Neck-Tongue Syndrome: An Underrecognized Childhood Onset Cephalalgia. (April 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Allen, Nicholas M.; Dafsari, Hormos S.; Wraige, Elizabeth; Jungbluth, Heinz
• Is Part Of: Journal of child neurology. Volume 33:Number 5(2018:May)
• Page Start: 347
• Page End: 350
• Publication Date: 2018-04
• Subjects: cephalalgia -- headache -- pediatrics; Nervous system -- Diseases -- Periodicals; 618.928
• DOI: 10.1177/0883073818756681
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0883-0738

Abstract

Neck-tongue syndrome is a rarely reported headache disorder characterized by occipital and/or upper neck pain triggered by sudden rotatory head movement and accompanied by abnormal sensation and/or posture of the ipsilateral tongue. Although onset is thought to be in childhood, most of the limited number of cases reported so far were adults. Here the authors describe 3 cases, 2 girls and 1 boy, with neck-tongue syndrome. In each child additional headache symptoms occurred, headache improved over time in all, spontaneously in 2 and coinciding with gabapentin treatment in the other. Investigations were consistently unremarkable. Review of the literature reveals a usually self-limiting disorder, with early onset and variable additional features. Awareness of neck-tongue syndrome among pediatric neurologists and other practitioners is important, to allow for timely diagnosis and informed management of an underreported headache disorder with childhood onset.