Dolicho-vertebrobasilar abnormality and migraine-like attacks

Eur Neurol. 1999 Jan;41(1):10-4. doi: 10.1159/000007991.

Abstract

This is a study of two children with neuroradiologically diagnosed dolichobasilar anomaly: in both cases, the diagnosis was based on magnetic resonance imaging and magnetic resonance angiography findings. We examined the first child (R., aged 6 years and 8 months) following four episodes of intense pain in the left orbit, lasting between 10 and 30 min and accompanied by photophobia and vomiting. The second child (S., aged 9 years and 2 months), suffering from Marfan's syndrome, was examined following recurrent episodes of intense pain that started above the left orbit, moving to the homolateral orbit after a few minutes. These episodes, which lasted between 20 and 30 min, took place mainly at night and were accompanied by phono-photophobia and vomiting. In both cases, the pain attacks can be interpreted as a result of compression of the root of the trigeminal nerve caused by an arterial malformation.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Anticonvulsants / therapeutic use
  • Basilar Artery / abnormalities*
  • Basilar Artery / pathology
  • Carbamazepine / therapeutic use
  • Child
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Diagnostic Errors
  • Dilatation, Pathologic
  • Epilepsy, Temporal Lobe / diagnosis
  • Headache / etiology*
  • Humans
  • Intracranial Arteriovenous Malformations / complications*
  • Intracranial Arteriovenous Malformations / diagnosis
  • Magnetic Resonance Angiography
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Marfan Syndrome / complications*
  • Migraine Disorders / diagnosis*
  • Nerve Compression Syndromes / etiology*
  • Posture
  • Sensation Disorders / etiology*
  • Trigeminal Nerve* / physiopathology
  • Vertebral Artery / abnormalities*
  • Vertebral Artery / pathology
  • Vomiting / etiology*

Substances

  • Anticonvulsants
  • Carbamazepine