Postoperative hemicrania continua-like headache - a case series.

BACKGROUND: Hemicrania continua (HC) is a rare chronic headache disorder, typically accompanied by cranial autonomic features and responding to therapeutic doses of indomethacin. The pathophysiology of hemicrania continua is not fully understood.

FINDINGS: We report a series of three patients who developed a continuous hemicranial headache after cranial surgery. Each case presented a similar phenotype of continuous half-sided headache, cranial autonomic symptoms with exacerbations (2/3), and a response to indomethacin.

CONCLUSION: The biology of hemicrania continua may be activated post-craniotomy just as can be seen with other primary headache disorders.