Table 4 Data extracted from case reports/case series dealing with diagnostic/therapeutic errors in HC

Cortijo et al. 2012 [10]

22

Case series selected from a clinical population over a 3-year period

86.1 ± 106.5 mths (range 3–360)

None

NR

NR

Prakash et al. 2010 [14]

4

Case reports

22 yrs, 3 yrs, 2 yrs, 15 mths

Atypical facial pain, atypical odontalgia, sinusitis, caries, pulpitis, psychiatric disorder, chronic migraine

All the patients had dental extractions (6 in one pt), some had sinus surgery, root canal treatment

Several dentists, general physicians, neurologist and ENT specialist (NOS)

Rossi et al. 2009 [15]

25

Case series selected from a clinical population over a 3-year period

5 yrs

Migraine (52%), CH (28%), sinus headache (20%), dental pain (20%), atypical facial pain (16%), stress headache (16%), CEH (8%)

NSAIDs (92%), triptans (32%), antidepressants (32%), and antiepileptics (24%). 36% received invasive treatments. 36% had recourse to complementary and alternative medicine

4.6 (GP 100%, neurologist 80%, ENT specialist 44%, ophthalmologist 40%, dentist 32%, headache specialist 28%)

Taub et al. 2008 [23]

2

Case reports

1.5 yrs; 8 mths

TMD, dental pain, CH, migraine, CPH

Topiramate, nortriptyline, melatonin, verapamil, gabapentin

3 dental practitioners; 1 ENT specialist

Eross et al. 2007 [11]

1

Case report

NR

Sinus headache

NR

NR

Alonso and Nixdorf 2006 [20]

1

Case report

6 mths

Dental pain, CEH

Dental extraction, cervical adjustment, multiple chronic pain medications

4 (dentist, chiropractor, general physician, neurologist)

Benoliel et al. 2002 [21]

1

Case report

2 yrs

Dental pain, migraine, CEH

Dental treatment (NOS), intensive physiotherapy, paracetamol, propranolol, diazepam, ergotamine combination, diclofenac sodium

3 (neurologist, dentist, ENT specialist)