Endonasal mucosal contact points in chronic migraine

The Effects of Intervening With Synonasal Changes on Headaches in Migraine Patients Using Endonasal Surgery

OBJECTIVE

Some anatomical changes might trigger headaches in people who have migraine, and that surgical applications eliminating the structural problems in treatment-resistant migraine patients are effective in pain treatment.

METHODS

A total of 36 patients, who did not respond to different treatment options without aura migraine and chronic migraine that were showing synonasal and anatomical changes in synonasal nasal endoscopy and/or paranasal sinus CT screening, responding insufficiently and/or approximately one year period also did not respond to different treatment options, were included in this study between June 2016 and September 2019.

RESULTS

The relation between migraine episodes and synonasal symptoms was found to be statistically significant. A significant difference was detected between nasal congestion and obstruction, postnasal discharge, and runny nose in patients with attacks compared to patients without attacks. The difference between mean pain severity values was statistically significant when compared to preoperative values (3.0(3.0∼4.0)) and post-operative values (1.0(0∼1.0)). When the pain severity after the operation (1.0(1.0∼2.75)) was compared with the severity of pain before the operation (5.0 (3.0∼5.0)), it was determined that there was a significant decrease in pain severity in patients diagnosed with chronic migraine, the difference between the mean pain severity values was statistically significant, and the prevalence of pain decreased at a significant level after the operation.

CONCLUSION

The results of the present study indicate that the elimination of synonasal structural changes, which were hypothesized to trigger pain in migraine patients, could have a pain-reducing effect on the frequency and severity of the pain.

Association of Intranasal and Neurogenic Dural Inflammation in Experimental Acute Rhinosinusitis

Background

Nasal cavity and sinus disorders, such as allergic rhinitis, rhinosinusitis, or certain anatomical defects, are often associated with transient or ongoing headaches. On the other hand, migraine headache patients often exhibit pain referral over the area of nasal sinuses and typical nasal autonomic symptoms involving congestion and rhinorrhea. Mechanism for convergence of nasal or sinus disorders and headaches is unknown. Herein, we examined the association of sino-nasal inflammatory pain with common preclinical indicators of trigeminovascular system activation such as dural neurogenic inflammation (DNI) and neuronal activation in brainstem nociceptive nuclei.

Methods

Nasal and paranasal cavity inflammation and pain was induced by formalin (2.5%/10 μl) or capsaicin (0.1%/10 μl) instillation at the border of maxillary sinus and nasal cavity in rats. Quantification of inflammation of nasal mucosa and DNI was performed by spectrophotometric measurement of Evans blue - plasma protein complex extravasation. Pain behavior was quantified by rat grimace scale (RGS). Nociceptive neuronal activation in caudal part of spinal trigeminal nucleus (TNC) was assessed by c-Fos protein immunohistochemistry.

Results

Capsaicin and formalin administered into rat nasal cavity increased plasma protein extravasation in the nasal mucosa and dura mater. Intensity of plasma protein extravasation in nasal mucosa correlated with extravasation in dura. Similarly, facial pain intensity correlated with nociceptive neuronal c-Fos activation in the TNC.

Conclusion

Present data show that inflammatory stimuli in deep nasal and paranasal structures provoke distant intracranial changes related to trigeminovascular system activation. We hypothesize that this phenomenon could explain overlapping symptoms and comorbidity of nasal/paranasal inflammatory disorders with migraine.

Paranasal sinus volumes and headache: is there a relation?

PURPOSE

The aim of the study is to investigate the relation between paranasal sinus volumes and headache in patients with no other rhinologic causes.

METHODS

Two hundred patients with chronic headache and 99 subjects with no headache or facial pain history in the last 6 months were included in the study. Paranasal computed tomography (CT) scans of both patient and control groups were evaluated. Sixty one patients were excluded from the study due to possible rhinogenic headache CT findings such as secretions and contact points. Sinus volume index (SVI) formula created by Barghouth et al. in 2002 was used to calculate paranasal sinus volumes: SVI = ½. A × B × C. Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare an independent continuous variable and a continuous variable with non-normal distribution.

RESULTS

In the patient group, the total sinus, frontal sinus, and maxillary sinus volumes were found to be significantly lower than those of the control group (p < 0.001). Although the total sphenoid sinus volume was found to be lower in the patient group, there was no significant difference between the two groups (p = 0.013).

CONCLUSION

Although rhinogenic findings are often related to secondary headache, the relation between paranasal sinus volume and headache is scarcely investigated in the literature. Our study showed that paranasal sinus volumes might have a role in secondary headaches. Furthermore, in contrast to the literature, our study showed a significant relation between headache and smaller paranasal sinus volumes.

Intranasal Pathology in the Migraine Surgery Population: Incidence, Patterns, and Predictors of Surgical Success

BACKGROUND

The purpose of this study was to identify patterns of nasal pathology in patients with rhinogenic migraine headaches (site III).

METHODS

A retrospective review was performed on patients with rhinogenic migraine headaches. Demographics, pre- and post-migraine surgery symptoms, and pathology seen on preoperative computed tomographic scans were reviewed.

RESULTS

Twenty percent of 98 patients had preoperative sinus disease. The following abnormalities were seen on computed tomographic scan: septal deviation, 75 (77 percent); septal spur, 33 (34 percent); middle concha bullosa, 48 (49 percent); sinus pathology, 20 (20 percent); and intranasal contact points, 62 (62 percent). A higher incidence of clinical sinusitis (20 percent migraine versus 5 to 15 percent in the general population) was also seen. Septoplasty was performed in 89 percent of patients, and conservative turbinectomy was performed in 60 percent of patients. Patients who failed surgery (<50 percent reduction in migraine headache index) had a significantly higher incidence of contact points (80 percent versus 56 percent; p = 0.034) than successful migraine patients. The surgery success group also had a higher incidence of preoperative middle concha bullosa compared with the failure group (71 percent versus 48 percent; p = 0.035).

CONCLUSIONS

This is the first cohort study to identify the incidence and pattern of nasal pathology in migraine III patients. It is likely that the failure to achieve more successful outcomes in this patient population was the consequence of conservative nasal management and residual contact points because of concern for the development of nasal dryness. More frequent middle turbinate surgery may result in better clinical outcomes in this group of patients.

Mucosal contact points and paranasal sinus pneumatization: Does radiology predict headache causality?

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS

The goal of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of mucosal contact points (MCP), concha bullosa (CB), and variable paranasal sinus (PNS) volumes among patients sent for rhinogenic headache workup as compared with controls.

STUDY DESIGN

Retrospective study with case and control groups.

METHODS

Fifty-three adults with clear PNS computed tomography (CT) scans were included: 28 patients who have originally undergone PNS CT scan as part of sinus (rhinogenic) headache workup, and 25 controls in whom PNS CT scans were obtained for other purposes. All subjects were asked to report their symptoms using a headache scoring system. CT scans of all subjects were analyzed for presence of MCP, CB, as well as for volumes of maxillary, frontal, and sphenoid sinuses.

RESULTS

MCP was found in 40% of controls, and in 50%, 50%, and 40% of mild, moderate, and severe headache groups, respectively. CB was found in 24% of controls, and in 33.3%, 58.3%, and 20%, of mild, moderate, and severe headache groups, respectively. Total volume of the measured PNS ranged from 23.9 to 81.4 cm(3) (mean ± standard deviation [SD], 48.3 ± 15.8) in the control group and from 5.31 to 87.4 cm(3) (mean ± SD, 43.6 ± 16) in the patient group. No statistically significant difference was found between groups regarding all studied variables.

CONCLUSIONS

Radiological identification of MCP, CB, or hyperpneumatized sinuses does not seem to be a predictor of headache causality. Further studies are required to identify clinical scenarios in which these variations may contribute to pain symptoms.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

3b.