Orofacial pain with vascular-type features

Objective. To examine whether a classifiable primary vascular-type craniofacial pain subgroup exists that predominantly affects intraoral structures. Study design. Fifty-five patients were chosen prospectively according to the following inclusion criteria; periodic craniofacial pain that was unilateral, pulsatile, severe, and that may wake the patient from sleep. Accompanying phenomena could include local autonomic and/or systemic signs. Twenty-six cases could be further classified into one of the categories of vascular craniofacial pain. The remaining 29, all with predominantly intraoral pain, were not readily classifiable. Results. Of the 29 patients 70% were women, with an average onset-age of 42.6 years. All reported severe, episodic pain that was usually unilateral and lasted minutes to hours. In all, 55% of patients had autonomic or systemic signs, 48% had pulsatile pain, and 35.4% of patients were awakened by the pain. Conclusion. Although clinical similarities were observed within these patients, further studies are needed to confirm vascular orofacial pain as a clear diagnostic category.