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3D-Neuronavigation In Vivo Through a Patient's Brain During a Spontaneous Migraine Headache
10:39

3D-Neuronavigation In Vivo Through a Patient's Brain During a Spontaneous Migraine Headache

Published on: June 2, 2014

Posterior circulation embolism as a potential mechanism for migraine with aura

Dong Hoon Shin1, Tae Sung Lim, Seok Woo Yong

  • 1Ajou University School of Medicine, South Korea.

Cephalalgia : an International Journal of Headache
|April 24, 2012
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Migraine attacks may be caused by microemboli, which are small clots. A patient

Area of Science:

  • Neurology
  • Vascular Medicine

Background:

  • Migraine is often considered a functional brain disorder.
  • However, research suggests a strong link between migraine and vascular system abnormalities.
  • The precise mechanisms underlying migraine pathophysiology remain under investigation.

Observation:

  • A 19-year-old female experienced 7 years of recurrent migraine with aura.
  • Cerebral MRI revealed multiple posterior circulation stroke lesions.
  • Four-vessel angiography identified a 1.9 × 1.4 cm left vertebral artery pseudoaneurysm.

Findings:

  • Transcranial Doppler monitoring detected multiple microembolic signals (MES) in the basilar artery.
  • MES and migraine symptoms resolved concurrently with pseudoaneurysm treatment.
  • This suggests a direct correlation between the pseudoaneurysm, microemboli, and migraine.

Implications:

  • This case highlights the potential role of microemboli in migraine development.
  • Vascular abnormalities, such as pseudoaneurysms, may be a source of embolic material.
  • Further research into vascular causes of migraine is warranted.

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