As with all craniotomies, some degree of headache is inevitable during the early postoperative period following AN surgery. Significant headache persisting beyond the first month, however, occurs only in a minority of individuals. Persistent post-AN removal headache is occasionally focused towards the operative site, but is more commonly generalized. The headaches are typically episodic and may be quite severe, even debilitating in rare cases.
Many patients report that headache is triggered by coughing or straining.
In a few cases, exacerbation may follow ingestion of alcoholic beverages. The time course is variable, but most often headaches wax and wane over several months and eventually disappear. The incidence of persistent headache following AN surgery varies according to the operative approach utilized and the tumor size. Of interest, an inverse relationship between tumor size and the incidence of headaches was noted. These are generally best taken on a regular basis as a preventative measure.