An MRI is not able to help diagnose migraines, cluster, or tension headaches, however, it can help the doctor’s rule out any other medical conditions which may be causing your symptoms such as: A brain tumor. An infection in your brain, called an abscess. A build-up of fluid in the brain, called hydrocephalus.
Migraine cannot be seen directly on an MRI because migraine is first and foremost due to changes in the brain that are electrical/microscopic and inflammatory. These changes are invisible on standard imaging. Migraine is diagnosed based on symptoms, medical history, and physical exam rather than through imaging
When is an MRI needed for migraine?
Many people with a migraine do not need an MRI, but there are times when your physician may want one based on noting “red flags” with your headache. Red flags include sudden changes in pattern of headache or certain indications that there could be a more serious problem, including:
- Increased frequency or changes in the strength of headache
- Headache that changes with certain movements, like standing from sitting position, or when lying flat
- Head pain that does not stop
- Sudden, very painful headache that comes on quickly
- Headache that occurs with coughing, straining, lifting something heavy, bending over or during sexual activity
What is MRI capable of showing in migraine patients?
Some migraine patients can have white matter white patches (aka white matter hyperintensities, white matter abnormalities, etc.) on the MRI. These patches appear as white spots on specific sequences of the MRI (usually T2-weighted or inc FLAIR sequences on MRI). These spots are more commonly seen in people with migraine than in controls and are more commonly seen in migraine with aura than without aura.
Prevalence and Propensity: Approximately 40% of people with migraine (more in migraine with aura compared to no aura) have these nonspecific white matter changes. Some studies suggest that 50% or more of individuals with migraine have these abnormalities. A meta-analysis noted that individuals with migraine, even in the absence of other vascular risk factors, likely were at an increased risk for these findings.
Characteristics of lesions: These white matter changes tend to be small, non-specific, and not migraine-specific. They can also be seen in normal aging, as healthy people can have the same findings, and these findings are not considered specific for migraine. Little is still known about the clinically meaningful relevance of these lesions; it has not been shown that these lesions are necessary for migraine symptoms and do not contribute to cognitive decline or cognitive dysfunction.
Findings of advanced imaging: Advanced MRI techniques and high-resolution imaging have also identified other subtle changes Changes were also observed with brain volume changes and iron deposition. Most of these additional imaging findings remain relevant primarily in the research arena and are not typically employed in routine clinical examinations.
Why Can’t Migraine be seen on MRI?
Migraine is a functional disorder: the pain and other symptoms represent temporary changes in brain function not lasting structural damage. MRI is great for changes in the brain structure, but not for identifying the dynamism of the electrical or metabolic processes that lead to migraine.
MRI’s role in clinical practice: scans are done only to rule out when other diagnoses will be expected or if a significant change in headache has occurred. Most patients do not require MRI and the routine use of MRI in all people with migraine is not recommended as it rarely informs management and is only likely to add to patient’s anxiety about incidental findings.
Conclusion
Migraine does not actually “appear” on MRI as a specific abnormality for diagnosis.
While there may be white matter lesions and other insignificant changes, as discussed, these are not specific to migraine or useful for MRI may be useful for excluding other heads, but not for confirming a diagnosis of migraine.
So, although MRI may show certain brain changes more commonly in migraine patients, MRI cannot “see” migraine. The diagnosis is clinical and is made with MRI only to exclude other conditions if appropriate.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Will MRI detect migraine?
An MRI of the brain tells you about the structure of the brain, but tells you little or nothing about the function of the brain.
Q. What is the best imaging for migraines?
MRI scans help diagnose tumors, strokes, brain bleeding, infections, and other brain and nervous system, also known as neurological, conditions.
Q. Can an MRI diagnose migraine?
Migraine represents in terms of structure an abnormal functional disease, do not show
Q. What does a migraine look like on an MRI?
White matter hyperintensities are high brightness lesions in the brain episodically presented in various size, location, and areas of the brain.
Q. Why is Carebox your best choice?
As you make your decision of which imaging centres to use at carebox, it is good to know the reasons for why carebox is superior.
