Article Text
Reminder of important clinical lesson
CASE REPORT
Recurrent hiccups may signal brainstem pathology and should be investigated
Summary
While occasional hiccups are normal, their persistent recurrence is distressing and may have an underlying aetiology. Patients with recurrent hiccups may undergo a long journey and see many physicians before the diagnosis is finally made. The purpose of this report is to increase awareness of central nervous system lesions as a possible cause for recurrent hiccups and provide an illustrative case of an otherwise fit man presenting with ongoing hiccups caused by a medullary haemangioblastoma.
- ear, nose and throat/otolaryngology
- gastroenterology
- general practice / family medicine
- brain stem / cerebellum