Unilateral headache associated with a pontine infarction

Abstract

Brain stem structures are implicated in the generation of migraine and other types of headache. The patient described herein had chronic left hemicranial headaches associated with a left pontine infarction.

A Discrete Lesion of the Midpontine Tegmentum Causing Migrainous Headache and Numbness

“…Ischemic and inflammatory lesions of the pons and brainstem have been described in the past as generators of migrainous headache. Numerous brainstem regions such as the locus ceruleus, dorsal raphe, and dorsolateral pontine tegmentum have all been implicated in migraine pathophysiology 2 . Our case adds more evidence to substantiate the notion that lesions of distinct brainstem regions can play a role in generating migraine‐type pain.…”

“…Numerous brainstem regions such as the locus ceruleus, dorsal raphe, and dorsolateral pontine tegmentum have all been implicated in migraine pathophysiology. 2 Our case adds more evidence to substantiate the notion that lesions of distinct brainstem regions can play a role in generating migraine-type pain. A better understanding of this relationship may translate to a better understanding of migraine pathophysiology, which in the future may itself result in better migraine treatment strategies.…”

Unilateral Headache with Visual Aura from a Wallenberg Syndrome

“…Symptomatic migraine or migraine-like headache due to a brainstem lesion is rarely reported, and limited reports of brainstem lesions with migraine-like headache onset are all directed to the pons or midbrain [1,2]. We describe a new onset of recurrent unilateral headache whose clinical features were similar to that of migraine with aura in a patient who had a lateral medullary infarction, i.e., Wallenberg syndrome.…”