MRI Findings in Transient Headache and Neurologic Deficits with Cerebrospinal Lymphocytosis Syndrome

• Published in: Canadian journal of neurological sciences Vol. 50; no. 5; pp. 764 - 765
• Main Authors: Al Towairqi, Wed, Torres, Carlos, O’Donnell, Hailey, Bourque, Pierre R.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, USA Cambridge University Press 01.09.2023
• Subjects: Headaches; Medical imaging; Migraine; Neuroimaging Highlight; Patients; Neuroimaging; Migraine
• ISSN: 0317-1671; 2057-0155
• DOI: 10.1017/cjn.2022.277

HaNDL was first described in 1981.1 The ICHD-3 diagnostic criteria require episodes of migraine-like headache accompanied by focal deficits, CSF lymphocytic pleocytosis, self-resolution within 3 months, and no alternative explanation.2 A case series of 50 patients reported onset between age 14 and 39 years with male predominance (68%).3 Roughly, a third of these patients had a personal history of migraine.3 There was a mean of three episodes per patient (range 1–12).3 Some patients had contralateral hemispheric involvement in subsequent episodes similar to our patient.3 Figure 1: Axial DWI (A) shows a punctate cortical hyperintense lesion with corresponding hypointensity on ADC (B) and subtle hyperintensity in FLAIR (C) compatible with ischemic lesion. Wed Al Towairqi, MD, Division of Neurology, University of Ottawa, The Ottawa Hospital: Civic Campus, 1053 Carling Avenue, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, K1Y4E9.