A magnetization transfer imaging study of the brain in patients with migraine

The authors evaluated the magnetization transfer ratio (MTR) of T2 lesions, normal-appearing white matter (NAWM), and brain from 39 migraineurs, 17 he althy volunteers, and 22 patients with MS. Migraineurs had NAWM and brain M TR values similar to those of normal subjects but significantly higher than those of MS patients. Average lesion MTR values also were significantly lo wer in MS patients than in migraineurs. In patients with migraine, other et iologies should be considered in the presence of tissue damage beyond that seen on T2-weighted scans.