Expert: Claes-Gustaf Nordquist, M.D. - 3/11/2008

Question
Dr.  Over the past three weeks I've been suffering from daily throbbing headaches among other symptoms.  The headaches come and go as they please but happen daily, they occur in the back/sides/front/top of my head.  I also have a feeling of pressure as though someone is pushing on my head.  There are bouts where spots of my head feel either cold/warm under the skin.  Its quite an odd sensation.  I also feel a lot of pressure/pain at times behind my eyes or in my eyelids (as though it were in the top of my eye).  Movement tends to make the headaches worse.  I should also note that I've been experiencing some very annoying neck stiffness/pain.  My Dr. said that there were considerable muscle spasms when I turn my head.  There is a tightness/discomfort where my skull and spine meet, right in the center above the spinal cord (is that a ligament there or ony my spinal cord?).  I had a CAT scan over the weekend that came back normal and just today had an MRI w/ and w/o GAD.  I'm anxiously awaiting the results and wonder if this could all be based on the sinusitis I've been treated for the past 4 days (with no improvement) or if it could be a sign of a tumor.  The waiting is the hardest part...Thanks

Answer
If neither the CT scan nor the MRI scan can show any tumor you do not have any tumor. From your description I think you have some problem in your neck. Such problems can often not be seen by CT or MRI! However they will tell you if there is a tumor or not!