Abstract

A complete headache history with neurological examinations will usually suffice to diagnose the majority of headaches without the need for diagnostic brain imaging. Headache is generally classified into the primary headaches, which are considered to have no other causative disorder, and the secondary headaches, which have organic causes. Neuroimaging testing, computed tomography(CT) scan, and magnetic resonance imaging(MRI) are useful for differential diagnosis and can perform to rule out vascular malformation, brain tumor, and other pathologies. There are cases of the secondary headaches resembling the primary headache and patients complaint of pain by complex of them. This article reviews general indications and studies available for brain imaging in patients with headache and normal neurological examination.