Sporadic hemiplegic migraine: report of a case with clinical and radiological features

J Headache Pain. 2008 Dec;9(6):385-8. doi: 10.1007/s10194-008-0067-1. Epub 2008 Sep 23.

Abstract

A case of visual hallucination, headache and left hemiparesis is reported. The patient had a history of recurrent attacks of similar semiology for the previous 15 years. MRI brain revealed a cortical hyperintensity on T2W, FLAIR and diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) in the right cerebral hemisphere with a normal ADC (apparent diffusion coefficient) map and MR angiogram. Detailed workup for MELAS was negative. A diagnosis of sporadic hemiplegic migraine was made and he was managed conservatively. He made a gradual complete recovery over 2 weeks. He was discharged on flunarizine for prophylaxis and has remained asymptomatic over the ensuing 4 months. This interesting condition is reviewed and discussed herein.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Brain / diagnostic imaging*
  • Brain / pathology
  • Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging / methods
  • Functional Laterality
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Resonance Angiography
  • Male
  • Migraine with Aura / diagnostic imaging*
  • Migraine with Aura / pathology*
  • Radiography