Diagnostic utility of routine EEG study in identifying seizure as the etiology of the index event in patients referred with a diagnosis of migraine and not otherwise specified headache disorders.

The study investigated the diagnostic utility of a routine electroencephalogram (EEG) to help identify seizure as the underlying etiology of the index event in patients referred with a diagnosis of migraine and not otherwise specified (NOS) headache disorders. A total of 50 patients yielded 50 routine EEGs (headache NOS, n = 32; migraine n = 18). Overall, there were 37 (74%) normal EEGs and 13 (26%) abnormal. Routine EEGs are mostly normal in young patients (18-40 years of age) who are referred to our laboratory with a diagnosis of headache NOS or migraine.