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Case Reports
. 2021 Apr 6;22(1):20.
doi: 10.1186/s10194-021-01225-7.

Reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome (RCVS): an interesting case report

Mansoureh Togha  1   2 , Mahsa Babaei  3 , Parvin Ganji Ghelichi  4
Affiliations
Case Reports

Reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome (RCVS): an interesting case report

Mansoureh Togha et al. J Headache Pain. .

Abstract

Background: Reversible Cerebral Vasoconstriction Syndrome is a condition of transient cerebral vascular spasms, which usually presents with recurrent thunderclap headaches and recovers within 3 months. Several probable triggers and underlying factors, such as sex hormones, vasoactive drugs, head trauma or surgery, and tumors, have been implicated.

Case presentation: In this paper, we present a 53-year-old woman with thunderclap headaches and normal lab tests who was radio-clinically diagnosed with reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome and treated accordingly. Then, she experienced the recurrence of RCVS after about 2 years and headaches after 1 year in association with high blood pressure, high blood sugar, hypothyroidism, hyperlipidemia, and a urine metanephrine level of 5 times higher than the normal limit, suggesting a diagnosis of pheochromocytoma. After confirmation of the diagnosis with further imaging studies, surgical removal of the tumor resolved all the signs and symptoms.

Conclusion: Often underdiagnosed, pheochromocytoma could be an important condition associated with RCVS. It is important for clinicians to bear this diagnosis in mind while dealing with similar cases of recurrent thunderclap headaches.

Keywords: Pheochromocytoma; Reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome; Thunder-clap headache.

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Conflict of interest statement

All authors declare that they have no conflict of interests in this study.

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