Cervical myelitis presenting as occipital neuralgia.

OBJECTIVE

Occipital neuralgia is a common form of headache that is characterized by paroxysmal severe lancinating pain in the occipital nerve distribution.

METHODS

The exact pathophysiology is still not fully understood and occipital neuralgia often develops spontaneously. There are no specific guidelines for evaluation of patients with occipital neuralgia.

RESULTS

Cervical spine, spinal cord and posterior neck muscle lesions can induce occipital neuralgia. Brain and spine imaging may be necessary in some cases, according to the nature of the headache or response to treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

We report a case of cervical myelitis presenting as occipital neuralgia.