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Cranial Magnetic Resonance Imaging Findings in Patients With Migraine
Author(s) -
Gozke Eren,
Ore Ozgul,
Dortcan Nimet,
Unal Zeynep,
Cetinkaya Mehmet
Publication year - 2004
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/j.1526-4610.2004.04034.x
Subject(s) - migraine , aura , white matter , migraine with aura , magnetic resonance imaging , medicine , radiology
Objective.—To investigate the frequency of cranial magnetic resonance imaging abnormalities in patients with migraine and their relationship to type, duration, and frequency of migraine attacks. Methods.—Forty‐five patients (43 women, 2 men) with migraine whose ages ranged between 19 and 53 years (mean, 40.91 [SD, 7.69]) were evaluated. Of the 45 patients, 20 had migraine with aura and 25 had migraine without aura, according to the diagnostic criteria of the International Headache Society. Results.—In 13 (28.8%) of 45 patients, white matter foci were present on magnetic resonance imaging. Eight of these patients (61.5%) had migraine with aura, and 5 patients (38.4%) had migraine without aura. The presence of white matter foci was significantly higher in the patients with aura (8 [40%] of 20) than in those without aura (5 [20%] of 25). It was found that as the frequency of attacks per month increased, the number of patients with white matter foci also increased. Although the mean duration of migraine was longer in patients with white matter foci (149.5 months [SD, 87.9]) than in those without white matter foci (134.1 months [SD, 88.3]), there was no significant difference ( P > .05). Conclusion.—Although there are no specific magnetic resonance imaging findings peculiar to migraine, detection of white matter foci should be taken into consideration in patients with migraine (especially migraine with aura). Frequency of attacks is an important indicator of existence of white matter foci.