[Ischemic stroke revealed by a thunderclap headache: contribution of diffusion-weighted mri sequences].
BACKGROUND
Sub-arachnoid hemorrhage, cerebral venous thrombosis and cerebral reversible angiopathies are the main causes of secondary thunderclap headache. Ischemic stroke is rarely revealed by thunderclap headache.


METHODS
A 80-year-old woman developed for the first time a thunderclap headache associated with transient distal motor deficit of the right hand. Diffusion-weighted sequences revealed a recent left infarct in a vascular border zone.


CONCLUSIONS
Ischemic stroke is a rare cause of thunderclap headache but practitioners should bear in mind this etiology when the diagnostic work-up is negative. Diffusion-weighted sequences of the brain MRI can provide the diagnosis.
Annic
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Service de Neurologie et Pathologie Neurovasculaire, (EA 2691), Hôpital Salengro, CHRU de Lille, 59037 Lille Cedex.
Lucas
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C
D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001921:Brain / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000473:pathology*; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis*; D002560:Cerebrovascular Circulation / Q000502:physiology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D038524:Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006261:Headache / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans