Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research ›› 2021, Vol. 25 ›› Issue (23): 3746-3751.doi: 10.12307/2021.049

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Interpretation of diagnostic criteria for cervicogenic headache: challenges and understandings in diagnosis and differential diagnosis

Liu Zhiwei1, 2, Xie Rui1, Sun Kai1, Li Kaiming1, Wang Xiongwei1, 2, Zhan Jiawen1, 3, Zhu Liguo1, 3   

  1. 1Department of Spine, Wangjing Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100102, China;  2Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100029, China; 3Beijing Key Laboratory of TCM Bone Setting, Beijing 100102, China
  • Received:2020-05-11 Revised:2020-05-16 Accepted:2020-08-04 Online:2021-08-18 Published:2021-02-24
  • Contact: Zhu Liguo, MD, Chief physician, Doctoral supervisor, Department of Spine, Wangjing Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100102, China; Beijing Key Laboratory of TCM Bone Setting, Beijing 100102, China Co-corresponding author: Zhan Jiawen, MD, Associate chief physician, Department of Spine, Wangjing Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100102, China; Beijing Key Laboratory of TCM Bone Setting, Beijing 100102, China
  • About author:Liu Zhiwei, MD candidate, Attending physician, Department of Spine, Wangjing Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100102, China; Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100029, China
  • Supported by:
    National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine: International Cooperation Base of Traditional Chinese Medicine for Rehabilitation Medical Treatment, No. GZYYGJ2018032 (to ZLG); the National Natural Science Foundation of China, No. 81674005 and 81774330 (both to ZLG); the Special Research Project of Traditional Chinese Medicine Industry, No. 201407001 (to ZLG)

Abstract: BACKGROUND: As a common type of headache, the morbidity of cervicogenic headache ranges from 1.0% to 4.1%. Many authoritative international organizations have issued the diagnostic criteria for cervicogenic headache. However, due to the overlapping symptoms between cervicogenic headache and other headache types, these diagnostic criteria are difficult to fully perform the differential effect.
OBJECTIVE: To interpret the contents of relevant diagnostic criteria, sort out the development context, and explain the difficulties and challenges in the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of cervicogenic headache, so as to provide clues for further clinical and scientific research work.
METHODS: PubMed and CNKI were searched for articles related to the diagnostic criteria for cervicogenic headache using the keyword of “cervicogenic headache” in English and Chinese, respectively. There was no limitation for retrieval time. Based on the relevant literature reports, the controversial items were analyzed by interpreting the relevant diagnostic criteria, and the problems leading to the diagnosis dilemma were summarized at the same time. The overlapping symptoms and distinguishing difficulties between cervicogenic headache and other-type headaches were analyzed.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The convergence of upper cervical afferent nociception into the trigeminal-cervical nucleus provides the anatomical basis for the frequent coexistence of headache and neck pain. Primary and secondary headaches may occur in the same patient at the same time. Focusing on only one type of headache may lead to misdiagnosis or missed diagnosis, resulting in ineffective treatment. Local anesthesia blockage alone cannot exclude the existence of other types of headache. Neurologists and physicians from pain clinic should work together to identify the etiology of patients with concurrent headache and neck pain, and headaches should be treated in a multidisciplinary manner. A simple diagnosis of cervicogenic headache or a similar headache may result in inadequate treatment.

中国组织工程研究杂志出版内容重点:组织构建;骨细胞;软骨细胞;细胞培养;成纤维细胞;血管内皮细胞;骨质疏松;组织工程

Key words: headache, cervicogenic headache, diagnostic criteria, differential diagnosis, review

CLC Number: