FREQUENCY OF MAGNETIC-RESONANCE-IMAGING ABNORMALITIES IN PATIENTS WITH MIGRAINE

Background.-The frequency of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) abnormal ities in patients with migraine has been reported at 12% to 46%. We ex amined a series of patients to determine the frequency of MRI abnormal ities, and any relationship of frequency with patient age, sex, migrai ne type, duration of symptoms, and other medical conditions. Methods.- Magnetic resonance imaging findings were reviewed retrospectively with respect to presence of focal white matter hyperintensities in 185 con secutive patients. Patients had been diagnosed with migraine by a neur ologist. All images had been interpreted by a neuroradiologist. Clinic al information was obtained by chart review. Results.-Sixteen percent had focal white matter abnormalities. Among patients less than 50 year s old, and without other medical problems such as hypertension, athero sclerotic heart disease, diabetes mellitus, autoimmune disorder or dem yelinating disease, only 646 had white matter abnormalities. Increased frequency of white matter abnormalities was associated with age and m edical risk factors, but not with sex, migraine subtype, or duration o f migraine symptoms. Conclusion.-The observed frequency of MRI abnorma lities in our series is lower than has been previously reported. In ma ny cases, these abnormalities may be unrelated to migraine. When such changes are discovered in a patient with migraine, other etiologies sh ould be considered.