Validity of Neuroimaging in Juvenile Headaches

Abstract

Aim: The objectives of this study are to evaluate the incidence of headache considering the type of headache, to define the types of headaches, to determine the difference in the status of diagnostic scanning in children with headaches, to establish a correlation between the psychological profile of the child and the incidence of headache, and to establish a correlation between socio-demographic characteristics and the type of headache. Patients and Methods: The study included 139 patients with headache symptoms up to the age of 18, hospitalized at the Pediatric Clinic of the University Hospital Center Osijek from 1/1/2017 to 31/12/2018. The data included demographic data, diagnosis, environmental factors, EEG findings, neuroimaging data processing and other indicated medical tests. Results: A headache usually occurs between the ages of 12 and 18 (69.8%). It is more common in girls (70.5%). The common localizations are frontal and occipital. Altered standard EEG findings were reported in 26.7% of patients. Additional neuroradiological processing (brain MRI) was indicated in 98 patients (70.5%), with changes found in 56 patients (57.1%). Psychological assessment indicated that patients with functional headaches predominantly suffer from anxiety, emotional instability and somatization, while patients with organic headaches reported high stress levels (82%). Conclusion: Headaches occur more frequently in pubescent girls. The most common concomitant symptoms include nausea and vomiting, while the most common localization is frontal. Patients also report emotional instability, cognitive deficits and somatization, as well as high stress levels. Headache as a result of psychological tension is the most common diagnosis in the observed group of patients.

Keywords

• headache
• children
• neuroimaging