Top

Published in:

01-12-2012 | Original Communication

Patients with migraine do not have MRI-visible cortical lesions

Authors: Martina Absinta, Maria A. Rocca, Bruno Colombo, Massimiliano Copetti, Donatella De Feo, Andrea Falini, Giancarlo Comi, Massimo Filippi

Published in: Journal of Neurology | Issue 12/2012

Abstract

Migraine patients with multiple brain white matter hyperintensities (WMHs) may represent a diagnostic challenge. Using double inversion recovery (DIR) imaging, we studied whether cortical lesions (CLs) could be seen in these patients. Approval of the institutional review boards and written informed consent were obtained from each participant. CLs and WM lesions were assessed on brain scans from 32 migraine patients with WMHs (17 patients with and 15 without aura), and in two control groups, consisting of 15 relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) patients and 20 healthy controls, matched for age and gender. By definition, brain WM lesions were detected in all migraine and RRMS patients. The number and volume of WM lesions were lower in migraine versus RRMS patients (p < 0.0001). No CLs were identified in migraine patients and healthy controls, whereas 20 CLs were seen in 9 (60 %) RRMS patients. The application of DIR imaging to assess focal cortical involvement seems to be useful in the diagnostic workup of patients with WMHs of unknown etiology, including those with migraine.

The Headache Classification Subcommittee of the International Headache Society (2004) The international classification of headache disorders: 2nd edn. Cephalalgia 24(Suppl) 1:9–160

Calabrese M, Filippi M, Gallo P (2010) Cortical lesions in multiple sclerosis. Nat Rev Neurol 6:438–444PubMedCrossRef

Charil A, Yousry TA, Rovaris M, Barkhof F, De Stefano N, Fazekas F, Miller DH, Montalban X, Simon JH, Polman C, Filippi M (2006) MRI and the diagnosis of multiple sclerosis: expanding the concept of “no better explanation”. Lancet Neurol 5:841–852PubMedCrossRef

Cotton F, Rambaud L, Hermier M (2006) Dual inversion recovery MRI helps identifying cortical tubers in tuberous sclerosis. Epilepsia 47:1072–1073PubMedCrossRef

Fazekas F, Koch M, Schmidt R, Offenbacher H, Payer F, Freidl W, Lechner H (1992) The prevalence of cerebral damage varies with migraine type: a MRI study. Headache 32:287–291PubMedCrossRef

Filippi M, Rocca MA, Calabrese M, Sormani MP, Rinaldi F, Perini P, Comi G, Gallo P (2010) Intracortical lesions: relevance for new MRI diagnostic criteria for multiple sclerosis. Neurology 75:1988–1994PubMedCrossRef

Geurts JJ, Roosendaal SD, Calabrese M, Ciccarelli O, Agosta F, Chard DT, Gass A, Huerga E, Moraal B, Pareto D, Rocca MA, Wattjes MP, Yousry TA, Uitdehaag BM, Barkhof F (2011) Consensus recommendations for MS cortical lesion scoring using double inversion recovery MRI. Neurology 76:418–424PubMedCrossRef

Giorgio A, Stromillo ML, Rossi F, Battaglini M, Hakiki B, Portaccio E, Federico A, Amato MP, De Stefano N (2011) Cortical lesions in radiologically isolated syndrome. Neurology 77:1896–1899PubMedCrossRef

Kruit M, van Buchem M, Launer L, Terwindt G, Ferrari M (2010) Migraine is associated with an increased risk of deep white matter lesions, subclinical posterior circulation infarcts and brain iron accumulation: the population-based MRI CAMERA study. Cephalalgia 30:129–136

10.

Kruit MC, Launer LJ, Ferrari MD, van Buchem MA (2005) Infarcts in the posterior circulation territory in migraine. The population-based MRI CAMERA study. Brain 128:2068–2077PubMedCrossRef

11.

Kruit MC, van Buchem MA, Hofman PA, Bakkers JT, Terwindt GM, Ferrari MD, Launer LJ (2004) Migraine as a risk factor for subclinical brain lesions. JAMA 291:427–434PubMedCrossRef

12.

Kruit MC, van Buchem MA, Launer LJ, Terwindt GM, Ferrari MD (2010) Migraine is associated with an increased risk of deep white matter lesions, subclinical posterior circulation infarcts and brain iron accumulation: the population-based MRI CAMERA study. Cephalalgia 30:129–136PubMed

13.

Moschiano F, D’Amico D, Di Stefano M, Rocca N, Bussone G (2007) The role of the clinician in interpreting conventional neuroimaging findings in migraine patients. Neurol Sci 28(Suppl 2):S114–S117PubMedCrossRef

14.

Polman CH, Reingold SC, Banwell B, Clanet M, Cohen JA, Filippi M, Fujihara K, Havrdova E, Hutchinson M, Kappos L, Lublin FD, Montalban X, O’Connor P, Sandberg-Wollheim M, Thompson AJ, Waubant E, Weinshenker B, Wolinsky JS (2011) Diagnostic criteria for multiple sclerosis: 2010 revisions to the McDonald criteria. Ann Neurol 69:292–302PubMedCrossRef

15.

Porter A, Gladstone JP, Dodick DW (2005) Migraine and white matter hyperintensities. Curr Pain Headache Rep 9:289–293PubMedCrossRef

16.

Rossato G, Adami A, Thijs VN, Cerini R, Pozzi-Mucelli R, Mazzucco S, Anzola GP, Del Sette M, Dinia L, Meneghetti G, Zanferrari C (2010) Cerebral distribution of white matter lesions in migraine with aura patients. Cephalalgia 30:855–859PubMedCrossRef

17.

Rugg-Gunn FJ, Boulby PA, Symms MR, Barker GJ, Duncan JS (2006) Imaging the neocortex in epilepsy with double inversion recovery imaging. Neuroimage 31:39–50PubMedCrossRef

18.

Turetschek K, Wunderbaldinger P, Bankier AA, Zontsich T, Graf O, Mallek R, Hittmair K (1998) Double inversion recovery imaging of the brain: initial experience and comparison with fluid attenuated inversion recovery imaging. Magn Reson Imaging 16:127–135PubMedCrossRef

Title: Patients with migraine do not have MRI-visible cortical lesions
Authors: Martina Absinta
Maria A. Rocca
Bruno Colombo
Massimiliano Copetti
Donatella De Feo
Andrea Falini
Giancarlo Comi
Massimo Filippi
Publication date: 01-12-2012
Publisher: Springer-Verlag
Published in: Journal of Neurology / Issue 12/2012
Print ISSN: 0340-5354
Electronic ISSN: 1432-1459
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00415-012-6571-x

At a glance: The STEP trials

Springer Medicine

Patients with migraine do not have MRI-visible cortical lesions

Abstract

At a glance: The STEP trials

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Please log in to get access to this content

Other articles of this Issue 12/2012

Dopaminergic-induced paraphilias associated with impulse control and related disorders in patients with Parkinson disease

Dynamics of saccade parameters in multiple sclerosis patients with fatigue

Clinical and imaging features of the room tilt illusion

Codon 200 mutation of the prion gene: genotype–phenotype correlations

The progression of non-motor symptoms in Parkinson’s disease and their contribution to motor disability and quality of life

Read-Right: a “web app” that improves reading speeds in patients with hemianopia