophils in the nasal secretions, now we tried to discover which clinical signs and symptoms are more likely to indicate an acute sinusitis. We compared cough, headache, bacteriological culture of nasal secretions with a sinusal CT scan, without finding any relationship. On the contrary, neutrophils in the nasal secretions and Rx are strictly inter-related with CT scan, with a sensitivity of 77% and a specificity of 100%.
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PMID:[Diagnostic considerations on sinusitis in childhood]. 764 18

The middle turbinate and its anatomical variations (concha bullosa and paradoxically bent middle turbinate) may be the site of different pathologies due to the alteration of the sinus function at the key area of the osteomeatal complex. In the present work we study 4 cases of concha bullosa and 4 cases of paradoxically bent middle turbinates, associated to recurrent sinusitis and/or headaches, which underwent endoscopic surgery. Improvement was achieved in all recurrent circumscribed sinusitis. One of the patients with bilateral paradoxically bent middle turbinate had an associated pansinusitis, and he only improved in his right side. An aspergilloma was found inside one of the conchae bullosae. Headaches improved in all the cases analyzed. Anatomic variations may be the cause of recurrent sinusal pathology or isolated headaches and it should be noted that, in correctly selected groups, a dramatic improvement can be achieved with a minor surgical procedure on the middle turbinate or ethmoidal infundibulum.
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PMID:[The middle turbinate as the cause of sinusal pathology]. 773 60

Case notes of 722 HIV-infected patients who had died between March 1986 and August 1993 were analysed to evaluate the prevention and characteristic features of sinusitis associated with HIV infection. In 73 patients (10%) sinusitis had been diagnosed at least once on the basis of radiological or clear-cut clinical criteria. In addition, 15 patients with sinusitis were identified among those attending an HIV out-patient clinic. There were altogether 126 episodes of sinusitis in 88 patients (62 men, 26 women; mean age 33 [19-69] years). In 62 patients the CD4 lymphocyte count was under 100/microliters. The most commonly affected site was the maxillary sinuses. Patients with mirror formation had a significantly longer duration of illness than those without (P = 0.021). In 58 patients the symptoms of fever, headache and rhinitis were predominantly caused by the sinusitis, in 49 only partially so, and in 19 sinusitis was a chance diagnosis. In 10 of 49 attacks of sinusitis the concurrent disease (e.g. cerebral toxoplasmosis, malignant non-Hodgkin lymphoma) had not been recognized by the referring doctor. There were 1-5 recurrences over an observation period of 11.8 (0-72) months in 23 patients.-These findings show that sinusitis frequently occurs in HIV-infected patients, takes a protracted course and is difficult to distinguish from concomitant diseases by its clinical presentation. If symptoms persist, possible concurrent respiratory infection or CNS involvement must be looked for. Sinus needle aspiration is of decisive importance to ascertain the causative organism.
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PMID:[Sinusitis in HIV infection]. 773 29

Headache associated with acute sinusitis is a well-recognized entity; the diagnosis is easily made due to the associated nasal and sinus symptoms. However, the phenomenon of referred headache from chronic sinusitis or intranasal abnormalities or both without upper respiratory symptoms is not well understood. Only recently have the nasal and sinus cavities been adequately visualized by both the human eye and radiographic techniques; a fact that may account for the historic neglect in considering this region a factor in headache etiology. Modern techniques employed in the workup of sinusitis, namely the use of rigid nasal endoscopes and coronal-plane CT scanning, have greatly enhanced the clinician's ability to evaluate and diagnose pathology in this area. This report describes a series of patients presenting with various primary headache syndromes without significant nasal or sinus symptoms who failed to respond to conventional antiheadache therapy. On nasal endoscopic and coronal CT examinations, various intranasal and sinus abnormalities were found (either anatomic variations or subclinical inflammation). Medical and/or surgical therapy addressing the sinonasal pathology resulted in improvement in every case, ranging from decreased severity of attacks to total resolution of headaches. A model explaining the possible mechanism of referred vascular-type headache from sinus and nasal origin is proposed.
Headache 1995 Apr
PMID:Sinus headaches reconsidered: referred cephalgia of rhinologic origin masquerading as refractory primary headaches. 777 73

Sphenoid sinusitis is an elusive diagnosis with significant morbidity if not diagnosed and treated promptly. We have reported an unusual case of acute sphenoiditis mimicking Gradenigo's syndrome. This resulted in virtual bilateral blindness that entirely resolved with aggressive surgical and medical treatment. It is recommended that sphenoid sinusitis be strongly considered in patients with acute headache and fever. A detailed cranial nerve examination should be performed, and CT scans of the skull base and paranasal sinuses should be obtained. Immediate surgery is strongly recommended for acute sphenoid sinusitis at the first suggestion of a complication and in those patients not promptly responding to medical therapy. It is apparent that irreversible damage to the optic nerve can occur before the development of gross intraorbital pathology. Therefore we believe that delaying surgery until the visual acuity is worse than 20/60, as advocated by some authors, may not be in the patient's best interest. Surgery should be directed at removing the purulent material, obtaining cultures, removing irreversibly diseased mucosa, and maintaining drainage of the sphenoid sinus.
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PMID:Reversible blindness secondary to acute sphenoid sinusitis. 777 62

Seventy-seven episodes of pneumococcal meningitis in 69 patients were reviewed. Twelve (15.6%) episodes occurred in those over 60 years old, 14 (18.2%) in patients between 10 and 60 years, 22 (28.6%) in patients between 2 and 10 years and 29 (37.7%) in those under 2 years. Overall mortality was 13.0% (10/77) and age of > 60 years was significantly associated with mortality (P < 0.05). Twelve episodes resulted in disabilities, eight of which were in those under 2 years, and took the form of hearing impairment in nine. Many patients had predisposing conditions with aural pathology, malignancy and diabetes mellitus being commonest in those over 10 years of age and aural pathology, preceding viral infection, renal disease, sinusitis or recent lower respiratory tract infection commonest in those aged between 2 and 10 years. Three of five patients with recurrent meningitis had CSF leaks. The most common features at presentation were fits, irritability, diarrhoea, and bulging fontanelles in those under 6 months; vomiting, drowsiness and poor feeding in those between 6 months and 2 years; neck stiffness, vomiting and drowsiness in those between 2 and 10 years while neck stiffness, focal neurology, headache and vomiting were commonest in those over 10 years old. Fever was common in all age groups as were foci of infection outside the CSF, with chest infections being significantly associated with mortality (P < 0.05). Of the laboratory parameters measured, low platelets (< 100 x 10(9)/l and high blood urea (> 7 mmol/l) were associated with mortality (P < 0.05). Blood cultures grew Streptococcus pneumoniae in 79.7% patients. Seventy-four (96%) patients had CSF taken of which 81% had gram films which were positive and interpreted correctly as showing pneumococci. Pneumococci were grown in 87.8% CSF cultures and all were sensitive to penicillin but a single isolate was chloramphenicol resistant. Many different antimicrobial drugs were used but penicillin plus chloramphenicol was the most commonly employed after the results of CSF microscopy were known and penicillin alone after culture results were available. Penicillin mono-therapy was associated with a low mortality.
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PMID:A review of the clinical presentation, laboratory features, antimicrobial therapy and outcome of 77 episodes of pneumococcal meningitis occurring in children and adults. 780 80


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