Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Cerebrospinal Fluid Leak and Tamponade Effect of Blood Patch in Postdural Puncture Headache

1997 ◽  
Vol 84 (3) ◽  
pp. 585-590 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shermeen B. Vakharia ◽  
P. Sebastian Thomas ◽  
Arthur E. Rosenbaum ◽  
John J. Wasenko ◽  
David G. Fellows
Cephalalgia ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 38 (14) ◽  
pp. 1998-2005 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jr-Wei Wu ◽  
Yen-Feng Wang ◽  
Jong-Ling Fuh ◽  
Jiing-Feng Lirng ◽  
Shih-Pin Chen ◽  
...  

Objectives Several brain and spinal magnetic resonance imaging signs have been described in spontaneous intracranial hypotension. Their correlations are not fully studied. This study aimed to explore potential mechanisms underlying cerebral neuroimaging findings and to examine associations among spinal and brain magnetic resonance imaging signs. Methods We conducted a retrospective review of magnetic resonance myelography and brain magnetic resonance imaging records of patients with spontaneous intracranial hypotension. Categorical principal component analysis was employed to cluster brain neuroimaging findings. Spearman correlation was employed to analyze associations among different brain neuroimaging findings and between brain and spinal neuroimaging findings. Results In patients with spontaneous intracranial hypotension (n = 148), categorical principal component analysis of brain neuroimaging signs revealed two clusters: Cerebral venous dilation and brain descent. Among all brain magnetic resonance imaging signs examined, only midbrain-pons angle associated with anterior epidural cerebrospinal fluid collection length (surrogate spinal cerebrospinal fluid leak severity) (n = 148, Spearman’s ρ = −0.38, p < .001). Subgroup analyses showed that the association between midbrain-pons angle (within brain descent cluster) and spinal cerebrospinal fluid leak severity was presented in patients with convex margins of the transverse sinuses (n = 122, Spearman’s ρ = −0.43, p < .001), but not in patients without convex margins (n = 26, Spearman’s ρ = −0.19, p = .348). The association between severity of transverse sinus distension and spinal cerebrospinal fluid leak severity was only presented in patients without convex margins (n = 26, Spearman’s ρ = 0.52, p = .006). Conclusion This study indicates that there are two factors behind the brain neuroimaging findings in spontaneous intracranial hypotension: Cerebral venous dilation and brain descent. Certain brain neuroimaging signs correlate with spinal cerebrospinal fluid leakage severity, depending on different circumstances.


Author(s):  
T Hendriks ◽  
A Thompson ◽  
R Boeddinghaus ◽  
H E I Tan ◽  
J Kuthubutheen

Abstract Background and objective Spontaneous cerebrospinal fluid leak of the temporal bone is an emerging clinical entity for which prompt and accurate diagnosis is difficult given the subtle signs and symptoms that patients present with. This study sought to describe the key temporal bone abnormalities in patients with spontaneous cerebrospinal fluid leak. Methods A retrospective cohort study was conducted of adult patients with biochemically confirmed spontaneous cerebrospinal fluid leak. Demographics and radiological features identified on computed tomography imaging of the temporal bones and/or magnetic resonance imaging were analysed. Results Sixty-one patients with spontaneous cerebrospinal fluid leak were identified. Fifty-four patients (88.5 per cent) underwent both temporal bone computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging. Despite imaging revealing bilateral defects in over 75 per cent of the cohort, only two patients presented with bilateral spontaneous cerebrospinal fluid leaks. Anterior tegmen mastoideum defects were most common, with an average size of 2.5 mm (range, 1–10 mm). Conclusion Temporal bone computed tomography is sensitive for the identification of defects when suspicion exists. In the setting of an opacified middle ear and/or mastoid, close examination of the skull base is crucial given that this fluid is potentially cerebrospinal fluid.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carl Lo ◽  
Sang Le ◽  
Eugene Kim

Epidural blood patches are considered definitive treatment for postdural puncture headache in adult patients. However, they are infrequently used in children or in patients with altered spine anatomy. In patients who have undergone recent spine surgery, the lumbar epidural space can be approached safely via the caudal canal. Our case demonstrates a novel technique to perform an epidural blood patch from a caudal approach using a commonly available central line kit for a 15-year-old patient with severe spinal headache due to cerebrospinal fluid leak following a hemilaminectomy.


Author(s):  
Hung-Chieh Chen ◽  
Jyh-wen Chai ◽  
Chih-Cheng Wu ◽  
Po-Lin Chen ◽  
Chieh-Lin Teng

Objectives: Most patients with spinal cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leakage require an epidural blood patch (EBP); however, the response to treatment is varied. This study aimed to compare the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings at follow-up between EBP effective and non-effective groups and to identify imaging findings that predict EBP treatment failure. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 48 patients who received EBP treatment for spinal CSF leakage. These patients were stratified into two groups: EBP effective (n = 27) and EBP non-effective (n = 21) using the results of the 3 month MRI as the endpoint. Results: Compared to the EBP non-effective group, the patients in the EBP effective group had a lower spinal CSF leakage number (2.67 vs 12.48; p = 0.001), lower spinal epidural fluid accumulation levels (3.00 vs 7.48; p = 0.004), brain descend (11.11% vs 38.10%; p = 0.027), pituitary hyperemia (18.52% vs 57.14%; p = 0.007), and decreased likelihood of ≥three numbers of spinal CSF leakage (25.93% vs 90.48%; p = 0.001) in the post-EBP MRI. Clinical non-responsiveness (OR: 57.84; 95% CI: 3.47–972.54; p = 0.005) and ≥three numbers of spinal CSF leakage (OR: 15.13; 95% CI: 1.45–159.06; p = 0.023) were associated with EBP failure. Between these variables,≥three numbers of spinal CSF leakage identified using the post-EBP MRI demonstrated greater sensitivity in predicting EBP failure compared to clinical non-responsiveness (90.48% vs 61.9%). Conclusion: The number of spinal CSF leakage identified using the post-EBP MRI with a cut-off value of three is an effective predictor of EBP failure. Advances in knowledge: Compared to clinical responsiveness, the post-EBP MRI provided a more objective approach to predict the effectiveness of EBP treatment in patients with spinal CSF leakage.


2019 ◽  
Vol 161 (3) ◽  
pp. 493-498
Author(s):  
Joseph T. Breen ◽  
Colin R. Edwards ◽  
Rebecca S. Cornelius ◽  
J. Michael Hazenfield ◽  
Gavriel D. Kohlberg ◽  
...  

ObjectiveTo demonstrate the clinical utility, sensitivity, and specificity of standard magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) sequences in differentiating temporal bone cerebrospinal fluid leaks from all other middle ear effusions.Study DesignRetrospective imaging review.SettingAcademic medical center.SubjectsPatients with cerebrospinal fluid leaks or other middle ear effusions who also underwent MRI.MethodsPatients were assigned to cerebrospinal fluid leak and other effusion cohorts based on clinical course, findings at surgery/myringotomy, and beta-2 transferrin fluid analysis. Reviewers blinded to the clinical outcome examined T1-weighted, T2-weighted, diffusion-weighted, fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR), and 3-dimensional (3D) acquired T2-weighted MRI sequences. For each sequence, fluid imaged in the temporal bone was graded as either similar or dissimilar in signal intensity to cerebrospinal fluid in the adjacent subarachnoid space. Signal similarity was interpreted as being diagnostic of a leak. Test characteristics in predicting the presence of a leak were calculated for each series.ResultsEighty patients met criteria (41 leaks, 39 other effusions). The 3D T2 series was 76% sensitive and 100% specific in diagnosing a leak, and FLAIR was 44% sensitive and 100% specific. The T1-weighted (73% sensitive, 69% specific), T2-weighted (98% sensitive, 5.1% specific), and diffusion-weighted (63% sensitive, 66% specific) series were less useful.ConclusionsMRI, with attention to 3D T2 and FLAIR series, is a noninvasive and highly specific test for diagnosing cerebrospinal fluid leak in the setting of an indeterminate middle ear effusion.


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