title: Ophthalmoplegic migraine: migraine or oculomotor neuropathy?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Ophthalmoplegic migraine (OM) is a rare condition characterized by the association of headaches and an oculomotor nerve palsy. The third cranial nerve is commonly involved in recurrent attacks, whereas involvement of the sixth and fourth nerves is uncommon. It is still debated whether an uncontrolled migraine or an oculomotor neuropathy may be the primary cause of ophthalmoplegic migraine.
  
  
  METHODS
  We report two patients affected by OM with normal magnetic resonance imaging findings and a history of uncontrolled migraine before an attack of OM.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The cases reported allow us to hypothesize that OM may be considered a form of migraine rather than a cranial neuralgia. It is possible that different factors such as inflammatory or structural factors, may represent a vulnerability of the nerve during a severe migraine attack causing ophthalmoplegia.
authors.affiliation: Child Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Neuroscience and Sense Organs, University of "Aldo Moro" Bari, Italy. l.margari@neurol.uniba.it
authors.forename: Lucia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Margari
authors.forename: Anna R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Legrottaglie
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Craig
authors.forename: Maria G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Petruzzelli
authors.forename: Ugo
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Procoli
authors.forename: Franca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Dicuonzo
mesh_terms: D001763:Blepharoptosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D002648:Child; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004569:Electroencephalography; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D015840:Oculomotor Nerve Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D060486:Ophthalmoplegic Migraine / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology