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MRI white matter lesions in pediatric migraine
Tal Eidlitz-Markus1, Avraham Zeharia, Yishay Haimi-Cohen
1Pediatric Headache Clinic, Ambulatory Day Care Hospitalization Unit, Schneider Children's Medical Center of Israel, Israel. eidlitz@post.tau.ac.il
Objectives:
Studies have reported an association between migraine and white matter hyperintensities on T2-weighted brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in adults. The aim of the present study was to evaluate white matter MRI brain findings in pediatric patients with migraine.
Methods:
The medical files and imaging scans of all 194 patients who underwent brain MRI at the headache clinic of a tertiary medical center in 2008-2011 were reviewed.
Results:
Mean age was 10.9 ± 3.5 years. Migraine was diagnosed in 131 patients and other disorders in 63. In the migraine group, findings on physical and laboratory examinations were within normal range. White matter lesions were identified on MRI scan in 14 children with migraine (10.6%) and none of the children with other disorders ( P = 0.006). In 13/14 patients, the lesions were focal with a variable distribution; in the remaining patient, confluent periventricular hyperintensities were documented.
Conclusions:
In a headache clinic of a tertiary pediatric medical center, white matter lesions are found in about 10% of pediatric patients with migraine.
Insights
White matter lesions were found in about 10% of pediatric migraine patients undergoing brain MRI. These findings suggest a potential link between migraine and white matter changes in children.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Pediatric Neurology
- Neuroimaging
Background:
- Adult studies suggest an association between migraine and white matter hyperintensities on T2-weighted brain MRI.
- Understanding these associations in pediatric populations is crucial for diagnosis and management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the prevalence and characteristics of white matter MRI findings in pediatric patients diagnosed with migraine.
- To compare brain MRI findings between pediatric migraine patients and those with other neurological disorders.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of medical files and brain MRI scans of 194 pediatric patients (2008-2011).
- Patients were categorized into migraine (n=131) and other disorders (n=63) groups.
- Analysis focused on identifying white matter lesions on MRI scans.
Main Results:
- White matter lesions were detected in 10.6% (14/131) of pediatric migraine patients.
- No white matter lesions were observed in the control group (n=63) with other disorders (P=0.006).
- Lesions were typically focal (13/14) or confluent periventricular (1/14).
Conclusions:
- White matter lesions are present in approximately 10% of pediatric migraine patients seen at a tertiary care center.
- These findings highlight the importance of neuroimaging in evaluating pediatric migraine.
- Further research is needed to understand the clinical significance of these white matter changes in childhood migraine.
