title: MELAS presenting as migraine complicated by stroke: case report.
abstract: A case of MELAS (mitochondrial encephalomyopathy, lactic acidosis, and stroke-like episodes) which presented as migraine complicated by stroke is reported. Strokes associated with migraine have often been reported, but the mechanism remains unclear and may include a variety of pathologies. MELAS also presents with migrainous headache, vomiting, and stroke-like symptoms. Magnetic resonance imaging demonstrates characteristic findings. MELAS should be considered in the differential diagnosis of infarct-like lesions with migrainous headaches in young adults, especially if the symptoms fluctuate and are accompanied by a homonymous hemianopia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Japan.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ohno
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Isotani
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hirakawa
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001921:Brain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D002561:Cerebrovascular Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D017241:MELAS Syndrome / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008881:Migraine Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed