A consensus panel of physicians who treat patients reporting sinus and facial pain strongly recommend the use of all diagnostic tools available to determine the root cause of the headache-whether it is neurological or physiological, migraine or sinus. The physicians, including two otolaryngologists, four neurologists, and two allergists writing in an article published in Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery (2006; 134(3):516-523), also agreed that the wrong diagnosis can lead to inappropriate treatment or lack of treatment.
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June 2006Multidisciplinary Effort, Diverse Opinions
The consensus panel met in December 2003 to assess the current state of diagnosis and treatment for sinus headache. Although these physicians came together on the overall need for better diagnosis, they continue to have diverse opinions on the cause of these headaches.
The key point of contention is highlighted in the article. Many sinus headaches are migraines, said Michael Setzen, MD, Clinical Associate Professor of Otolaryngology at New York University School of Medicine in New York City and Chief of the Rhinology Section at North Shore University Hospital in Manhasset, NY. A significant proportion of what we now think of as sinus headaches are indeed migraine headaches, he added.