Thunderclap headache (TCH)

Written and reviewed by Dr Ibrahim Imam, Consultant Neurologist. Last reviewed .

Thunderclap headache (TCH). Subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH), Intracerebral haemorrhage (ICH). Fully referenced neurology checklist.

Vascular causes

  • Subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH)
  • Intracerebral haemorrhage (ICH)
  • Spontaneous retroclival haematoma
  • Cerebral vein thrombosis (CVT)
  • Cervical artery dissection (CAD)
  • Reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome (RCVS)
  • Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES)
  • Ischaemic stroke
  • Giant cell arteritis (GCA)

Other neurological causes

Locked: subscribe to see this section.

Medical causes

Locked: subscribe to see this section.

Drug-induced

Locked: subscribe to see this section.

Triggers

Locked: subscribe to see this section.

Clinical features

Locked: subscribe to see this section.

Assessment

Locked: subscribe to see this section.

References

  1. Dodick DW. Thunderclap headache. JNNP 2002; 72:6-11.
  2. Schwedt TJ, Matharu MS, Dodick D. Thunderclap headache. Lancet Neurol 2006; 5:621-631.
  3. Ducros A, Bousser M-G. Thunderclap headache. BMJ 2013; 346:e8557.
  4. Hashimoto Y, Matsushige T, Kawano R, et al. Headache characteristics to screen for cervicocerebral artery dissection in patients with acute onset unusual headache. Headache 2023; 63:283-289.
  5. García-García J, Ayo-Martín O, Segura T. A case of giant cell arteritis presenting as thunderclap headache. Headache 2013; 53:546-547.
  6. And 5 more. Subscribe to see the full list

Related checklists

Loading...