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MRI studies in basilar artery migraine
1Department of Medicine, Palmetto General Hospital, Hialeah, Florida.
Headache
|January 1, 1990
Summary
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed subtle brain changes in basilar artery migraine (BAM) patients, but these findings did not alter diagnosis or management. MRI is a useful, though limited, tool for diagnosing BAM.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Radiology
- Neuroimaging
Background:
- Basilar artery migraine (BAM) is a subtype of migraine with aura.
- Understanding the neuroimaging findings in BAM is crucial for diagnosis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the utility of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) in diagnosing non-epileptiform basilar artery migraine (BAM).
Main Methods:
- Brain MRI was performed on 18 patients diagnosed with non-epileptiform BAM.
- Computerized tomography (CT) was also performed on 12 of these patients.
Main Results:
- Subtle abnormalities like mild cortical sulci enlargement and white matter T2 signal intensity were observed in a few patients.
- CT scans failed to detect abnormalities visible on MRI in 6 patients, but these did not impact diagnosis or management.
- No evidence of congenital anomalies, traumatic lesions, demyelinating disease, or stroke was found.
Conclusions:
- MRI is a valuable complementary diagnostic tool in the assessment of basilar artery migraine.
- However, MRI findings in BAM are often limited and do not significantly alter clinical management.