Aside from Basilar Migraine, several additional different types of migraines exist under the category of complicated migraine. They are Retinal Migraine, Ophthalmoplegic Migraine, Hemiplegic Migraine, and are not discussed here. They are a complicated phenomenon involving biochemical, neurogenic, and vascular components. By virtue of its name, this syndrome implies involvement of the vertebrobasilar artery system and includes transient symptoms stemming from neurologic symptoms in primarily posterior brain circulation, but may spread to other areas of the brain. Neurological symptoms most often come before any headache as an aura, but can also start while a headache occurs.
Symptoms can linger for hours or days but most often completely resolve or go away.
Any associated headache is usually bilateral and although the headache is usually in the posterior part of the head it can also occur in the frontal or temporal location. Any pain is most often severe and throbbing. Nausea may occur and can lead to vomiting. All symptoms do not exist in all cases. In most cases, these symptoms are transient, however, other cases report unremitting symptoms or a permanent deficit.