What are the other Names for this Condition? (Also known as/Synonyms)

• Headache or Facial or Neck Pain Attributed to Cervical Carotid Dissection
• Headache or Facial or Neck Pain Attributed to Vertebral Artery Dissection
• Headache or Facial or Neck Pain due to Cervical Carotid or Vertebral Artery Dissection

What is Headache or Facial or Neck Pain Attributed to Cervical Carotid or Vertebral Artery Dissection? (Definition/Background Information)

• Headache or Facial or Neck Pain Attributed to Cervical Carotid or Vertebral Artery Dissection is a headache disorder that occurs secondary to cervical carotid or vertebral artery disorder. The headache is accompanied by neck and/or facial pain
• The cervical carotid arteries and vertebral arteries lie in the neck and supply blood to the brain and upper spinal cord regions, including the cerebellum and brainstem, respectively. In arterial dissection, there is a separation of the weakened arterial wall layers from blood flow, resulting in an aneurysm or rupture of the walls (dissection), causing associated set of signs and symptoms
• The following subtypes of Headache or Facial or Neck Pain Attributed to Cervical Carotid or Vertebral Artery Dissection are recognized:
  • Acute Headache or Facial or Neck Pain Attributed to Cervical Carotid or Vertebral Artery Dissection
  • Persistent Headache or Facial or Neck Pain Attributed to Past Cervical Carotid or Vertebral Artery Dissection
• The qualities of the headache is dependent on the severity and site of the disorder. The pain often involves only one side of the head/neck region; and it tends to get better on resolution of the condition typically within 30 days

The criteria for diagnosis of Headache or Facial or Neck Pain Attributed to Cervical Carotid or Vertebral Artery Dissection as outlined by the International Headache Society (IHS) is given below:

• A cervical artery dissection has been demonstrated, or a surgical or radiological intervention has been performed on a cervical artery
• Any new headache and/or facial or neck pain fulfilling the criterion below

Evidence of causation demonstrated by at least two of the following:

• Pain has developed in close temporal relation to other local signs of a cervical artery dissection, or has led to a diagnosis of the condition
• Either or both of the following:
  • Pain has significantly worsened in parallel with other signs of the cervical artery dissection
  • Pain has significantly improved or resolved within a month of its onset
• Pain is unilateral and ipsilateral to the affected cervical artery

Not better accounted for by another ICHD-3 diagnosis.

(Source: International Headache Society Classification ICHD-3, London, United Kingdom)