Migraines can often be diagnosed based on your description of the symptoms and a physical examination. This is especially true if you have a family history of migraines. However, if the doctor is concerned that your headaches may be related to some other medical condition, he or she may order further tests. Some of the tests that may be used to rule out other conditions such as a brain tumor or stroke include:

• Computed tomography (CT) scan: this technique uses X-rays to take a cross-sectional image of the brain and can help detect tumors, vessel anomalies, infections, or other causes of headache.
• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI): this imaging technique uses powerful magnets to produce an image of the brain and can help diagnose tumors, strokes, aneurysms, neurological diseases, and problems with the blood vessels of the brain.
• Spinal tap (lumbar puncture): this procedure takes a small sample of the fluid that surrounds the brain and spinal cord called the CSF and can detect such things as meningitis or bleeding cased by a subarachnoid hemorrhage in the brain.