[MRI and MRA data in children with migraine with aura].

INTRODUCTION

One of indications to perform structural MRI and MRA is migraine with aura. Results may influence migraine management.

THE AIM

THE AIM of this study was an assessment of MRI and MRA results in children with symptoms of migraine with aura and also the analysis if MR results influence migraine management.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

During the year 2006, 20 children with migraine were hospitalized in the Department of Pediatric Neurology Jagiellonian University Krakow. There were 11 girls and 9 boys, aged 6-18 years (mean 13,7 years) with symptoms of migraine with aura. In 12 of them visual, in 9 sensory, in 6 dysphasic and in 3 motor aura was present. In 7 children two or more aura types coexisted. In 9 cases family history of migraine was positive. MRI was performed in all children, while additional MRA in 18 children and digital cerebral angiography in 1 of them. MRI was performed in SE T1, FSE T2, PD, FLAIR and IR T1 sequences with 3 or 5 millimetre thickness of slices, in the sagital, coronal and transversal plane, using a 1,5 T system (HiSpeed GE). 3D TOF techniques were used to perform MRA.

RESULTS

Results of MRI were normal in 11/20. In other children brain pathology was detected, within lateral ventricular asymmetry (2), demyelination (2), dilatation of CSF spaces (2) and vascular malformation (2). Isolated pathology, such as a calcification of the pineal gland and focal demyelination of vascular origin were detected in individual children. MRA in 16 children did not revealed pathology, however in 2 other children slight asymmetry of distal insular branches of middle cerebral arteries was detected. Aneurysm of the right anterior communicans artery was suspected in one child and it was confirmed by MRA. In one case digital angiography confirmed described on MRI result left vertebral and cerebral posterior arteries hypoplasia and also revealed collaterals in the posterior skull cavity.

CONCLUSIONS

Detection of vascular pathology in 20 % of patients with migraine with aura using MRI and MRA is an argument to perform both examinations in such patients.