Scintillating scotoma

Scintillating scotoma

Infobox_Disease
Name = PAGENAME


Caption = Example of a scintillating scotoma, as may be caused by cortical spreading depression.
DiseasesDB =
ICD10 = ICD10|H|53|1|h|53
ICD9 = ICD9|368.12
ICDO =
OMIM =
MedlinePlus =
eMedicineSubj = neuro
eMedicineTopic = 480
MeshID = D012607

Scintillating scotoma is the most common visual aura preceding migraine and was first described by 19th century physician Hubert Airy (1838–1903).

Presentation

It may occur as an isolated symptom without headache in acephalgic migraine. Although many variations occur, scintillating scotoma usually begins as a spot of flickering light in the center of the visual fields, which to some degree obscures the field of view. The scotoma then expands into one or more shimmering arcs of white or colored flashing lights. An arc of light may gradually enlarge, become more obvious, and may take the form of a definite zig-zag pattern, sometimes called a fortification spectrum, because of its resemblance to the battlements of a castle or fort seen from above. It may be bilateral or unilateral.

It may be difficult to read and dangerous to drive a vehicle while the scotoma is present. Normal central vision may return several minutes before the scotoma disappears from the peripheral vision.

Prognosis

Symptoms typically resolve within 15-30 minutes, leading to the headache in classic migraine, or resolving without consequence in acephalgic migraine.

ee also

*Cortical spreading depression
*Scotoma

External links

* [http://www.agingeye.net/visionbasics/flashesandfloaters.php AgingEye Times]
* [http://imigraine.net/migraine/withaura.html Imigraine.Net] - includes images of scintillating scotomata

References

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • scintillating scotoma — n a blind spot in the visual field that is bordered by shimmering or flashing light and that is often a premonitory symptom of migraine attack * * * teichopsia …   Medical dictionary

  • scintillating scotoma —    Also known as flittering scotoma, fortification spectrum, fortification figure, fortification of Vauban, geometrical spectrum, herringbone, Norman arch, telehopsia, and teichopsia. The term scintillating scotoma is indebted to the Latin noun… …   Dictionary of Hallucinations

  • scintillating scotoma — noun a localized area of diminished vision edged by shimmering colored lights; in many people it indicates the onset of migraine • Syn: ↑flittering scotoma • Hypernyms: ↑scotoma …   Useful english dictionary

  • Scotoma — Infobox Disease Name = PAGENAME Caption = DiseasesDB = ICD10 = ICD10|H|53|4|h|53, ICD10|H|53|1|h|53 ICD9 = ICD9|368.4, ICD9|368.12 ICDO = OMIM = MedlinePlus = eMedicineSubj = eMedicineTopic = MeshID = D012607 A scotoma (Greek: darkness ; plural:… …   Wikipedia

  • scotoma —    Also known as negative scotoma. The term scotoma comes from the Greek noun skotos (darkness). It is used to denote an area or island of loss or impairment of vision, surrounded by a field of normal or relatively well preserved vision. In… …   Dictionary of Hallucinations

  • scotoma — 1. An isolated area of varying size and shape, within the visual field, in which vision is absent or depressed. 2. A blind spot in psychological awareness. [G. skotoma, vertigo, fr. skotos, darkness] absolute s. a s. in which there is no… …   Medical dictionary

  • flittering scotoma — noun a localized area of diminished vision edged by shimmering colored lights; in many people it indicates the onset of migraine • Syn: ↑scintillating scotoma • Hypernyms: ↑scotoma …   Useful english dictionary

  • moving scotoma —    A term used to denote a scotoma (i.e. an area of loss or impairment of vision) that moves across the field of vision. A well known example is the *fortificating spectrum or * scintillating sco toma preceding a migraine attack. The term moving… …   Dictionary of Hallucinations

  • Retinal migraine — Classification and external resources ICD 10 G43.81 Migraines Migraine Prevention of migraines Aura Cortical spreading depression …   Wikipedia

  • fortification spectrum —    Also known as fortification figure, fortification of Vauban, geometrical spectrum, herringbone, flittering scotoma, Norman arch, scintillating scotoma, telehopsia, and teichopsia. The introduction of the term fortification spectrum is commonly …   Dictionary of Hallucinations

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