Headaches in patients with brain tumors: a study of 111 patients

Abstract

We examined 111 consecutive patients with primary or metastatic brain tumors identified by CT or MRI to characterize brain tumor headache. The median age was 44 years; 34% had primary and 66% metastatic tumors. Headaches were present in 48%, equally for primary and metastatic brain tumors. Headaches were similar to tension-type in 77%, migraine-type in 9%, and other types in 14%. The typical headache was bifrontal but worse ipsilaterally, and was the worst symptom in only 45% of patients. Unlike true tension-type headaches, brain tumor headaches were worse with bending over in 32%, and nausea or vomiting was present in 40% of patients. The "classic" early morning brain tumor headache is uncommon. Nausea, vomiting, an abnormal neurologic examination, or a significant, change in prior headache pattern suggest that the headache may be caused by a tumor.