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Short-lasting unilateral neuralgic headaches with conjunctival injection and lacrimation
Last reviewed: 07.07.2025

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This rare syndrome has not been studied enough. It is characterized by short-term attacks of one-sided pain; the duration of attacks is significantly shorter than in other forms of trigeminal autonomic cephalgia. Attacks are often accompanied by severe lacrimation and redness of the eye on the side of pain.
3.3. Short-term unilateral neuralgic headaches with conjunctival injection and lacrimation (SUNCT syndrome)
- A. At least 20 seizures meeting criteria for BD.
- B. Attacks of unilateral pulsating pain in the orbital, supraorbital or temporal localization lasting 5-240 sec.
- C. Pain is accompanied by ipsilateral conjunctival injection and lacrimation.
- D. Attacks occur with a frequency of 3 to 200 times per day.
- E. Not associated with other causes (disorders).
Along with reddening of the sclera and lacrimation on the side of pain, patients may also experience nasal congestion, rhinorrhea, and swelling of the eyelid. A feature of this syndrome is the wide range of frequency and duration of attacks.
Differential diagnostic measures
Attacks of short-term unilateral neuralgic headaches with conjunctival injection and lacrimation sometimes have to be differentiated from attacks of trigeminal neuralgia involving the ophthalmic branch. In addition, according to the literature, the same symptoms are possible with lesions localized in the posterior cranial fossa or involving the pituitary gland. Therefore, the diagnosis of the primary form of trigeminal autonomic cephalgia "short-term unilateral neuralgic headaches with conjunctival injection and lacrimation" can be made only after a thorough examination (including neuroimaging methods) has excluded the secondary nature of the symptoms.
Treatment
Therapeutic approaches have not been developed. Taking into account the assumed common mechanisms of trigeminal vegetative cephalgias, it is possible to use NSAIDs, anticonvulsants, glucocorticoids. However, the effectiveness of these groups of drugs has not been proven.
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