MRI question for Dr Hagan

[melinda68]

Hi Dr Hagan
I have suffered from migraine with aura since I was a child (now 42). I had a head MRI with/without contrast for an ENT issue, and it was noted that a had a few isolated foci signal alterations within the white matter - theses were nonspeific finings and may be associated with small vessel disease and/or gliosis. There are no typical of a demyelinating prcoess.

My question is whether migraine with aura can cause this type of thing on an MRI?

Thanks in advance. My doctor is not in until Monday and in any case, he is an ENT.

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

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[melinda68]

Cheers for that. Much appreciated

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

Lenworth Johnson MD   see link below

http://som.missouri.edu/Ophthalmology/Faculty/johnson-l/

[melinda68]

I have just looked up a Dr Shephard from Uni of Washington in St Louis. Neuor-tpthal who probably know ...

[melinda68]

Oh, so what is his name?  We are from Moberly, MO. So very close.

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

Yes the report indicates no stroke seen in the brain MRI. Migraine does not affect the blood vessels other than during retinal migraines there may be come constriction but it does not do any damage. There is only one neuroophthalmologist in Columbia and he is at the U of Missouri (My wife and I are from Mexico, Missouri).

JCH MD

[melinda68]

Thank you, Dr Hagen. The report said there was no evidence of recent infarction or hemmorghage, which I take to me as no stroke??

Do you know if there is a link between migraine and disease of the retinal blood vessels? Should I perhaps take my films to a neuro-opthalmologist. Do you know of any well-respected ones in Columbia, MO?

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

Not as a rule. However if you do MRI on migraine sufferers there is an unexpected incidence of silent strokes, espcially if a smoker or on birth control pills.

JCH MD