2025 ICD-10-CM code G44.0
(Valid) Effective Date: N/A Diseases of the nervous system - G44 6 Feed
Cluster headaches and other trigeminal autonomic cephalalgias (TACs).
Medical necessity for treatment is established by the severity and frequency of headaches, their impact on the patient's quality of life, and the failure of conservative management strategies.
Diagnosis and management of cluster headaches and other TACs fall under the purview of neurologists, pain specialists, and primary care physicians.A thorough clinical evaluation, including a detailed history of the headaches and associated symptoms, is crucial for diagnosis.Imaging studies, such as MRI or CT scan, may be necessary to rule out secondary causes of headache.Treatment options vary depending on the specific type of TAC and may include acute therapies (e.g., triptans, oxygen, dihydroergotamine) and preventive therapies (e.g., verapamil, corticosteroids).
In simple words: Cluster headaches are extremely painful headaches that occur on one side of the head, typically around the eye. They happen in clusters, meaning you might have several headaches each day for weeks or months, followed by a period of no headaches at all.Along with the intense pain, you might also experience a watery or red eye, drooping eyelid, and a stuffy or runny nose on the same side as the headache.
Cluster headaches and other trigeminal autonomic cephalalgias (TACs) are primary headache disorders characterized by severe unilateral pain, typically orbital, supraorbital, or temporal, accompanied by autonomic features on the same side as the pain. These autonomic symptoms can include ptosis (drooping eyelid), miosis (constricted pupil), lacrimation (tearing), conjunctival injection (redness of the eye), rhinorrhea (runny nose), and/or nasal congestion. Cluster headaches occur in groups or clusters, with periods of remission between attacks. TACs encompass cluster headache, paroxysmal hemicrania, and short-lasting unilateral neuralgiform headache attacks with conjunctival injection and tearing (SUNCT) or cranial autonomic symptoms (SUNA).
Example 1: A 35-year-old male presents with severe, stabbing pain around his right eye, accompanied by tearing and a runny nose on the same side.The headaches occur multiple times a day, typically lasting about an hour, and have been ongoing for several weeks.He has experienced similar episodes in the past.Diagnosis: G44.0 Cluster headache., A 28-year-old female experiences sudden, excruciating pain behind her left eye, along with a drooping eyelid and a constricted pupil on the same side. The headaches are brief, lasting only a few minutes, but occur multiple times throughout the day.Diagnosis:G44.0 Paroxysmal hemicrania., A 40-year-old male reports sharp, unilateral headaches around his right temple, accompanied by redness of the right eye and tearing. The headaches are very short-lived, lasting less than a minute, but occur several times a day in clusters.Diagnosis: G44.0 Short-lasting unilateral neuralgiform headache attacks with conjunctival injection and tearing (SUNCT).
Documentation should include:Detailed description of headache characteristics (location, intensity, duration, frequency).Presence and nature of associated autonomic symptoms.Temporal pattern of headaches (clusters, periodicity).Impact of headaches on daily activities.Response to prior treatments (if any).
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- Specialties:Neurology, Pain Management, Primary Care
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