title: Posterior circulation embolism as a potential mechanism for migraine with aura.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Although the mechanism of migraine is regarded as a functional disorder of the brain, numerous studies have reported that migraine is closely associated with vascular system abnormalities.
  
  
  METHODS
  We describe a 19-year-old female with recurrent migraine attacks and typical aura for 7 years. MRI showed multiple stroke lesions in the posterior circulation. Moreover, a pseudoaneurysm (1.9 × 1.4 cm) originating from the left vertebral artery was observed on four-vessel angiography. Multiple microembolic signals (MES) were repeatedly observed in the basilar artery using 30-minute transcranial Doppler monitoring. Interestingly, MES and her typical migrainous symptoms disappeared simultaneously with removal of the pseudoaneurysm.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This case supports the fact that microemboli play a pivotal role in the development of migraine attacks.
authors.affiliation: Ajou University School of Medicine, South Korea.
authors.forename: Dong Hoon
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.forename: Tae Sung
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.forename: Seok Woo
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Yong
authors.forename: Jin Soo
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Jun Young
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Ji Man
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Hong
mesh_terms: D017541:Aneurysm, False / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D002533:Cerebral Angiography; D004621:Embolization, Therapeutic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020766:Intracranial Embolism / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D020325:Migraine with Aura / Q000209:etiology*; D020521:Stroke / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D014711:Vertebral Artery / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D055815:Young Adult