title: Perfusion-weighted imaging defects during spontaneous migrainous aura.
abstract: Perfusion- and diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging was performed during spontaneous visual auras in four migraineurs. Alterations in relative cerebral blood flow (16-53% decrease), cerebral blood volume (6-33% decrease), and tissue mean transit time (10-54% increase) were observed in the gray matter of occipital cortex contralateral to the affected visual hemifield. No changes in the apparent diffusion coefficient were observed either while the patients were symptomatic or after resolution of the visual symptoms but before the onset of headache. Functional magnetic resonance imaging can be a useful noninvasive tool to study hemodynamic changes during spontaneous attacks of migraine with aura.
authors.affiliation: Stroke and Neurovascular Regulation, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown 02129, USA.
authors.forename: F M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Cutrer
authors.forename: A G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Sorensen
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Weisskoff
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ostergaard
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sanchez del Rio
authors.forename: E J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: B R
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Rosen
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Moskowitz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001810:Blood Volume / Q000502:physiology; D002560:Cerebrovascular Circulation / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008881:Migraine Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis*; D013997:Time Factors; D014786:Vision Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014794:Visual Fields / Q000502:physiology*