Migraine with atypical visual aura caused by colloid cyst of the third ventricle

Congenital colloid cyst with astigmatism in adult male patient: a rare case report

Introduction and importance

Colloid cysts are rare brain tumors that can cause headaches, memory problems, and vision issues. Early diagnosis and treatment are crucial to prevent complications.

Case presentation

The authors report a case of a patient in their 20s with a 2-year history of headaches and blurry vision. A computed tomography (CT) scan revealed a colloid cyst in the third ventricle. The patient was diagnosed with astigmatism and managed with corrective lenses and regular CT scans.

Clinical discussion

The patient's astigmatism may be linked to the colloid cyst, potentially due to migraines triggered by the cyst's location. Further research is needed to understand this relationship.

Conclusion

This case highlights the potential for colloid cysts to contribute to vision problems. Careful evaluation and individualized management are essential for patients with colloid cysts and vision disturbances.

Midbrain raphe hypoechogenicity in migraineurs: An indicator for the use of analgesics but not triptans

Introduction The involvement of the serotonergic system of the brainstem raphe in the pathogenesis of migraine is discussed. Here we studied brainstem alterations in migraineurs using transcranial sonography and examined their relation to clinical features and self-medication. Methods We investigated 51 migraineurs (11 men, 40 women, mean age 29.7 ± 11.9 years) and 32 healthy individuals without history of headache or depressive disorder (eight men, 24 women, mean age 34.4 ± 13.0 years). Transcranial sonography was performed in an investigator-blinded fashion. Midbrain raphe echogenicity was quantified using digitized analysis. Migraine characteristics and the use of analgesics were evaluated by applying validated questionnaires. Eight migraineurs underwent neurophysiologic evaluation of contingent stimulus-related cortical potentials. Results Echo-reduced midbrain raphe was detected in 27 (53%) migraineurs, but only six (19%) control subjects (odds ratio = 4.87, p = 0.002). Lower raphe echogenicity correlated with both higher amplitude of terminal contingent negative variation (Spearman test, r = 0.76, p = 0.028) and higher use of analgesic drugs ( r = -0.45, p = 0.011), but not with use of triptans or with migraine frequency or severity (all p > 0.2). Compared to migraineurs without aura, migraineurs with aura had enlarged third ventricles (t-test, p = 0.014), while the lateral ventricle widths did not differ ( p = 0.62). Conclusions Midbrain raphe alteration is frequent in migraineurs and relates to self-medication behavior. This alteration may reflect the dysfunction of serotonergic raphe nuclei.

Migraine mimics

The symptoms of migraine are non-specific and can be present in many other primary and secondary headache disorders, which are reviewed. Even experienced headache specialists may be challenged at times when diagnosing what appears to be first or worst, new type, migraine status, and chronic migraine.