27th August 2020
Potential pitfall:
A migraine headache is typically a unilateral, frontal, throbbing headache which may be associated with photophobia or phonophobia. Although the intensity can vary, the characteristics of the headache tend not to change.
Helpful hint:
The most concerning headache is a headache associated with other symptoms, for example: memory loss, speech disturbance and personality change. The NICE NG12 guideline recommends considering an urgent direct access MRI scan of the brain, (or CT scan if MRI is contraindicated) (to be performed within 2 weeks), to assess for brain or central nervous system cancer in adults with progressive, sub‑acute loss of central neurological function.
Cancer Keys are brought to you by GatewayC.
Download this Cancer Key here
Read the NICE NG12 guidance here
Access GatewayC’s ‘Brain Tumour – Early Diagnosis’ course here
