Headache case prompts call for faster MRI access

A New Jersey teen who had persistent headaches after a concussion was found to have an arteriovenous malformation and underwent successful surgery.

Teen headaches traced to brain AVM after MRI

Logan Coleridge, a New Jersey high school football player, began showing troubling symptoms after a helmet impact in August 2023. He suffered dizziness, balance trouble, memory problems, and strong light sensitivity, along with severe headaches that disrupted his school life. Months of physical therapy and different doctors failed to pinpoint a cause, and an MRI had not yet been ordered.

The case highlights how persistent symptoms after head injuries can hide serious brain problems. It raises questions about when imaging should be pursued in young patients and how access to specialists affects outcomes. AVMs are congenital and can cause a range of symptoms depending on where they form in the brain, and emergency risk comes from rupture. Early testing and timely treatment can change a difficult path into a safer one.

Highlights

The episode shows the value of prompt imaging in persistent headaches and the need for clear pathways to pediatric neurology care.