Hemiplegic migraine during pregnancy: unusual magnetic resonance appearance with SPECT scan correlation.
Publication/Presentation Date
3-2001
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: This article discusses the pathophysiology and implications for treatment of hemiplegic migraine within a case study presentation.
BACKGROUND: We evaluated a 31-year-old white woman for hemiplegia in her 36th week of pregnancy. She initially presented with severe headache, dysarthria, lethargy, and left-sided numbness and weakness. Hemiplegic migraine remains a diagnosis made by exclusion; neurologic examination of these patients is localizing, but nonspecific.
DESIGN: Magnetic resonance imaging and single photon emission computed tomography scanning were performed on this patient during an exacerbation of headache associated with dense hemiplegia.
RESULTS: Magnetic resonance imaging showed a superficial cerebral hemispheric signal abnormality with enhancement. Single photon emission computed tomography scanning confirmed hyperperfusion of that hemisphere.
CONCLUSIONS: We believe the imaging evidence in our patient suggests that hemiplegia was caused and sustained by hyperperfusion. This case lends supportive evidence to a primarily vasodilatory mechanism and hyperperfusion as an etiology of the paralysis in such headaches and perhaps migraine with aura.
Volume
41
Issue
3
First Page
310
Last Page
316
ISSN
0017-8748
Published In/Presented At
Barbour, P. J., Castaldo, J., & Shoemaker, E. I. (2001). Hemiplegic migraine during pregnancy: unusual magnetic resonance appearance with SPECT scan correlation.. LVHN Scholarly Works. Retrieved from https://scholarlyworks.lvhn.org/radiology-diagnostic-medical-imaging/4
Disciplines
Diagnosis | Medicine and Health Sciences | Other Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques and Equipment | Radiology
PubMedID
11264693
Department(s)
Department of Radiology and Diagnostic Medical Imaging
Document Type
Article