Brain magnetic resonance imaging findings in relapsing neuromyelitis optica

2007 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 186-192 ◽  
Author(s):  
José A Cabrera-Gómez ◽  
L Quevedo-Sotolongo ◽  
A González-Quevedo ◽  
S Lima ◽  
Y Real-González ◽  
...  

Background Some studies showed abnormalities in brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of relapsing neuromyelitis optica (R-NMO) from 12 to 46%. These abnormalities are described as compatible/non-compatible with multiple sclerosis (MS). Objective To describe the abnormal brain MRI lesions in R-NMO with imaging studies conducted with more sensitive white matter change techniques. Methods Thirty patients with R-NMO were selected. All MRI brain studies were performed with a 1.5-T Siemens MRI system according to the Standardized MR Imaging Protocol for Multiple Sclerosis from the Consortium of MS Centers Consensus Guidelines. Results Brain MRI images were evaluated in 29 R-NMO cases because in one case the MRI images were not appropriate for the study. Of these 29 brain MRI studies, 19 cases (65.5%) had at least one or more lesions (1–57) and 10 were negative (34.4%). Brain MRI findings in 19 cases were characterized in T2/fluid-attenuated inversion-recovery (FLAIR) by the presence of subcortical/deep white matter lesions in 16 (84.2%) cases (1–50), most of them < 3 mm and without juxtacortical localization. Periventricular lesions were observed in 13 (68.4%) cases, but morphologically they were not oval, ovoid or perpendicularly orientated. Infratentorial lesions, all >3 mm, were observed in 4 (21.05%) cases without cerebellar involvement. T1 studies demonstrated absence of hypointense regions. Optic nerve enhancement was observed in 6/19 patients (31.5%). None of the brain MRI abnormalities observed were compatible with Barkhof et al. criteria of MS. Conclusions This study, based on a Cuban patient population, with long duration of disease, good sample size and detailed characterization by MRI, demonstrated the brain MRI pattern of R-NMO patients, which is different from MS. Multiple Sclerosis 2007; 13: 186–192. http://msj.sagepub.com

2021 ◽  
pp. 55-56
Author(s):  
Jonathan L. Carter

A 36-year-old woman with a history of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis was evaluated for new multiple sclerosis symptoms accompanied by new, enhancing, white matter lesions on brain magnetic resonance imaging. Her multiple sclerosis presented with L’hermitte sign when she was 24 years old. She had onset of bilateral lower extremity and left upper extremity tingling at age 26 years. Magnetic resonance imaging and cerebrospinal fluid examination at the time were supportive of the diagnosis of multiple sclerosis, and disease-modifying therapy was recommended by her neurologist. She initiated therapy with dimethyl fumarate at age 30 years after several further relapses. Surveillance magnetic resonance imaging showed new gadolinium-enhancing lesions on brain magnetic resonance imaging on each of 3 consecutive yearly scans. Urine culture and sensitivity tests were performed to rule out occult urinary tract infection; results of this testing were negative. magnetic resonance imaging of the brain concurrently showed new enhancing white matter lesions. The patient was diagnosed with clinical and radiographic breakthrough disease activity while receiving therapy for multiple sclerosis. The patient was treated with 5 days of intravenous methylprednisolone for her relapse. After discussion with the patient, it was decided to transition therapy from dimethyl fumarate to ocrelizumab infusions for her breakthrough disease activity. This decision was further supported by the patient’s concerns that she might be entering an early progressive phase of the disease. In patients with spinal-predominant multiple sclerosis, or with symptoms potentially indicating new spinal cord involvement, it may be necessary to include spinal cord imaging to assess for new disease activity.


2018 ◽  
Vol 25 (14) ◽  
pp. 1915-1925 ◽  
Author(s):  
Colm Elliott ◽  
Jerry S Wolinsky ◽  
Stephen L Hauser ◽  
Ludwig Kappos ◽  
Frederik Barkhof ◽  
...  

Background: Chronic lesion activity driven by smoldering inflammation is a pathological hallmark of progressive forms of multiple sclerosis (MS). Objective: To develop a method for automatic detection of slowly expanding/evolving lesions (SELs) on conventional brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and characterize such SELs in primary progressive MS (PPMS) and relapsing MS (RMS) populations. Methods: We defined SELs as contiguous regions of existing T2 lesions showing local expansion assessed by the Jacobian determinant of the deformation between reference and follow-up scans. SEL candidates were assigned a heuristic score based on concentricity and constancy of change in T2- and T1-weighted MRIs. SELs were examined in 1334 RMS patients and 555 PPMS patients. Results: Compared with RMS patients, PPMS patients had higher numbers of SELs ( p = 0.002) and higher T2 volumes of SELs ( p < 0.001). SELs were devoid of gadolinium enhancement. Compared with areas of T2 lesions not classified as SEL, SELs had significantly lower T1 intensity at baseline and larger decrease in T1 intensity over time. Conclusion: We suggest that SELs reflect chronic tissue loss in the absence of ongoing acute inflammation. SELs may represent a conventional brain MRI correlate of chronic active MS lesions and a candidate biomarker for smoldering inflammation in MS.


2010 ◽  
Vol 16 (10) ◽  
pp. 1229-1236 ◽  
Author(s):  
Woojun Kim ◽  
Min Su Park ◽  
Sang Hyun Lee ◽  
Su-Hyun Kim ◽  
In Ja Jung ◽  
...  

Background: Although neuromyelitis optica has been traditionally regarded as a disease without brain involvement, brain abnormalities are not uncommon in patients with neuromyelitis optica-related disorders. Methods: We aimed to characterize the brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) abnormalities in neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder patients who are seropositive for anti-aquaporin-4 autoantibody (AQP4 Ab). Of 236 consecutive patients with inflammatory demyelinating central nervous system diseases, we retrospectively analyzed MRI characteristics of 78 patients who were seropositive for AQP4 Ab. Results: For an average observational period of 6.3 years, 62 patients (79%) had brain lesions on MRI. Twenty-four patients (31%) had brain MRI abnormalities at the onset of disease, and 35 (45%) had symptomatic brain involvement. Characteristic brain MRI abnormalities were classified into five categories: (1) lesions involving corticospinal tracts (e.g. posterior limb of internal capsule and cerebral peduncle (44%); (2) extensive hemispheric lesions likely due to vasogenic edema (29%); (3) periependymal lesions surrounding aqueduct and the third and fourth ventricles (22%); (4) periependymal lesions surrounding lateral ventricles (40%); and (5) medullary lesions, often contiguous with cervical lesions (31%). Fifty-four patients (69%) showed at least one kind of brain abnormality among the five characteristic MRI lesions. Ten patients showed gadolinium-enhancing lesions, which were characterized by multiple patchy enhancing patterns with blurred margins. Conclusions: In central nervous system AQP4 autoimmunity, brain MRI abnormalities were more common than is generally appreciated and were characterized by their unique localization and configuration.


2016 ◽  
Vol 22 (10) ◽  
pp. 1289-1296 ◽  
Author(s):  
Niraj Mistry ◽  
Rasha Abdel-Fahim ◽  
Amal Samaraweera ◽  
Olivier Mougin ◽  
Emma Tallantyre ◽  
...  

Background: White matter lesions are frequently detected using brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) performed for various indications. Most are microangiopathic, but demyelination, including multiple sclerosis (MS), is an important cause; conventional MRI cannot always distinguish between these pathologies. The proportion of lesions with a central vein on 7-T T2*-weighted MRI prospectively distinguishes demyelination from microangiopathic lesions. Objective: To test whether 3-T T2*-weighted MRI can differentiate MS from microangiopathic brain lesions. Methods: A total of 40 patients were studied. Initially, a test cohort of 10 patients with MS and 10 patients with microangiopathic white matter lesions underwent 3-T T2*-weighted brain MRI. Anonymised scans were analysed blind to clinical data, and simple diagnostic rules were devised. These rules were applied to a validation cohort of 20 patients (13 with MS and 7 with microangiopathic lesions) by a blinded observer. Results: Within the test cohort, all patients with MS had central veins visible in >45% of brain lesions, while the rest had central veins visible in <45% of lesions. By applying diagnostic rules to the validation cohort, all remaining patients were correctly categorised. Conclusion: 3-T T2*-weighted brain MRI distinguishes perivenous MS lesions from microangiopathic lesions. Clinical application of this technique could supplement existing diagnostic algorithms.


2007 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 248-251 ◽  
Author(s):  
JA Cabrera-Gómez ◽  
A. Saiz-Hinarejos ◽  
F. Graus ◽  
A. González-Quevedo ◽  
R. Rodríguez-Rojas ◽  
...  

We studied cranial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) lesions in three women with acute attacks of recurrent longitudinally extensive transverse myelitis (r-LETM), recurrent-optic neuritis (r-ON) and r-LETM-CNS. Neuromyelitis Optica -immunoglobulin (IgG) antibody was positive in all cases. Brain MRI (1.5 Tesla) was performed according to protocol from consortium MS centre. We described the cranial lesions in brain MRI of acute relapses. These lesions were different from MS, most had an asymptomatic course which disappeared with time, protocol from consortium of MS centre criteria for brain MRI and seropositivity of NMO-IgG are useful tools for differentiate acute lesions of NMO/MS. Multiple Sclerosis 2008; 14: 248—251. http://msj.sagepub.com


2009 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 3
Author(s):  
Harris A. Ngow ◽  
Wan Mohd Nowalid Wan Khairina ◽  
Bin Basri Hamidon

Brain edema in patients with hypertensive encephalopathy frequently affects the parieto-occipital white matter. Hypertensive encephalopathy is thus included as a differential diagnosis in reversible posterior leukoencephalopathy syndrome. Diffuse white matter involvement rarely occurs. We report a 41-year old woman with hypertensive encephalopathy with diffuse and non-enhancing white matter hyper-intensities throughout the whole brain on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). These hyperintensities spared the grey matter on T2-weighted and FLAIR sequence. These unusual finding on brain MRI was attributed to severe vasogenic cerebral edema resulting from accelerated hypertension.


Medicina ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 48 (9) ◽  
pp. 65
Author(s):  
Hanna Kuusisto ◽  
Xingchen Wu ◽  
Prasun Dastidar ◽  
Tiina Luukkaala ◽  
Irina Elovaara

Background and Objective. Brain size, white matter hyperintensity, and the development of brain atrophy are known to be highly heritable. The decrease of brain volume starts from the very onset of multiple sclerosis and is 10-fold compared with normal aging. The aim of this study was to assess whether the brain and spinal cord volumes and the volume of white matter lesions differed between twins with multiple sclerosis and their asymptomatic co-twins. Material and Methods. A co-twin control method was used to evaluate whether the brain and spinal cord volumes differ between twins with multiple sclerosis and their co-twins. Nineteen twin pairs were studied neurologically, and the volumes of T1, T2, FLAIR, and gadolinium-enhanced lesions and those of the brain and the spinal cord were obtained by magnetic resonance imaging. Results. Significant differences in the brain (P=0.064) or spinal cord (P=0.648) volumes were not detected. Four of the 7 monozygotic and 5 of the 12 dizygotic co-twins had focal brain white matter lesions, but none fulfilled the magnetic resonance imaging criteria of Barkhof. Spinal cord lesions were not seen in any of the co-twins. Conclusions. The absence of a significant difference in the brain or spinal cord volume between the twins with multiple sclerosis and their co-twins supports the recent observation of brain size and the development of brain atrophy being highly heritable.


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