Presumed post-myelography migraine-like phenomena

Abstract

Severe attacks of migraine-like headache appeared in two patients at the age of 30 years and in one patient at the age of 49 years without any history of migraine in their family. A permanent homonymous field defect was left in two of them.

The common denominator of these three patients was the presence of pantopaque drops in the basal cisterns following myelography. This condition suggested the possibility of the development of an allergic/toxic reaction in certain patients after contrast myelography leading to a chronic inflammatory arachnoideal process.

Key Words:

• migraine-like attacks
• pantopaque
• basal cisterns
• arachnoideal inflammation