Advanced neuroimaging of migraine

Summary Advanced neuroimaging has helped to increase our knowledge about migraine pathophysiology. Our perception of migraine has transformed from a vascular, to a neurovascular, and most recently, to a CNS disorder. Functional imaging has confirmed the importance of cortical spreading depression (C...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Lancet neurology 2009-06, Vol.8 (6), p.560-568
Main Authors: Schwedt, Todd J, MD, Dodick, David W, MD
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Brain - pathology
Cerebral blood flow
Cortical spreading depression
Diagnostic Imaging - classification
Diagnostic Imaging - methods
Functional anatomy
Headache
Headaches
Humans
Hypotheses
Investigations
Medical imaging
Migraine
Migraine Disorders - diagnosis
Neuroimaging
Neurology
Neurotransmitters
Pain
Pathophysiology
Perception
Reviews
Structure-function relationships
Therapeutic applications
Transformation
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Summary:Summary Advanced neuroimaging has helped to increase our knowledge about migraine pathophysiology. Our perception of migraine has transformed from a vascular, to a neurovascular, and most recently, to a CNS disorder. Functional imaging has confirmed the importance of cortical spreading depression (CSD) as the pathophysiological mechanism of migraine aura in human beings, whereas novel animal studies are unravelling the mechanistic underpinnings of CSD. Altered cerebral blood flow and neurotransmitter systems have been identified during and between headaches in migraine with and without aura. Advanced neuroimaging has identified mechanisms involved in the transformation of migraine from an episodic disorder to one with near continuous symptomatology. Questions regarding the secondary effects of migraine on brain structure and function, possibly related to attack frequency and duration of illness, have been raised. New imaging techniques could lead to novel diagnostic and therapeutic interventions that will help to improve the lives of millions of patients with migraine. In this Review, we summarise the most important findings from current imaging studies of migraine.
ISSN:1474-4422
1474-4465
DOI:10.1016/S1474-4422(09)70107-3