Don’t Forget Rare Causes of Postpartum Headache! Cases Report and Literature Review
Marco Di Paolo,
Aniello Maiese,
Ornella Mangiacasale,
Barbara Pesetti,
Simone Pierotti,
Alice Chiara Manetti,
Massimiliano dell’Aquila,
Angela De Filippis,
Emanuela Turillazzi
Affiliations
Marco Di Paolo
Section of Legal Medicine, S. Chiara Hospital, University of Pisa, via Roma 55, 56126 Pisa, Italy
Aniello Maiese
Section of Legal Medicine, S. Chiara Hospital, University of Pisa, via Roma 55, 56126 Pisa, Italy
Ornella Mangiacasale
Section of Anesthesiology, Department of Surgical, Medical, Molecular Pathology and of Critical Area, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy
Barbara Pesetti
Section of Maternal and Child Anesthesia and Resuscitation and Santa Chiara, Department of Anesthesia and Resuscitation, Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria Pisana, 56126 Pisa, Italy
Simone Pierotti
Section of Legal Medicine, S. Chiara Hospital, University of Pisa, via Roma 55, 56126 Pisa, Italy
Alice Chiara Manetti
Section of Legal Medicine, S. Chiara Hospital, University of Pisa, via Roma 55, 56126 Pisa, Italy
Massimiliano dell’Aquila
Department of Anatomical, Histological, Forensic and Orthopaedic Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 336, 00161 Rome, Italy
Angela De Filippis
Fetal Medicine Unit, Di Venere Hospital, 70121 Bari, Italy
Emanuela Turillazzi
Section of Legal Medicine, S. Chiara Hospital, University of Pisa, via Roma 55, 56126 Pisa, Italy
Headache is a common finding in the postpartum period, caused by a spectrum of different conditions. Most headaches in the postpartum period are self-limiting and benign in etiology, but there are some potentially serious causes to be considered. We disclose two cases of postpartum headache, initially considered as post-dural puncture headache (PDPH), that evolved into a harmful condition and showed that an expanded differential diagnosis for headache in the postpartum is mandatory, requiring a high level of attention from health professionals. In fact, a careful examination of the medical history, physical examination, and the recognition for the need for early neuroradiological imaging should increase diagnostic accuracy.
