The ear as a diagnostic key in a headache syndrome

A orelha como chave diagnóstica em uma síndrome de cefaleia

A 64-year-old woman presented with four episodes of sudden non-progressive sharp and throbbing left ear pain in the last four months, each lasting few minutes, accompanied by redness in the left ear (Figure). Medical history showed chronic migraine by 25 years. Neurologic, opthalmic and otorhinolaryngologic examinations, neuroimaging evaluation of skull, cervical and thoracic columns were all unremarkable. A diagnosis of red ear syndrome (RES) was made.

Figure
Dermatological evaluation during acute headache episode.

RES is a rare under-recognized clinical condition manifesting as paroxysmal episodes of auricular and periauricular pain and burning sensation with ipsilateral ear rash¹, triggered by different periauricular stimuli or neck movements².

References

• ¹
  Ryan S, Wakerley BR, Davies P. Red ear syndrome: a review of all published cases (1996-2010). Cephalagia. 2013;33(3):190-201. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0333102412468673
  » https://doi.org/10.1177/0333102412468673
• ²
  Lambru G, Miller S, Matharu MS. The red ear syndrome. J Headache Pain. 2013;14:83. http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/1129-2377-14-83
  » https://doi.org/10.1186/1129-2377-14-83

Publication Dates

• Publication in this collection
  Aug 2015

History

• Received
  20 Nov 2014
• Reviewed
  29 Mar 2015
• Accepted
  20 Apr 2015