A short history that is enough
Age at onset, whether the first time was sudden or gradual, attack length, site, quality, severity, worsening factors, nausea, light and sound, autonomic signs, aura, and the number of headache days and drug days each month. Then comorbidity, pregnancy, and current medicines. That list tells you more than an unplanned scan.
Examination
Blood pressure, temperature, alertness, cranial nerves, fundi, power and sensation, and the neck. With temple pain over age 50, feel the temporal artery pulse and scalp tenderness too. A normal examination is expected in typical migraine, and it has value: it makes the decision not to image defensible.
These pages are written for health professionals. They do not replace a history, examination, or clinical judgment. Treatment is decided for each patient individually.