Introduction

The history is the most important part of the evaluation of a patient with headache. If a cause for headache is not apparent after a careful history, it is unlikely that further evaluation will provide the diagnosis. The physical examination is still important. A normal physical examination makes certain pathologic causes for headache unlikely. Likewise, in the rare case that the examination is abnormal, the probability that a pathologic secondary cause for headache exists will increase substantially. The physical exam also reassures the patient that the evaluation has been thorough.