Asian Journal of Medical Radiological Research ¦Volume 7 ¦ Issue 2 ¦ July- December 2019 184 Abstract Evaluation of MRI Findings in Patients with Chronic Primary Headache Amarjit Kaur 1 , Dimple Mittal 2 , Navkiran Kaur 3 , Ishita Gupta 2 , Simranjeet Singh 2 1 Professor, Department of radiodiagnosis, GMC, Patiala, 2 Junior resident, Department of Radiodiagnosis, GMC, Patiala, 3 Professor and Head Deptt. Of Radiodiagnosis, Govt. Medical College, Rajindra Hospital, Patiala Background: Headache is a common clinical feature in patients in the emergency room and in general neurology clinics. Hence; under the light of above mentioned data, we planned the present study to assess the role of MRI scan in persons with chronic) primary headache. Subjects and Methods: The present study included 26 patients with chronic primary headache. Relevant history, clinical examination and routine investigations were done. Patients underwent MRI investigations. The entire patient diagnosed with non-acute headache was included in the study irrespective of their age and gender informed written consent was taken from all the patients. Imaging was performed using a head coil with patient in a supine position. All the MR imaging examination were performed on a Seimen's Avento 1.5 Tesla Magnet MR system, slice thickness was 4-5mm with an inter slice gap of 0.5mm. MR imaging findings were compiled as per proforma and subjected to analysis using SPSS software. Results: Significant MRI findings were found to be present in 23.08 percent of the patients. Out of 15 migraine patients, significant abnormal MRI findings were present in 26.67 percent of the patients. Out of 6 patents with tension type headache, significant abnormal MRI findings were found to be present in 1 patient only (16.6 percent). Among the 5 patients with cluster headache, significant abnormal MRI findings were found to be present in 1 patient (20 percent). Conclusion: The chance of finding a significant underlying abnormality in patients with a stable headache pattern and a normal neurological examination is uncommon but if red flags are present neuro-imaging must be strictly considered. Keywords: Chronic, Headache Magnetic resonance imaging. Corresponding Author: Dr. Dimple Mittal, Junior resident, Department of Radiodiagnosis, GMC, Patiala. Received: January 2020 Accepted:January2020 Introduction Brain magnetic resonance (MR) imaging studies provide multiple different imaging sequences in at least 2, and often 3, imaging planes. The different tissue signal characteristics and anatomic viewpoints are often complementary, and interpreting an MR imaging study of the brain can be a daunting task. The variety of pulse sequences and imaging planes makes understanding normal anatomy a necessity. [1- 3] Headache is a common clinical feature in patients in the emergency room and in general neurology clinics. For physicians not experienced in headache disorders it might be difficult sometimes to decide in which patients neuroimaging is necessary to diagnose an underlying brain pathology and in which patients cerebral imaging is unnecessary. Headache is the most often reported neurological symptom. Many patients are frightened that they are suffering from a severe disease and therefore request further diagnostics.Non-acute (chronic) headache is one of the common presenting complaints in patients attending the out patient’s department or emergency care of any hospital or general practitioner however, only about 10% of patients with recurrent headache have secondary cause. Non-acute (chronic) headache is defined as all headache syndromes lasting for at least four weeks. [4, 5] It is also one of the commonest symptoms, and primary headache disorders are among the most ubiquitous disorders, affecting people in all countries. India appears to be no exception. From an Indian perspective, few studies describe the epidemiology of headache disorders. Previously, these disorders have been investigated only within larger neuroepidemiological surveys that have neither focused on headache nor used internationally accepted criteria for headache diagnoses. [6, 7] Hence; under the light of above mentioned data, we planned the present study to assess the role of MRI scan in persons with chronic) primary headache. subjects and Methods The present study was conducted in the department of Radiodiagnosis, Rajindra Hospital, Patiala, and it included assessment of role of MRI scan in persons with non-acute (chronic) headache.The present study included 26 patients. Inclusion Criteria • Patients with chief complaint of non-acute headache. • Systematic reviews randomized controlled trials, observational studies. • Patient willing to give inform written consent to take ISSN (0): 2347-338X; ISSN (P): 2347-3371 Original Article