Abstract:
This study was aimed to investigate the relationship between pineal cyst and headache in children. MR imaging was performed in 65 pediatric patients with headache and in a control group of 65 children with a 1.5 T Siemens MR device. The presence of pineal cysts and cyst sizes were noted. True pineal cysts and cystic transformations were evaluated separately. True pineal cysts were detected in 15 (23%) patients in the headache group and in 1 (1.5%) patient in the control group. True pineal cysts were detected in 5 (15.6%) migraine patients and in 10 (30.3%) patients with non-migraine headaches. A significant correlation was found between non-migraine headaches and pineal cysts (p <0.05) on the chi-square testing. However, no significant relationship was found between migraine and pineal cyst on the Fisher?s exact chi-square test. Pineal cystic transformations were detected in 13 (20%) patients in the headache group, in 13 (20%) patients in the control group. Pineal cystic transformations were detected in 5 (15.6%) migraine patients and in 8 (24.2%) non-migraine headache patients. There was no significant relationship between non-migraine headache and pineal cystic transformation and between migraine and pineal cystic transformation on chi-square testing. In conclusion, disruption of the circadian release of melatonin may be causally related to headaches. The knowledge of clinicians that pineal cysts may play a role in headache development, may be of therapeutic relevance.
