Hemiplegic migraine

Case contributed by Yahya Baba
Diagnosis almost certain

Presentation

Presents with headaches, aphasia, and right hemiparesis. MR to rule out ischemia.

Patient Data

Age: 12 years
Gender: Female
mri

Case Discussion

Typical MR features of left hemiplegic migraine. The diagnosis is in line with the clinical presentation (aphasia and right hemiparesis).

A rare kind of migraine known as hemiplegic migraine with aura characterized by recurrent bouts of variable degrees of focal weakness associated with migraine.

Radiological features includes:

  • in the early aura (vasoconstriction) phase, arterial vasoconstriction and hypoperfusion involving the hemisphere contralateral to the side of hemiparesis, with asymmetric prominence of deoxygenated blood in cerebral veins on SWI,1

  • in the later headache (vasodilation) phase, MRI may demonstrate hyperperfusion and possible reversible mild diffuse cerebral cortical edema and diffusion restriction 1

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