Challenges of Imaging the Greater Occipital Nerve Using Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Migraine headaches are a significant global health concern, frequently managed with varying levels of success. Compression of the greater occipital nerve (GON) is hypothesized to contribute to pathology in some migraine patients, making extracranial nerve decompression surgery a potential intervention for refractory cases. However, accurate methods to image the GON along its tortuous course still need to be explored. Our group has developed magnetic resonance imaging sequences to track the GON. Yet, many challenges were met, which included navigating the GON's complex anatomy, understanding anatomical variants, and designing advanced magnetic resonance imaging sequences and coils to image the posterior scalp. Addressing these hurdles is vital to capture and understand GON pathology and guide potential interventions.