A 35-year-old man has recurrent unilateral periorbital and retro-orbital headaches triggered by touching the side of his nose. Endoscopy shows a sharp bony septal spur impinging on the middle turbinate. What is the likely diagnosis?
- A Sluder's neuralgia ✓
- B Cluster headache
- C Migraine without aura
- D Tolosa-Hunt syndrome
Correct answer: A. Sluder's neuralgia
Explanation
Sluder's neuralgia, also called contact point headache, arises when a deviated septal spur touches the middle turbinate or lateral wall, triggering referred pain through the trigeminal nerve. Relief follows correction of the contact point with septoplasty. Cluster headache shares the unilateral orbital site but runs in circadian bouts with autonomic features such as lacrimation and ptosis, which are absent here.
Reference: Dhingra's Diseases of Ear, Nose and Throat, 8th ed.
High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP
Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.