scholarly journals Large anterior temporal Virchow–Robin spaces: Evaluating MRI features over the years—Our experience and literature review

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 2514183X2090525
Author(s):  
Raffaella Capasso ◽  
Alberto Negro ◽  
Sossio Cirillo ◽  
Silvia Iovine ◽  
Gianfranco Puoti ◽  
...  

Dilated Virchow–Robin spaces (VRSs) are expansions of the normal perivascular spaces with a short axis greater than 2 mm or, according to some authors, greater than 3 mm. They are usually documented at the basal ganglia, at the convexity white matter (WM) and centrum semiovale, and at the mesencephalon. The anterior temporal WM is a recently described preferential location for large (≥5 mm) VRSs. The aim of our study was to evaluate the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) features and their modifications during a long-term follow-up period (≥24 months) of the anterior temporal VRSs with a retrospective analysis among all brain MRI studies performed at our institution between January 2010 and January 2017. In our study, the presence and the stability of characteristic MRI features certainly increased our diagnostic confidence allowing us to continue conservative approach while the surrounding signal change, as reported in the literature, should not in itself prompt alternative diagnoses to be entertained.

2019 ◽  
Vol 45 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Carlotta Spagnoli ◽  
Susanna Rizzi ◽  
Grazia Gabriella Salerno ◽  
Daniele Frattini ◽  
Carlo Fusco

Abstract Background Pathogenic variants in KIF1A (kinesin family member 1A) gene have been associated with hereditary spastic paraplegia (HSP) type 30 (SPG30), encopassing autosomal dominant and recessive, pure and complicated forms. Case presentation We report the long-term follow-up of a 19 years-old boy first evaluated at 18 months of age because of toe walking and unstable gait with frequent falls. He developed speech delay, mild intellectual disability, a slowly progressive pyramidal syndrome, microcephaly, bilateral optic subatrophy and a sensory axonal polyneuropathy. Brain MRI showed cerebellar atrophy, stable along serial evaluations (last performed at 18 years of age). Targeted NGS sequencing disclosed the de novo c.914C > T missense, likely pathogenic variant on KIF1A gene. Conclusions We report on a previously unpublished de novo heterozygous likely pathogenic KIF1A variant associated with slowly progressive complicated SPG30 and stable cerebellar atrophy on long-term follow-up, adding to current knowledge on this HSP subtype.


Rare Tumors ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 3 (4) ◽  
pp. 163-165 ◽  
Author(s):  
Caitlin Gomez ◽  
Jeffrey Wu ◽  
Whitney Pope ◽  
Harry Vinters ◽  
Antonio DeSalles ◽  
...  

Pineal parenchymal tumors are rare. Of the three types of pineal parenchymal tumors, pineocytomas are the least aggressive and are not known to diffusely disseminate. In this paper, we report the successful treatment of a case of pineocytoma with diffuse leptomeningeal relapse following initial stereotactic radiotherapy. A 39-year-old female presented with headaches, balance impairment, urinary incontinence, and blunted affect. A pineal mass was discovered on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). A diagnosis of pineocytoma was established with an endoscopic pineal gland biopsy, and the patient received stereotactic radiotherapy. Ten years later, she developed diffuse leptomeningeal dissemination. The patient was then successfully treated with craniospinal radiation therapy. Leptomeningeal spread may develop as late as 10 years after initial presentation of pineocytoma. Our case demonstrates the importance of long-term follow-up of patients with pineal parenchymal tumors following radiation therapy, and the efficacy of craniospinal radiation in the treatment of leptomeningeal dissemination.


10.1038/nm880 ◽  
2003 ◽  
Vol 9 (6) ◽  
pp. 727-728 ◽  
Author(s):  
Janet D Siliciano ◽  
Joleen Kajdas ◽  
Diana Finzi ◽  
Thomas C Quinn ◽  
Karen Chadwick ◽  
...  

2013 ◽  
Vol 47 (2) ◽  
pp. 103-110 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sofiane Maza ◽  
Ralph Buchert ◽  
Winfried Brenner ◽  
Dieter Ludwig Munz ◽  
Eckhard Thiel ◽  
...  

Background. Positron emission tomography (PET) with F-18-labeled fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) provides remarkable accuracy in detection, treatment monitoring and follow-up of systemic malignant lymphoma. Its value in the management of patients with primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL) is less clear. Patients and methods. In a prospective trial, 42 FDG-PET examinations were performed in ten immunocompetent patients with newly diagnosed or recurrent PCNSL before and repeatedly during and after the treatment. Brain and whole body FDG-PET were compared to brain MRI and extra-cerebral CT, respectively. Results. Before the treatment, 6 of 10 patients had congruent findings on FDG-PET and MRI of the brain. Three patients had lesions on brain MRI, not detected by FDG-PET. One patient had additional FDG-PET positive lesions inconspicuous in MRI. The follow-up suggested FDG-PET to be false positive in these lesions. After the treatment, brain PET was in agreement with MRI in 6 of 8 patients. In the remaining 2 patients there were persistent lesions in brain MRI whereas FDG-uptake was reduced to normal values. In the long-term follow-up of 5 patients (63-169 weeks), 3 patients retained normal in both PET and MRI. In 2 patients a new focal pathologic FDG-uptake was detected 69 and 52 weeks after the end of the treatment. In one of these patients, recurrence was confirmed by MRI not until 9 weeks after PET. Conclusions. Brain FDG-PET may contribute valuable information for the management of PCNSL, particularly in the assessment of the treatment response. Integration of FDG-PET into prospective interventional trials is warranted to investigate prognostic and therapeutic implications.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yu Zhang ◽  
Jianfei Long ◽  
Junwei Ren ◽  
Xiang Huang ◽  
Ping Zhong ◽  
...  

Vestibular schwannomas (VSs, also known as acoustic neuromas) are relatively rare benign brain tumors stem from the Schwann cells of the eighth cranial nerve. Tumor growth is the paramount factor for neurosurgeons to decide whether to choose aggressive treatment approach or careful follow-up with regular magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), as surgery and radiation can introduce significant trauma and affect neurological function, while tumor enlargement during long-term follow-up will compress the adjacent nerves and tissues, causing progressive hearing loss, tinnitus and vertigo. Recently, with the deepening research of VS biology, some proteins that regulate merlin conformation changes, inflammatory cytokines, miRNAs, tissue proteins and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) components have been proposed to be closely related to tumor volume increase. In this review, we discuss advances in the study of biomarkers that associated with VS growth, providing a reference for exploring the growth course of VS and determining the optimal treatment strategy for each patient.


2014 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 30-40 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christoph J. Griessenauer ◽  
David F. Bauer ◽  
Thomas A. Moore ◽  
Patrick R. Pritchard ◽  
Mark N. Hadley

Object Various pathologies involving the thoracic arachnoid mater uniformly manifest as thoracic myelopathy and may present a significant management dilemma. The authors undertook this study to assess outcome in cases of thoracic myelopathy due to thoracic arachnoid pathology. Methods The authors have cared for and followed 28 patients with thoracic myelopathy from thoracic arachnoid pathology over the last 17 years. A chart review and contemporary follow-up of these patients was performed and outcomes were reported. Results Patients with thoracic myelopathy from thoracic arachnoid pathology often have improvement in their condition after surgical decompression/detethering procedures. While not universal, patients in this series had improvement in mJOA scores at 1 year after surgery (p = 0.0001) and at last follow-up (p = 0.04). Results indicated that across a wide variety of pathologies the extent of thoracic spinal cord involvement is a predictor of the disease course and outcome. Comparison of the group of patients with cord involvement limited to 2 vertebral segments (short-segment pathology) versus the group with cord tethering of more than 2 segments (long-segment pathology) showed that patients in the short-segment group more frequently had ventral or dorsal arachnoid bands (p = 0.003), more frequently had signal change in the cord on MRI (p = 0.02), and less frequently presented with a syrinx (p = 0.02), and a smaller percentage of patients in this group underwent reoperation (p = 0.02). While patients with short-segment pathology typically improved after a single operative intervention, patients with long-segment pathology typically improved after multiple operations, frequently for CSF diversion. Conclusions Thoracic arachnoid pathology causing thoracic cord dysfunction and myelopathy is varied, has multiple etiologies, and can be difficult to treat over the long term. Surgical management, when indicated, is case specific. Serial long-term follow-up is essential to document enduring clinical and radiographic success.


2007 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 502-508 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Rovaris ◽  
G. Comi ◽  
MA Rocca ◽  
P. Valsasina ◽  
D. Ladkani ◽  
...  

Glatiramer acetate (GA) is effective in reducing clinical and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) activity in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). Serial long-term MRI data are lacking for large cohorts of GA-treated patients. The European/Canadian GA study consisted of two consecutive phases, each lasting nine months. The first treatment phase was randomized, double-blind and placebo-controlled. The second was an open-label, active treatment phase with daily administration of 20 mg GA subcutaneously for all patients. For the long-term follow-up (LTFU), dual echo, pre- and postgadolinium T1-weighted brain MRI scans were obtained with the same acquisition scheme as for the original trial and a neurological assessment was performed. Lesion volumes, normalized brain volumes and percentage brain volume changes (PBVC) were measured. One hundred and forty-two (63.4%) of the 224 patients who completed the two phases of the European/Canadian study underwent the LTFU after a mean period of 5.8 years (range: 5.3-6.4); 73 were treated with GA from study initiation. MRI measures at LTFU did not significantly differ between patients originally assigned to placebo and those who were always treated with GA, but the proportion of patients who did not require walking aids at LTFU was lower in the latter group (P=0.034). PBVC between baseline and LTFU was significantly correlated with lesion load at study entry. An earlier initiation of GA treatment in patients with active RRMS might, at least partially, have a favourable impact on long-term disease evolution. Multiple Sclerosis 2007; 13: 502-508. http://msj.sagepub.com


2016 ◽  
Vol 175 (4) ◽  
pp. 255-263 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emilia Sbardella ◽  
Robin N Joseph ◽  
Bahram Jafar-Mohammadi ◽  
Andrea M Isidori ◽  
Simon Cudlip ◽  
...  

Context Disease processes that affect the pituitary stalk are broad; the diagnosis and management of these lesions remains unclear. Objective The aim was to assess the clinical, biochemical and histopathological characteristics of pituitary stalk lesions and their association with specific MRI features in order to provide diagnostic and prognostic guidance. Design and methods Retrospective observational study of 36 patients (mean age 37years, range: 4–83) with pituitary stalk thickening evaluated at a university hospital in Oxford, UK, 2007–2015. We reviewed morphology, signal intensity, enhancement and texture appearance at MRI (evaluated with the ImageJ programme), along with clinical, biochemical, histopathological and long-term follow-up data. Results Diagnosis was considered certain for 22 patients: 46% neoplastic, 32% inflammatory and 22% congenital lesions. In the remaining 14 patients, a diagnosis of a non-neoplastic disorder was assumed on the basis of long-term follow-up (mean 41.3months, range: 12–84). Diabetes insipidus and headache were common features in 47 and 42% at presentation, with secondary hypogonadism the most frequent anterior pituitary defect. Neoplasia was suggested on size criteria or progression with 30% sensitivity. However, textural analysis of MRI scans revealed a significant correlation between the tumour pathology and pituitary stalk heterogeneity in pre- and post-gadolinium T1-weighted images (sensitivity: 88.9%, specificity: 91.7%). Conclusions New techniques of MRI imaging analysis may identify clinically significant neoplastic lesions, thus directing future therapy. We propose possible textural heterogeneity criteria of the pituitary stalk on pre- and post-gadolinium T1 images with the aim of differentiating between neoplastic and non-neoplastic lesions with a high degree of accuracy.


2016 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
pp. 242-252 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tomas Uher ◽  
Eva Havrdova ◽  
Lukas Sobisek ◽  
Jan Krasensky ◽  
Manuela Vaneckova ◽  
...  

Background: No evidence of disease activity (NEDA) has been proposed as a new treatment goal in multiple sclerosis (MS). NEDA-3 status is defined as the absence of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI; new/enlarging/enhancing lesions and increased whole brain volume loss in NEDA-4) and clinical disease activity. Objectives: To investigate the persistence of NEDA status over long-term follow-up in MS patients treated with weekly intramuscular interferon beta-1a. Methods: We included 192 patients after the first demyelinating event suggestive of MS, that is, clinically isolated syndrome (CIS) and 162 relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS) patients. Results: NEDA-3 status was observed in 40.1% of CIS and 20.4% of RRMS patients after 1 year. After 4 years, 10.1% of CIS patients had NEDA-3 status. After 10 years, none of the RRMS patients had NEDA-3 status. Only 4.6% of CIS and 1.0% of RRMS patients maintained NEDA-4 status after 4 years. Loss of NEDA-3 status after the first year was associated with a higher risk of disability progression (hazard ratio (HR) = 2.3–4.0; p = 0.005–0.03) over 6 years. Conclusions: Despite intramuscular interferon beta-1a treatment, loss of NEDA status occurred in the vast majority of individuals. Loss of NEDA status during the first year was associated with disability progression over long-term follow-up; however, specificity for individual patient was low.


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