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Updated: Oct 10, 2025
3D-Neuronavigation In Vivo Through a Patient's Brain During a Spontaneous Migraine Headache
Published on: June 2, 2014
Atypical Perfusion Manifestation in Migraine with Aura
Jacobo Lester1, Jesús Carlos Bustamante2, Carla García-Moreno3
1Neurology, Instituto Mexicano de Neurociencias, Huixquilucan, Mexico.
Abstract:
Migraine with aura may be confused with a stroke. Magnetic resonance imaging is an important tool for the differential diagnosis. Cerebral hypoperfusion has been described in classic migraine, mainly during the aura. A 47-year-old male had an unremarkable past medical history. After sneezing, he developed a left hemi hypoesthesia, bitemporal vision loss, photopsia, and some distortion in the position of letters and words. This lasted <1 h, and it was followed by a severe headache. A magnetic resonance angiography was performed during the headache. It showed a left hemispheric hypoperfusion that did not correlate with the symptoms described by the patient. It is believed that during the aura, cerebral blood flow decreases, leading to hypoxia and decreased cellular energy generation, and these metabolic alterations define the symptoms of the patient. In our case, we documented brain hypoperfusion during the headache in the ipsilateral brain hemisphere to the symptoms, which has no clinical correlation. This condition could be due to spasm in the capillary arteries, and it may persist and influence the clinical manifestations during the headache phase in migraine with aura. A state of generalized cerebral hyperperfusion has been suggested, and there may be a coexistence of both phenomena for some period. This may open a new line of research regarding the pathophysiology and vascular changes of migraine with aura.
Insights
Migraine with aura can mimic stroke. This study found brain hypoperfusion during headache, even without correlating symptoms, suggesting new research into migraine's vascular changes.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Neuroimaging
- Vascular Neurology
Background:
- Migraine with aura (MWA) diagnosis can be challenging, often confused with stroke.
- Cerebral hypoperfusion is a known phenomenon in MWA, primarily during the aura phase.
Observation:
- A patient experiencing MWA symptoms developed left hemispheric hypoperfusion during the headache phase.
- This hypoperfusion did not correlate with the patient's reported neurological deficits.
Findings:
- Documented brain hypoperfusion in the ipsilateral hemisphere during MWA headache, independent of symptoms.
- Hypothesized capillary artery spasm as a potential cause for persistent hypoperfusion influencing headache manifestations.
Implications:
- Suggests a potential coexistence of hypoperfusion and hyperperfusion in MWA pathophysiology.
- Opens new avenues for research into the vascular mechanisms and clinical presentation of MWA.
