Is uncertain diagnosis a more frequent reason for referring migraine patients to neurologist than other headache syndromes?
The objective was to assess whether the physician’s uncertainty of diagnosis was a more frequent motivation for referring migraine patients than other headache patients to a neurologist. In this population based survey we included 846 consecutive patients referred to and examined at a specialist centre for headache during a period of 2 years. As primary outcome we compared cross-sectionally frequency of referring patients with migraine and other headaches to neurologist. According to the patients, uncertainty of diagnosis was the main reason for referral to a neurological specialist consultation, i.e. in 51% of cases. Thirty-nine per cent of patients classified as having migraine were referred because of an uncertain diagnosis, compared with 62% in patient with other headaches (95 CI 0.13-0.33), (P < 0.0001). Headache subtypes other than migraine and younger age were associated to more uncertainty of diagnosis. We conclude that diagnostic uncertainty was an important factor amongst hal
