title: Alterations in the trapezius muscle in young patients with migraine--a pilot case series with MRI.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Migraine is frequent in young adults and adolescents and often associated with neck muscle tension and pain. Common pathophysiological pathways, such as reciprocal cervico-trigeminal activation, are assumed. Tense areas within the neck muscles can be clinically observed many patients with migraine. The aim of this pilot case study was to visualize these tense areas via magnet resonance imaging (MRI).
  
  
  METHODS
  Three young patients with migraine were examined by an experienced investigator. In all three patients tense areas in the trapezius muscles were palpated. These areas were marked by nitroglycerin capsules on the adjacent skin surface.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The MRI showed focal signal alterations at the marked locations within the trapezius muscles.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Visualization of palpable tense areas by MRI may be usefully applied in the future to help elucidate the underlying pathophysiological processes of migraine.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatric Neurology and Developmental Medicine, Dr. von Hauner Children's Hospital, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany; German Vertigo and Balance Center (DSGZ), Munich University Hospital, Germany. Electronic address: mirjam.landgraf@med.uni-muenchen.de.
authors.forename: M N
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Landgraf
authors.affiliation: Institute of Clinical Radiology, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ertl-Wagner
authors.affiliation: Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatic and Psychotherapy, Ludwig-Maximilian-University, Munich, Germany; Psychiatry Neuroimaging Laboratory, Harvard University, Boston, MA, USA.
authors.forename: I K
authors.initials: IK
authors.lastname: Koerte
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatric Neurology and Developmental Medicine, Dr. von Hauner Children's Hospital, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Thienel
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatric Neurology and Developmental Medicine, Dr. von Hauner Children's Hospital, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany; German Vertigo and Balance Center (DSGZ), Munich University Hospital, Germany.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Langhagen
authors.affiliation: German Vertigo and Balance Center (DSGZ), Munich University Hospital, Germany; Department of Neurology, Campus Grosshadern, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Straube
authors.affiliation: Institute of Social Paediatrics, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: von Kries
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Friedrich-Baur-Institut, Campus Innenstadt, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Reilich
authors.affiliation: Institute of Clinical Radiology, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pomschar
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatric Neurology and Developmental Medicine, Dr. von Hauner Children's Hospital, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany; German Vertigo and Balance Center (DSGZ), Munich University Hospital, Germany.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Heinen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008881:Migraine Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D013035:Spasm / Q000150:complications; D064171:Superficial Back Muscles / Q000503:physiopathology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Focal alterations; Magnetic resonance imaging; Migraine; Myofascial trigger points; Tense areas; Visualization