title: Migrainous spasm simulating carotid dissection: a pitfall in MR arteriographic findings.
abstract: An MR arteriogram obtained in a patient with migraine headaches during prodrome showed features of carotid dissection. A repeated study conducted within minutes demonstrated complete patency. Vascular spasm was proposed to be the cause. Migraine occurs in more than 10% of the population. The possibility of misdiagnosing a vascular spasm as carotid dissection is real and should be guarded against since there are great prognostic and treatment implications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Kwong Wah Hospital, Kowloon, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: P P
authors.initials: PP
authors.lastname: Iu
authors.forename: H S
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Lam
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000784:Aortic Dissection / Q000175:diagnosis*; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D002532:Intracranial Aneurysm / Q000175:diagnosis*; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography; D008881:Migraine Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis*; D020301:Vasospasm, Intracranial / Q000175:diagnosis*