MRI shows ties between neck muscle function, common headaches

CHICAGO -- Quantitative MRI reveals how muscles in the neck are involved in primary headaches, according to research presented November 29 at the 2023 RSNA annual meeting. In his talk, Nico Sollmann, MD, PhD, from University Hospital Ulm and University Hospital Rechts der Isar in Germany presented findings suggesting that increased T2 values of the trapezius muscles could be an objective imaging biomarker for myofascial involvement in primary headache disorders. He said that this could help improve patient phenotyping and therapy evaluation. Tension-type headache is the most prevalent primary headache disorder, which neck pain is tied to. However, Sollmann said no objective biomarkers exist for the myofascial involvement in primary headaches. Myofascial pain is connected to inflammation or irritation of the muscle or of the connective tissue, known as fascia, that surrounds the muscle. The researchers wanted to study how the trapezius muscles are involved in primary headache disorders, using quantitative MRI. They also wanted to explore potential ties between muscle T2 values and the frequency of headache and neck pain. In its prospective study, the team included 50 participants. Of these, 16 had tension-type headache and 12 had tension-type headache plus migraine episodes. The groups were matched with 22 healthy controls. The study participants underwent 3D turbo spin-echo MRI and from there, the bilateral trapezius muscles were manually segmented, followed by muscle T2...
Source: AuntMinnie.com Headlines - Category: Radiology Authors: Tags: Subspecialties MRI Musculoskeletal Radiology RSNA 2023 Source Type: news