Sturge-weber syndrome: a case report with persistent headache

Abstract

Sturge-Weber syndrome (SWS) is a rare congenital disorder characterized by a facial vascular nevus associated with an ipsilateral leptomeningeal angioma. Headache is a rare component of SWS and when it occurs it usually occurs as a migraine-like headache. We aimed to present a SWS patient with episodic tension type headache and to draw attention in different types of headaches that can be seen in SWS. A 21 year old female patient with the diagnosis of SWS was suffering from severe headaches. At her physical examination a facial nevus -occurred due to choroid angioma-was observed. On her neurological examination a mild asymmetry of upper extremities was visible. She had a 2 year history of frequent non-pulsating headaches. There was no nausea or aura like symptoms accompanying the headache. Headaches were lasting for hours. The pain was bilateral and pressing in quality. SWS are a very rare and challenging disease for both the patients and their families. Usually migraine type headache is seen in SWS but it should not be forgotten that more generalized headaches like tension type may also be seen.