MRI white matter lesions in pediatric migraine.

OBJECTIVES: Studies have reported an association between migraine and white matter hyperintensities on T2-weighted brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in adults. The aim of the present study was to evaluate white matter MRI brain findings in pediatric patients with migraine.

METHODS: The medical files and imaging scans of all 194 patients who underwent brain MRI at the headache clinic of a tertiary medical center in 2008-2011 were reviewed.

RESULTS: Mean age was 10.9 ± 3.5 years. Migraine was diagnosed in 131 patients and other disorders in 63. In the migraine group, findings on physical and laboratory examinations were within normal range. White matter lesions were identified on MRI scan in 14 children with migraine (10.6%) and none of the children with other disorders ( P  = 0.006). In 13/14 patients, the lesions were focal with a variable distribution; in the remaining patient, confluent periventricular hyperintensities were documented.

CONCLUSIONS: In a headache clinic of a tertiary pediatric medical center, white matter lesions are found in about 10% of pediatric patients with migraine.