Headache and depression were studied in patients who had undergone operation for 
acoustic neuroma. A questionnaire with headache and Beck Depression Inventory 
scale were sent to 228 patients, of whom 192 (84%) responded. Preoperative 
headache was reported by 61 (32%) of the respondents (47 migraine and nine 
tension-type headache) and 122 (64%) respondents had postoperative headache (15 
new migraine and four new tension-type headache). The new postoperative headache 
was chronic (>/=3 months) in 86% and continued at the time of the survey in 55% 
and presented typically as severe short-lasting attacks provoked by physical 
stress, bending or coughing. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs were 
effective in most cases. Depression (usually mild) occurred in 24% of the 
respondents, being significantly more common in prolonged postoperative headache 
patients. The operation doubled the prevalence of headache (from 32% to 64%). 
Headache after acoustic neuroma operation appears to be a specific subgroup of 
postcraniotomy headache.