Seasonal periodicity in SUNCT syndrome. Scientific Publication

Shortlasting unilateral neuralgiform headache attacks with conjunctival injection and tearing (SUNCT) syndrome is characterized by shortlived (5–240 s), strictly unilateral, periorbital, severe pain attacks, accompanied by ipsilateral conjunctival injection and lacrimation. SUNCT syndrome has been classified together with cluster headache (CH) and paroxysmal hemicrania (PH) in the group of trigeminal autonomic cephalalgias (TAC).

The temporal pattern usually described in episodic SUNCT is irregular, with the symptomatic periods alternating with remissions in an erratic fashion. In contrast, it is widely acknowledged that in episodic CH bouts can occur in the same periods every year, particularly during spring and autumn, and in some PH patients seasonal variations have been described.

We present a patient with episodic SUNCT syndrome with bouts that occurred twice annually in spring and autumn.

CITATION Cephalalgia. 2008 Jan;28(1):94-6r