Differential Diagnosis for Pressure Behind the Head

• Single Most Likely Diagnosis
  • Tension headache: This is the most common type of headache and is often described as a feeling of pressure or tightness around the head, including the back of the head. It is usually caused by muscle tension and can be triggered by stress, poor posture, or other factors.
• Other Likely Diagnoses
  • Sinusitis: Inflammation of the sinuses can cause pressure and pain in the face and head, including the back of the head. This is often accompanied by other symptoms such as nasal congestion, facial pain, and fever.
  • Migraine: While migraines are often associated with pain on one side of the head, some people may experience pressure or pain at the back of the head. Migraines can also be accompanied by other symptoms such as sensitivity to light and sound, nausea, and vomiting.
  • Cervicogenic headache: This type of headache is caused by referred pain from the neck and can feel like pressure or pain at the back of the head. It is often associated with neck pain and stiffness.
• Do Not Miss Diagnoses
  • Subarachnoid hemorrhage: This is a life-threatening condition caused by bleeding into the space surrounding the brain. It can cause sudden, severe headache, often described as "the worst headache of my life," and may be accompanied by other symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, and loss of consciousness.
  • Meningitis: Inflammation of the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord can cause severe headache, fever, and stiff neck. It is a medical emergency that requires prompt treatment.
  • Temporal arteritis: This is an inflammation of the blood vessels in the head, which can cause headache, jaw pain, and vision problems. If left untreated, it can lead to blindness and other serious complications.
• Rare Diagnoses
  • Occipital neuralgia: This is a condition characterized by inflammation of the nerves that run from the neck to the back of the head, causing pain and pressure in this area.
  • Chiari malformation: This is a rare condition where the brain tissue extends into the spinal canal, which can cause pressure and pain at the back of the head, as well as other symptoms such as dizziness and numbness in the arms and legs.
  • Brain tumor: Although rare, a tumor in the brain can cause pressure and pain at the back of the head, as well as other symptoms such as seizures, confusion, and personality changes.