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Abstract #3654

Structural Abnormalities in the Thalamus of Migraine Patients: A Multi-Parametric Study at High Field.

Cristina Granziera1, 2, Alessandro Daducci3, David Romascano2, Alexis Roche2, Gunther Helms4, Gunnar Krueger, 25, Nouchine Hadjikhani6, 7

1Department of clinical neurosciences, CHUV, Lausanne, VD, Switzerland; 2Advanced clinical imaging technology, EPFL, Lausanne, VD, Switzerland; 3ST/IEL/LTS5, EPFL, Lausanne, VD, Switzerland; 4Dept. of Cognitive Neurology, MR-Research in Neurology and Psychiatry, Goettingen, Germany; 5Healthcare Sector IM&WS S, Siemens Schweiz AG,, Renens, VD, Switzerland; 6BMI/SV/GRHAD, EPFL, Lausanne, Vd, Switzerland; 7Radiology, Martinos center, MGH and Harvard medical school, Charlestown, MA, Switzerland

The thalamus is an important relay of pain processing pathways and exerts a pivotal role in cortical excitability control. In this study, we examined the structural characteristics of the thalamus in a group of migraine patients and healthy controls using a multi-parametric approach at high field MRI (3T). We showed that patients suffering from migraine with aura had different micro-structural features in numerous thalamic nuclei compared to migraineurs without aura and non-migraineurs, pointing at iron accumulation in some thalamic nuclei and at increased cellular presence in others. The observed alterations encompassed the somato-sensory, limbic and visual thalamic regions.

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Keywords

abnormalities acquisition advanced alterations among anisotropy anterior aura brain broad cells channel clarify classification clinical cognitive coil computed concomitant connectivity content contribute contributor control controls correlations cortical density deposition dept derived diffusion dorsal duration echoes enrolled equipped examined excitability exerts exhibit expectation field foundation foundations fractional frequency future generalized grant healthy helms house important included index indicates integrity inversion iron lateral linearly longer machine magnetization majority maps matched maximization medial medical migraine national nature neurology neuronal nonparametric nuclei nucleus numerous objective pain parametric pathways patients permutation phenomenon pivotal post posterior processing properties protocol psychiatry quantitative radiology rage randomize reached registered relay resolution role sample scanning school science sector shortening shorter significance significantly simultaneous slices slightly software spectrum statistical statistics structural studies subjects suggest suggested suggesting swiss technology thalamus tissue toolkit transfer trio underlying underwent variational ventral volume whole