A 70-year-old lady consulted her GP for being generally unwell.
She also complained of constant severe headache and pain in the scalp while combing her hair. She has also
noticed difficulty in standing up from the squatting position. She denied any visual disturbances.
Her general physical examination was unremarkable and the investigations showed a raised ESR and alkaline
phosphatase.
What is an important diagnosis to consider?
Cervical spondylosis
Cluster headache
Hypothyroidism
Migraine
Temporal arteritis Correct
Cervical spondylosis can cause occipital headache and numbness due to the entrapment of C2 sensory nerve
root.
Hypothyroidism does not cause headaches.
Migraine and cluster headaches often accompany visual symptoms and headache is intermittent and fluctuating
in intensity.