Open AccessThe Role of MR Imaging and MR Angiography in the Evaluation of Patients with Headache
Author(s) -
Tomislav Pavlović,
Sanja Trtica,
Marina Milošević,
Hrvoje Budinčević,
Igor Borić
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
open access macedonian journal of medical sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.288
H-Index - 17
ISSN - 1857-9655
DOI - 10.3889/oamjms.2020.4842
Subject(s) - medicine , radiology , magnetic resonance imaging , magnetic resonance angiography , angiography , stroke (engine) , conventional angiography , aneurysm , mechanical engineering , engineering
BACKGROUND: Headache is one of the most common complaint in medical practice and the most often neurological symptom.
AIM: The aim of our study was to estimate the frequency of abnormal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) findings in patients with non-acute headache without focal neurological abnormalities.
MATERIAL AND METHODS: The results of the MRI and MRA were retrospectively analyzed. As major abnormalities, we took into account tumor, stroke, extraaxial collection, Chiari malformations, and vascular pathology (aneurysm and arterial-venous malformation).
RESULTS: Two hundred twenty-five patients fulfilled the criteria. Out of 225 patients with median age of 37 (18–85) years, 78% of the patients were female and 22% were male. In total, we found 8.4% of major abnormalities. On MRI head scan without MRA analysis, we found 50.7% of normal finding, 47.1% of minor abnormalities and 2.2% of major abnormalities. On MRA scan, we found we found 52.9% of normal finding, 40.9% of minor abnormalities, and 6.2% of major abnormalities.
CONCLUSION: Our study demonstrates a low but important diagnostic yield of MRI and MRA examination for patients with non-acute headache without focal neurological abnormalities.