Idiopathic reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome (RCVS)

Reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome is characterised by severe thunderclap headache with associated characteristic transient, multifocal, segmental vasoconstriction of cerebral arteries lasting several weeks to months. We describe a 50-years old woman who presented with a severe sudden onset occipital headache. Neuroimaging revealed segmental vasospasm affecting the intracerebral arteries. The pain improved gradually over the next 6 weeks. Repeat brain MR angiography at 12 weeks showed complete resolution of the segmental narrowing.