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Migraine With Exclusive Olfactory Aura: Case Report and Literature Review
Author(s) -
Tiriticco Marco,
Vanotti Alessandra,
Mantica Davide,
Coppola Alfonso
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
headache: the journal of head and face pain
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.14
H-Index - 119
eISSN - 1526-4610
pISSN - 0017-8748
DOI - 10.1111/head.14014
Subject(s) - migraine , aura , migraine with aura , visual hallucination , psychiatry , medicine , psychology , audiology , neuroscience
Objectives To report the case of a patient enduring migraine attacks preceded by hallucinatory olfactory symptoms, with characteristics which typically define migraine with aura (MWA). Background MWA accounts for about 30‐40% of the total cases of migraine and is almost always preceded by visual disorders; and in rare cases migraine attacks are preceded by olfactory hallucinations which have not been so far recognized as a type of aura. Results We describe a 51‐year‐old male whose migraine attacks are preceded, unusually for migraine sufferers, only by olfactory hallucinations; in 10% of the attacks, the olfactory symptoms are not followed by any pain but always appear with the same characteristics. These hallucinations began with the onset of a history of cephalea. Conclusion This case suggests that olfactory hallucinations should be considered as actual pre‐migraine symptoms, like visual symptoms or other disorders, and added to the criteria for the diagnosis of MWA.