MRI in migraineurs

Forty-six migraineurs and 69 age- and sex-matched controls referred for MRI scans of the brain were evaluated for the incidence of intracranial pathology. Axial long TR/short TE and long TR/long TE and sagittal short TR/short TE scans were performed in all patients. Enhancement with Gd-DTPA was performed in all controls and in nine migraineurs. Six of 46 (13%) of the migraineurs had white matter lesions versus three of 69 (4.3%) of the controls. The white matter lesions in migraineurs were seen in a younger age group than in the controls. These findings agree with recent MRI studies. Ischemia or an immune-based white matter demyelination are possible mechanisms for the white matter lesions.