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Updated: Feb 3, 2026
10:39
3D-Neuronavigation In Vivo Through a Patient's Brain During a Spontaneous Migraine Headache
Published on: June 2, 2014
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Cortical microstructure in persistent post-traumatic headache, migraine and healthy controls: A quantitative magnetic
Rune Häckert Christensen1,2,3, Haidar Muhsen Al-Khazali1,2,3, Messoud Ashina1,2
1Department of Neurology, Danish Headache Center, Copenhagen University Hospital - Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Cephalalgia : an International Journal of Headache
|February 2, 2026
Summary
Persistent post-traumatic headache (PPTH) shows distinct cortical microstructural changes compared to migraine and healthy individuals, suggesting unique neuroinflammatory processes. These findings highlight differences in brain structure related to PPTH.
Area of Science:
- Neuroimaging
- Neuroscience
- Radiology
Background:
- Persistent post-traumatic headache (PPTH) is a debilitating condition often overlapping with migraine, yet its underlying pathophysiology remains unclear.
- Understanding the neurobiological differences between PPTH, migraine, and healthy states is crucial for targeted treatments.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare cortical microstructural features in individuals with PPTH, migraine, and healthy controls (HCs).
- To investigate potential neurobiological distinctions using quantitative magnetic resonance imaging (qMRI).
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional study involving 103 PPTH, 296 migraine, and 155 HC participants.
- Utilized 3.0 Tesla qMRI to generate quantitative T2 (qT2), T1 (qT1), and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) maps.
- Employed surface-based analysis of intracortical voxel values, with adjustments for age, sex, and multiple comparisons.
Main Results:
- PPTH participants exhibited elevated qT2 in the left lateral occipital cortex compared to HCs.
- PPTH showed lower ADC values in the left superior frontal cortex compared to migraine.
- Specific reductions in qT1 and ADC were observed in PPTH relative to migraine subtypes in temporal and frontal regions.
Conclusions:
- Cortical microstructural alterations in PPTH indicate neurobiological processes distinct from migraine and healthy adults.
- Findings support a pathophysiological model for PPTH involving chronic low-grade neuroinflammation.
- qMRI reveals unique biomarkers for PPTH, differentiating it from other headache disorders.
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