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Curr Neurol Neurosci Rep (2011) 11:149–155

DOI 10.1007/s11910-010-0164-9

Cervicogenic Headache: A Real Headache


Fabio Antonaci & Ottar Sjaastad

Published online: 3 December 2010


# Springer Science+Business Media, LLC 2010

Abstract Although theories regarding headache originating Keywords Cervicogenic headache . Unilateral headache .
in the neck have existed for more than 150 years, the term Migraine . Mechanical attack precipitation . Fibromyalgia
“cervicogenic headache” originated in 1983. Early descrip-
tions pinpoint the characteristic symptoms as dizziness, visual
disturbances, tinnitus, and “posterior” headache, conceivably
as a consequence of arthrosis, infliction upon the vertebral Introduction
artery, or with a “migrainous” background and occurring
in “advanced age.” Cervicogenic headache (mean age of In the beginning, there was only migraine. This was the
onset, 33 years) displays a somewhat different picture: situation for many centuries. Then, sporadic reports about a
unilateral headache, starting posteriorly, but advancing to more or less correctly described cluster headache started to
the frontal area, most frequently the main site of pain; appear on the firmament. But, it was not until just before
usually accompanied by ipsilateral arm discomfort, the last world war that Horton et al. [1] described such a
reduced range of motion in the neck, and mechanical headache in so correct terms and in such a number that it
precipitation of exacerbations (eg, through external soon became part of the general neurologist’s and, with
pressure upon hypersensitive, occipital tendon inser- time, the general practitioner’s life [2].
tions). Treatment options in treatment-resistant cases “Tension headache” originated somewhere along the
include cervical stabilization operations and extracranial road; it is somewhat uncertain exactly when. In 1954, Tunis
electrical stimulation. In a personal, population-based and Wolff [3] stated that “It has been established that some
study of 1,838 individuals (88.6% of the population), a headaches arise from sustained contraction of skeletal
prevalence of 2.2% “core” cases was found. muscle about the face, scalp, and neck.”
Thus, these were the “established” large/relatively large,
and probably primary headache groups in the early 1970s.
Roughly stated, there was at the time in the Anglo-Saxon,
F. Antonaci as opposed to German/French medical literature, close to
University Consortium for Adaptive Disorders and Headache
zero mention of any particular headache, conceivably
(UCADH) Pavia,
Pavia, Italy stemming from the neck, neither in textbooks nor at
headache meetings. Not even in the then-accepted headache
F. Antonaci classification system [4] was there any mention of it, other
Headache Medicine Centre Policlinic of Monza,
than the general allusion to the possibility of “Headaches
Monza, Italy
due to spread of pain from noxious stimulation of other
O. Sjaastad (*) structures of the cranium and neck (periosteum, joints,
Department of Neurology, St. Olav’s Hospital, ligaments, muscles, or cervical roots).” No description of
Trondheim University Hospitals,
the clinical picture of such a headache was given. Heyck
Olav Kyrres gt. 17,
Trondheim, Norway [5], one of the most able headache clinicians ever,
e-mail: ellhed@online.no complained that the possibility that headache might stem
150 Curr Neurol Neurosci Rep (2011) 11:149–155

from the neck was stepmotherly treated in the classifica- Clinical Picture
tion, since this possibility was only mentioned “en
passant.” In its clinically recognizable form, CEH is characterized by
This does not imply that serious attempts at defining unilaterality/unilateral preponderance of head pain, the
such a headache had not been made previously. At first, unilaterality being without side alternation. The unilaterality
there must have been a prolonged period of more or less is particular, in that frequently/regularly a co-involvement of
pure speculation. Nerves, originating in the cervical spine, the opposite side takes place, notably when the headache
furnish the nerves to the posterior scalp; why could pain not is strong. However, also on such occasions, the symptomatic
originate in this network? Any convincing exactitude in side headache is the stronger one. Unfortunately, investi-
these speculations could not be expected, but more or less gators frequently mix up this situation with a proper
by chance, there may have been some correct, clinical bilaterality.
elements about these early attempts. Another phase started Furthermore, CEH is characterized by the following:
with Barré’s “syndrome sympathique cervical posterieur” reduced range of motion (ROM) in the neck; mechanical
[6]. The predominantly occipital headache was combined precipitability of attacks/exacerbations, either by prolonged,
with dizziness, which was magnified to become an essential awkward neck positioning or by external pressure against
feature. This work caused no breakthrough. Further steps circumscribed, hypersensitive areas (eg, tendon insertions),
were taken by Baertschi-Rochaix [7], who described ipsilaterally in the occipital area (the awkward neck
“migraine cervicale,” in other words a migraine variant. position “method” being the more reliable of the two
The cardinal symptoms were enumerated as such: pre- methods, for generating heavy attacks); and ipsilateral neck
dominantly occipital headache, dizziness, “ear noise,” and pain that frequently spreads to shoulder/arm, either with a
visual disturbances, in conformity with Barré’s descrip- radicular pattern or more diffusely. Pain exacerbations
tion. It was considered a traumatic syndrome, and a generally start in the neck/occipital area (Vågå study: 97%
characteristic roentgenologic finding was obligatory (ie, of the cases [9•]) and then spread to the forehead, and at the
uncovertebral deformation). Reduction in neck movement maximum, forehead pain may be as marked as, or even
and increased tenderness of nuchal structures were stronger than, posterior pain. Pain may transitorily be
occasionally present. However, little emphasis was put clearly reduced or even almost abolished by anesthetic
on these last observations. Migraine, a primary headache, blockades of occipital or cervical nerves. It should be
was described. However, “cervicale” alludes to a putative, stressed that blockades have not been carried out in several
structural phenomenon, in other words to a secondary recent studies (eg., the Vågå study [9•]). The reasons for
headache, with an allusion to a contradictio in adjecto. this may vary: 1) lack of setup for blockades; 2) too low
The term itself may have rendered a lethal blow to this pain level, on the given occasion, for blockades to render
description. Neurologists around the world probably were meaningful results; or 3) uncertainty as to where to deposit
confounded: the concept itself (ie, that migraine could the anesthetic agent. Although blockades presently are an
originate in the neck) might have seemed incomprehensible obligatory part of diagnostics in scientific work [10], it may
at the time. The connection with present-day cervicogenic seem somewhat rigid to demand routine blockades at this
headache (CEH) remains doubtful—“migraine cervicale” stage. With increased understanding of this disorder (where
being a disorder of the “advanced age.” That a genuine to anaesthetize), there may again be a place for obligatory
CEH had been described seems highly unlikely. blockades.
In the late 1970s and early 1980s, in the western The CEH diagnostic criteria [10] are 1) unilaterality of
world, one would draw extremely negative commentaries pain; 2) reduction, range of neck movement; 3) ipsilateral
if one voiced opinions to the effect that headache might shoulder discomfort; and 4) ipsilateral arm discomfort;
originate in the cervical area. Nevertheless, we ventured to mechanical precipitation of exacerbations/attacks by 5)
present this idea during the first World Congress of awkward neck positions or 6) external pressure against
Headache in 1983 [8] and could witness the profound sensitive occipital structures. (In this presentation, “shoulder”
disbelief at close range toward this concept and toward the and “arm” are given one number each). Blockades have
term “cervicogenic headache,” coined at the time. The already been mentioned.
hefty, stubborn, and protracted opposition is the best proof In the Vågå study [9•], headache onset posteriorly, with
that the concept of CEH was far from being accepted at eventual spreading to the forehead was a free variable, but
the time. A series of 22 patients, seemingly fitting into this proved to be almost invariably present (Table 1) and for
category, was presented [8]. Grossly, the criteria used at that reason should probably be included among the regular
the time still seem acceptable. This latter move may CEH criteria. Presently, CEH seems to be the only
represent another thrust to gain acceptance for CEH as a headache that regularly is unilateral, starts posteriorly, and
separate headache. then moves to the front.
Curr Neurol Neurosci Rep (2011) 11:149–155 151

Table 1 Characteristic clinical traits in pertinent headaches three last dictums are serious: CEH diagnosis can never be
Clinical trait CEH T-TH M-A based on questionnaires, with for example no possibility for
mechanical precipitation tests. CEH diagnostic work can
Unilaterality,% 100 8 52 never be left to assistants/apprentices, in any part of the
Mechanical precipitation,% 100 4 4 selection process. Investigators who on the one hand demand
Posterior onset, attacks,% a 97 30 22 blockades, but on the other accept prevalence studies based on
Throbbing pain quality,% 20 22 81 questionnaires, have an insurmountable dilemma. Hospital-
Chronicity of painb + −/+ − based studies can only show the relative prevalence versus
Diffuse arm discomfort,% 100 7 8 other headaches (ie, in the hospital clientele); they do not
Restriction, ROM,%c 93 17 16 reflect the grass-root situation. The same goes for the sex ratio.
Photophobia,% 19 15 68 CEH as such can start as early as in the late teens; in the
Cervicogenic factor 2.37 0.72 0.93 Vågå study [9•], the mean age of onset was around 33 years.
CEH usually starts out as a weak, episodic headache, the
a
CEH versus M-A: P<0.001 (chi-squared test) solitary aggravations being precipitated; with time, a
b
Plus sign (+) indicates invariably/close to invariably present; Minus/plus chronic fluctuating course develops (invariably?). This
sign (−/+) indicates may or may not be present; Minus sign (−) indicates
gradual development of the symptoms is typical for CEH.
generally not present
c A more abrupt onset may create suspicion of a traumatic
Reduction of rotation: ≥15°
genesis or a symptomatic case [13••].
CEH—cervicogenic headache; M-A—migraine without aura; T-TH—
tension-type headache The head pain itself is generally moderately intense (ie, a
(Data from Sjaastad and Bakketeig [9].) mean value of 3.8+, on a 0–6+ scale [9•], compared with
4.2+ for migraine without aura, and 3.1+ for T-TH)
(Table 1). A relatively fixed frame regarding attack duration
A simple enumeration of the mentioned criteria is most is typical of unilateral headaches, such as trigeminal
useful in foretelling a diagnosis of CEH. The Vågå study neuralgia, SUNCT (Short-lasting, Unilateral, Neuralgiform
[9•] showed a close-to-complete congruity between the headache attacks with Conjunctival injection and Tearing)
orthodox application of the criteria and the enumeration. syndrome [14], and chronic paroxysmal hemicrania (CPH)
There is one good-sized, population-based study of [15]. A characteristic CEH trait is lack of regularity in this
headache epidemiology with personal examination of all respect. In the solitary patient, exacerbations usually last from
the participants: the Vågå study [9•]. Results from this a couple of hours to weeks. Reduction in the ROM in the neck
study are used herein. An ultra-brief outline, therefore, is also a relatively important observation diagnostically. To be
seems appropriate. Headache was studied in 1838 (88.6%) positive, rotation should probably be reduced by ≥10°. In the
of the 18- to 65-year-old citizens in the rural commune of Vågå study [9•], a rotation reduction of ≥15° was present in
Vågå, southern Norway, in the course of a 2-year period. A 93% of the cases.
“core” version of CEH was observed in 2.2% of the study
group. CEH cases mixed with tension-type headache (T-TH)
and migraine have not been and probably should not be used Mechanical Precipitation of Attacks
in such calculations [9•].
In the Vågå study [9•], there seemed to be a certain male A fundamental characteristic of CEH is that what may
preponderance (female/male: 0.71). In a hospital-based appear to be exacerbations similar to spontaneous ones can
series, however, a female preponderance (eg, 2.0 [8]–5.4 be precipitated mechanically. This distinguishes it from
[11]; even: 7.2) has been observed [12]. This marked otherwise rather similar headache forms. In trigeminal
variation has its explanation—a relatively mild CEH form, neuralgia, paroxysms can be precipitated frontally. In two
not leading to consultations, seems to prevail in the headaches (ie, in CPH with a mechanical precipitation
population at large. Those consulting physicians are mainly component [16] and in CEH), headache can be precipitated
female. In the Vågå study, males, generally, and to a high from posterior sites. In spite of this similarity, CPH is easily
degree those with CEH, tended to come for an appointment distinguished from CEH by the following: its absolute
in the final phase. If the study had been interrupted at an response to moderate indomethacin dosages, its relatively
earlier stage than at 88.6%, there would have been a female short duration, its excessively severe attacks, and its
preponderance also in the Vågå study. marked autonomic signs (eg, ipsilateral lacrimation and
To assess the given prevalences, the following should be conjunctival injection) [15].
appreciated: CEH diagnosis is no left-hand work. Mechanical Because of their importance, we will take a closer look
precipitation of attacks and neck mobility examinations are at the precipitation mechanisms. The external digital
sine qua non for the CEH diagnosis. The consequences of the pressure is exerted with the thumb, at a 90-degree angle
152 Curr Neurol Neurosci Rep (2011) 11:149–155

with the skin. One can train oneself, by using scales, to photophobia? Undoubtedly, one major guideline in the
exert a pressure of 3 to 4 kg [17]. For the investigator, search for the first CEH case was the aforementioned fact
reiterated checking is imperative to preserve this quality. that it had already been established that in the occasional
For practical purposes, this simple method suffices. Of CPH patient, attacks could be precipitated mechanically in
course, one can also use algometers. In fibromyalgia (FM), two different ways: 1) pressure against hypersensitive spots
such pressure (ie, 4 kg) is used to sort out “tender points” in the cervical area, and 2) protracted, awkward head
[18]. positioning. Examination of hypersensitive cervical/nuchal
It is a common misunderstanding that one can provoke sites could be carried out in various ways: 1) a threshold for
head pain in healthy individuals to the same extent as in painful response is sought, or 2) as in our work, a set
some headache categories by exerting external pressure (eg, stimulus strength is used to find the number of positive
over identified tendon insertions in the occipital area). In responses.
healthy individuals, such pressure, even when doubled, will In CPH (the prototype), a meticulous, repetitive search
only lead to a mild, transitory, local discomfort, occasion- was made centimeter for centimeter in the occipital area and
ally spreading to the occipital area. In CEH, a pressure of 3 around the whole circumference of the neck, and several
to 4 kg over sensitive spots will generally lead to both local hypersensitive areas were detected, among them the groove
and spreading pain, outlasting the stimulus by more than behind the mastoid process; and, maybe above all, the
just a few seconds. Occasionally, discomfort/pain spread to anterior aspects of the transverse processes of C4/C5.
the forehead. A doubling of the pressure (6–8 kg) frequently Solitary attacks could regularly be elicited from these areas
produces an exacerbation/attack in particular patients/partic- in a period of frequent and severe attacks (Table 2).
ular situations [17]. A breakthrough regarding CEH came at the end of the
Digital pressure (ie, 3–4 kg) directly applied against 1970s [8]: A 30+-year-old female could regularly generate
certain neck structures seems to discriminate fairly well head pain by rotating the neck (eg, when backing the car).
between patients and healthy individuals [9•, 17]. A clearly The headache was unilateral without a side shift, moder-
positive test on the symptomatic side is a relatively strong ately intense, and symptom poor; it could be precipitated
signal for CEH. In the absence of a positive test, at this mechanically, and its duration by far exceeded the duration
stage of development, it is hard to establish a CEH of the stimulus. This clinical picture seemed to differ
diagnosis. Whether attacks at all can start spontaneously clearly from that of migraine, tension headache (the later
is hard to ascertain. “T-TH”), and cluster headache. The search for areas from
The one who is searching for something that he does not where attacks could be provoked started in this patient and
know exactly what it is may be in big trouble. During our similar patients, who came to our cognizance, using CPH as
wholehearted search for CEH cases in the middle/late a prototype.
l970s, we were darting hither and thither for a long time. In Grossly, there was a striking similarity between hyper-
a putative CEH, would there be unilateral/bilateral head sensitive areas in CPH and CEH (Table 2). Nevertheless,
pain; occipital/whole head pain; chronic/recurring pain; there was a real difference, as the C4/C5 transverse
moderate/high intensity pain; old age/any age onset; clear/ processes were more sensitive in CPH than in CEH. In
discrete neck symptoms and signs? Would there be CPH, it was originally felt that the area around the carotid
characteristic “migrainous” symptoms, such as nausea and artery was sensitive; some type of carotidynia was

Table 2 Hypersensitive areas of CPH and CEH

Location CPH CEH

Groove behind mastoid process ++ ++


GON/MON + +
Transverse processes, C4/C5 ++ ((+))
Tendon insertions, along bony ridge: protuberantia occipitalis externa, mastoid process + ++
Upper part sternocleidomastoid musclea ? ++

This version represents the current practice, after some mostly minor adjustments from the original version
One plus sign and two plus signs represent two clearly different degrees of responses; with (+) there may or may not be a weak response
a
The hypersensitive area may correspond to the area where the MON crosses over the dorsal margin of the muscle
CEH—cervicogenic headache; CPH—chronic paroxysmal hemicrania; GON—greater occipital nerve; MON—minor occipital nerve
(Data from Sjaastad [2] and Sjaastad et al. [16].)
Curr Neurol Neurosci Rep (2011) 11:149–155 153

suspected. Later, the focus of interest proved mostly to be spreading pain, whereas FM tender point stimulation does
localized lateral to the artery and, ultimately, along the not. Restricted ROM is a frequent finding in CEH. The two
transverse processes. There are various reasons why C4/C5 disorders seem incompatible.
have fallen out of use in CEH: first, C4/C5 pressure seemed CEH and myofascial pain (MFP) both are regional pain
less effective in producing attacks in CEH than the syndromes [18–20]. Unilaterality has not been emphasized
posterior sites; next, for routine use, they are less easily in MFP, but is a characteristic trait of CEH. The MFP
identifiable, anatomically, than the posterior sites. trigger spots are found in muscles, whereas CEH hyper-
There are other differences between the mechanical sensitive sites are over tendons, bones, or nerves. Prognosis
pressure responses in the two disorders: The response in MFP seems favorable, whereas CEH has a tendency
generally appears within seconds in CPH, whereas in CEH toward chronicity. The treatment modalities in the two
it takes minutes or more; in CEH, the response may even be disorders differ entirely, with cervical stabilization operations
two-phased: first an early response and then, after hours, pertaining only to CEH. MFP does not fulfill the criteria of
exacerbation/attack. CEH [10], and vice versa.
It has nevertheless been claimed that the original CEH
concept has been thwarted, CEH being best understood as a
Differential Diagnosis MFP syndrome plus some cervical derangement [21]. In
one study, five alleged CEH patients had been treated as
CEH was originally sorted out from the categories of though they were MFP patients [21]. Unfortunately, the
migraine and T-TH. Therefore, these two headaches are still CEH diagnosis at face value seemed acceptable in only two
major diagnostic alternatives. In CEH, attacks generally last of the patients, in whom all the four criteria, applied in this
longer than in migraine (Table 1). Head pain in CEH does study, were fulfilled. One patient lacked one criterion; one
not shift side. Furthermore, CEH attacks to a much lesser lacked two, and one lacked three out of the four criteria
degree than migraine attacks are accompanied by typical used. CEH diagnosis is in general difficult. Moreover, the
“migrainous” symptoms. Symptoms and signs pertaining to actual study was carried out in a setting with little or no
the neck are important indicators of CEH. CEH attacks/ tradition for CEH diagnostics. A number of trigger points
exacerbations typically start in the neck, whereas migraine (n=14) were examined, with half of them being situated
attacks more frequently than not seem to start anteriorly outside the traditional, hypersensitive areas in CEH.
(Table 1). Pure forms of T-TH and CEH are usually easily Following long-term, traditional MFP therapy, a durable
separable [12]. Even with CEH in its bilateral form, there improvement of pain and trigger point sensitivity was
are actually many features left on which to base a obtained. This does not have much relevance for CEH as
differential diagnosis (Table 1). such. In a study of CEH, the diagnostic criteria for CEH
There are also the features indicative of cervical abnormal- must be adhered to, and not those of MFP.
ity (cervicogenic factor [CF]), a summation factor, consisting All in all, we feel that MFP is an overinflated term and that
of five solitary elements [17]: 1) ROM deficit; 2) skin-roll trigger points have been invoked to explain an expanding
test, shoulder area; precipitation of head pain with 3 to 4 kg number of disorders. The development around MFP is
of external pressure against: 3) occipital area tendon reminiscent of what ultimately happened around hyperosto-
insertions; 4) musculus splenius/upper musculus trapezius sis frontalis interna (HFI) (Morgagni-Morel syndrome [22]):
area; and 5) cervical facet joint tenderness. The mean CF When an anomaly (HFI) is observed in a great number of
value in headache-free inhabitants in the Vågå study [9•] was disorders, then it is probably of little or no consequence in
0.42 (mean total Vågå study: 0.79; T-TH: 0.72; migraine any of them.
without aura: 0.93, compared with CEH: 2.37).

Fibromyalgia and Myofascial Pain Comments

It has been claimed, mostly via hearsay, that fibromyalgia CEH seems to be a headache in its own right. Mechanical
(FM) might be hard to distinguish from CEH. FM seems to precipitation of attacks, decreased ROM in the neck, and
be characterized by tender points and widespread, bilateral ipsilateral shoulder/arm complaints actually afford compelling
pain, both below and above the waist. A rather vague evidence that this headache stems from the neck. The
headache is an integral part of FM in more than 50% of the headache arising in tractor drivers is another argument;
cases. Tender points, by definition a sine qua non in FM, headache (and/or neck ache) was present in 84% of them
should be present in at least 11 of 18 defined points [18, during chores, and there was no headache without a neck ache.
19]. By contrast, CEH is a localized disorder and unilateral With intracranial space occupying disorders, head pain
at that. Hypersensitive site stimulation in CEH causes a and upper extremity symptoms would tend to be on
154 Curr Neurol Neurosci Rep (2011) 11:149–155

different sides [23, 24]. The fact that in CEH head and arm stimulation also has been used recently, but only preliminary
pain/discomfort are on the same side attests to a nuchal/ results exist.
cervical origin of the complaints, with the pathology on the
pain side.
Kerr and Olafsson [25] demonstrated convergence of Conclusions
cervical and trigeminal dorsal root afferents in the upper
cervical cord. This may explain the “illusion” that pain The pain situation in a CEH patient is a dynamic one, with
originating in the neck appears as though it comes from the a varying threshold for pain. CEH is probably one of the
front. large headache groups. There are other headaches that also
CEH is a secondary headache and a syndrome. CEH originate in the neck, such as neck-tongue syndrome [31],
may seem to be a final common pathway. However, the where headache may be an integral part of the picture [31,
mechanisms underlying the pain need to be sorted out. The 32]. Workable criteria have been issued by the Cervico-
facts below may give some direction for this search: genic Headache International Study Group [10]. These
criteria have been validated [9•, 33, 34] and their reliability
1. CEH is not a disorder of the degenerative age, the mean
tested [35]. Criteria issued by the International Headache
age of onset being 33 years.
Society [36] unfortunately need a heavy overhaul before
2. The pain seems to be neuropathic and not nociceptive,
being impeccable [37, 38]. In these criteria, facial pain is,
because morphine does not work properly [26],
for example, not distinguished from head pain. Nor is a
whereas dorsal column electrical stimulation seems to
clear distinction made between neck pain and head pain.
work.
According to these criteria, a head pain apparently does not
3. In CEH with upper extremity radicular pain, removable
have to be present. Regarding therapy, we may be seeing
disc protrusions seem to play a causative role [27, 28,
some light at the end of the tunnel.
29•]. The role of cervical spondylosis in this context is
sub judice [30].
4. Migraine drugs such as ergotamine and triptans are
ineffective. Disclosure No potential conflicts of interest relevant to this article
5. Further evidence against a “migrainous” background is were reported.
the observation that pregnancy transitorily reduces the
number of migraine attacks in migraine, whereas in our
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