There is nothing new in the conclusion: we really do need to see a headache specialist much of the time! Here, there is a subtle set of secondary symptoms which we would not expect with CH which lead to the correct diagnosis--and fix. One of the few times when there really is a "cure" for CH.
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Acta Neurol Scand. 2010 Apr 8.

Secondary chronic cluster headache due to trigeminal nerve root compression.
Mjåset C, Bjørn Russell M.

Head and Neck Research Group, Research Centre, Akershus University Hospital, Lørenskog, Norway.

Abstract
Mjåset C, Bjørn Russell M. Secondary chronic cluster headache due to trigeminal nerve root compression. Acta Neurol Scand: DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0404.2010.01322.x. (c) 2010 The Authors Journal compilation (c) 2010 Blackwell Munksgaard. A 50-year-old woman had a gradual onset of chronic headache located in the right temporal region and a burning sensation in the root of the tongue which over a year evolved into chronic cluster headache with a milder chronic headache in-between the severe cluster headache attacks. A cerebral magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed vascular compression of the trigeminal nerve root on the pain side. Neurosurgery microvascular decompression relieved the patient?s chronic cluster headache, the chronic intermittent headache and the burning tongue sensation. The effect was persistent at a 1 year follow-up. PATIENTS WITH ATYPICAL SYMPTOMS OF CLUSTER HEADACHE SHOULD BE EXAMINED WITH CEREBRAL MRI ANGIOGRAPHY OF ARTERIES AND VEINS TO EXCLUDE SYMPTOMATIC CAUSES.

PMID: 20384588 [PubMed]

It's great that they were able to solve this ONE woman's CH.  Now about the rest of us...

Ray

Agreed, Ray.

I would like to know the details of her symptom set. Seems like CH's now encompass a much wider range these days.

As usual, thanks for the posting, Bob. You have always been an important asset to this site.

Best,
Marc

When I moved to california It seemed to change my cycle from a couple times a year to every 2 to 3 years , I thought they were gone and had no docter yet, then they hit . In the past I used caffergot , fiorinal with codine and phenagram . those were my drugs of choice then , no problem in Iowa ,theyd seen me with my ha ,gave me whatever. Anyway 2 doc there treated me like a druggy , finaly the third one said go have this xray then we will see if you have cluster ha ,what I can remember it was like reg xray . back in his office he put the exray up and we looked at it , it was easy as pie to see , it kinda scared me realy, the veins arteries everything like that was huge on my left compared to my right. He gave me everything I asked for. but I wonder if you go in for a scan like your talking if you would have to do it while in cycle or would things show up that surgery could help only in cycle, or when your not, and could actualy have the time to make the appointments . My cycle is about done hopefuly , and when the started I couldnt get into a neuro untill the 26th of may.

Conditions, such as reported here, are permanent problems, usually congenital. The exception could be some physical problem which developed, for example, after a head injury.

So, no, the timing of a x-ray, etc. would not be affected by the timing of your cycle.

Lucky woman.  I wish it could be so... "easy."