Abstract
EEG-studies in migraine in the last decade has contributed modestly to the understanding of headache pathogenesis. Headache patient groups seem to have increased EEG responses to photic stimulation, but a useful biological marker for migraine in single patients has not been found. In future EEG and QEEG studies we recommend to use follow-up designs and record several EEGs across the migraine cycle. It is also important to use a blinded study design in order to avoid selection bias. A clinical EEG should be performed in patients with acute headache attacks when either epilepsy, basilar migraine, migraine with prolonged aura or alternating hemiplegia is suspected. Unequivocal epileptiform abnormalities usually suggest a diagnosis of epilepsy. In children with occipital spike-wave activity the probable diagnosis is childhood epilepsy with occipital paroxysms (CEOP). The final diagnosis of either an epilepsy syndrome or migraine must be mainly based on a clinical judgement [corrected].
Sand T. Electroencephalography in migraine: a review with focus on quantitative electroencephalography and the migraine vs. epilepsy relationship. Cephalalgia. 2003;23 Suppl 1:5-11. doi: 10.1046/j.1468-2982.2003.00570.x. Erratum in: Cephalalgia. 2003 Jul;23(6):483. PMID: 12699455.