Stroke-like migraine attacks after radiation therapy (SMART) syndrome presenting as a migraine copycat: A case report

Abstract

Background: Stroke-like migraine attacks after radiation therapy (SMART) syndrome is a possible long term consequence of cranial beam radiation therapy and may present as a perfect mimic of migraine with or without aura. Methods and Results: We present a 57-year-old man suffering from diffuse astrocytoma and presenting with SMART syndrome perfectly mimicking his antecedent migraine with visual aura. He was treated with intravenous steroid therapy inducing rapid response. Conclusion: SMART syndrome is a rare complex delayed complication of brain radiation therapy, which may present as an isolated migraine with or without aura even decades after cranial radiation. Thus, a sudden intensification or relapse of a previous migraine in a patient with remote cranial radiotherapy constitutes a red flag even decades after cranial irradiation and cured or stable tumor disease on a recent brain MRI. Moreover, SMART syndrome adds to the list of secondary headaches not yet listed in the current International Classification of Headache Disorders, 3rd edition (ICHD3).