Brain Abscess Masquerading as Brain Infarction

Occasionally, acute ischemic stroke can be difficult to differentiate from acute intracranial infection. We describe a patient who presented with sudden onset of right hemiparesis and fever. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was consistent with an acute stroke, showing multiple lesions with restricted diffusion in the left middle cerebral artery territory. These lesions were not enhancing and were not associated with vasogenic edema. A diagnosis of acute stroke was made based on the clinical and radiographic data. Follow-up MRI obtained eleven days later showed interval development of ring enhancement and vasogenic edema surrounding the previously noted core of restricted diffusion. Based on these findings, the diagnosis was revised to cerebral abscesses and the patient was treated successfully with antibiotics. In retrospect, the largest diffusion-weighted lesion on baseline MRI demonstrated two characteristics that were atypical for stroke: it had an ovoid shape and a subtle T2 hypointense core. This case demonstrates that acute clinical and radiographic presentation of cerebral abscess and ischemic stroke can be strikingly similar. Follow-up imaging can be instrumental in arriving at an accurate diagnosis.

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Bilateral carotid webs

The Neuroradiology Journal ◽

10.1177/19714009211017783 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 197140092110177

Author(s):

Muhammed Amir Essibayi ◽

Deena Nasr ◽

Giuseppe Lanzino

Keyword(s):

Blood Stasis ◽

Sudden Onset ◽

Sensory Loss ◽

Right Visual Field ◽

Left Middle Cerebral Artery ◽

Bilateral Carotid ◽

Carotid Bulb ◽

Magnetic Resonance Imaging Mri ◽

The Right

Carotid web is thought to be a focal intimal variant of fibromuscular dysplasia, which comprises a high risk of stroke because of blood stasis and subsequent coagulative reactions that occur distal to the web. These lesions generally involve the posterolateral wall of the carotid and their developmental pathogenesis is controversial. This case report describes a 51-year-old woman who presented to the hospital with sudden onset aphasia, right hemi-sensory loss, and right visual field cut. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain demonstrated a left middle cerebral artery (MCA) distribution embolic ischemic infarct with shelf-like linear filling defects in the carotid bulb bilaterally on a computed tomography angiography (CTA) of the head and neck consistent with bilateral carotid webs that were confirmed by catheter angiography. The carotid webs were projecting on the left posteriorly and on the right anteriorly into the inferior aspects of the bilateral proximal internal carotid arteries. The patient was started on clopidogrel and a high-intensity statin and remained on Plavix monotherapy for a 10-month follow up without a recurrent ischemic event.

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Abstract 162: 12-Month Epilepsy Outcomes in Patients With Acute Ischemic Stroke 12-Month Epilepsy Outcomes in Patients With Acute Ischemic Stroke

Stroke ◽

10.1161/str.51.suppl_1.162 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 51 (Suppl_1) ◽

Author(s):

Erwin Chiquete ◽

Guillermo Ramirez-Garcia ◽

Valeria Sandoval-Rodriguez ◽

Fernando Flores-Silva ◽

Jose L Ruiz-Sandoval ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Ischemic Stroke ◽

Acute Ischemic Stroke ◽

Functional Outcome ◽

Functional Disability ◽

Brain Infarction ◽

Cox Proportional Hazards Model ◽

Seizure Recurrence ◽

Factors Associated ◽

Acute Seizures

Background and purpose: Acute ischemic stroke (AIS) is the leading cause of adult-onset epilepsy. In the context of current guidelines, AIS patients presenting with seizures are considered at high risk for seizure recurrence and as a consequence, this patients are deemed as nowadays affected by epilepsy. We aimed to describe the factors associated with acute seizures, epilepsy and seizure recurrence after AIS, as well as their impact on the functional outcome at 12-month follow-up. Methods: This is a cohort study on 1,246 non-epileptic patients with AIS included in a multicenter Mexican registry; who received 12-month follow-up after a first-ever or recurrent AIS. Multivariate analyses were performed to evaluate factors associated with acute seizures and the functional outcome at 12 months of follow-up. Results: The frequency of acute seizures (within 7 days after stroke onset) after AIS was 8.1% [95% confidence interval (CI): 6.7% to 9.8%]. In all, 12-month seizure recurrence rate was 4.8% (95% CI: 3.7% to 6.1%). In a binary logistic regression model, risk factors significantly associated with seizures were >10 scoring of the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSSS, US) [odds ratio (OR): 2.21, 95% CI: 1.40-3.47], recurrent ischemic stroke (OR: 2.17, 95% CI: 1.34-3.53) and age <65 years (OR: 1.69, 95% CI: 1.09-2.62). After a Cox-proportional hazards model and Kaplan-Meier actuarial analyses, the presence of acute seizures was significantly associated with the risk of functional disability or death (a modified Rankin scale >3) at 12 months of follow-up [hazard ratio (HR): 1.37, 95% CI: 1.04-1.83], as well as NIHSS >10 (HR: 4.47, 95% CI: 3.53-5.65), age ≥65 years (HR: 1.74, 95% CI: 1.38-2.20), heart failure (HR: 1.61, 95% CI: 1.22-2.13) and atrial fibrillation (HR: 1.35, 95% CI: 1.05-1.74). Conclusions: The frequency of provoked seizures after acute ischemic stroke in this cohort was 8%. Age <65 years and severity of the brain infarction are the main factors associated with seizures, which in turn represent an important risk factor for functional disabilities or death one year after the acute event.

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Reclassification of Ischemic Stroke Etiological Subtypes on the Basis of High-Risk Nonstenosing Carotid Plaque

Stroke ◽

10.1161/strokeaha.119.027970 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 51 (2) ◽

pp. 504-510 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

Hooman Kamel ◽

Babak B. Navi ◽

Alexander E. Merkler ◽

Hediyeh Baradaran ◽

Iván Díaz ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Ischemic Stroke ◽

High Risk ◽

Magnetic Resonance ◽

Magnetic Resonance Angiography ◽

Acute Stroke ◽

Carotid Plaque ◽

Brain Infarction ◽

Intraplaque Hemorrhage ◽

Large Artery ◽

Stroke Subtypes

Background and Purpose— Carotid artery plaque with <50% luminal stenosis may be an underappreciated stroke mechanism. We assessed how many stroke causes might be reclassified after accounting for nonstenosing plaques with high-risk features. Methods— We included patients enrolled in the Cornell Acute Stroke Academic Registry from 2011 to 2015 who had anterior circulation infarction, magnetic resonance imaging of the brain, and magnetic resonance angiography of the neck. High-risk plaque was identified by intraplaque hemorrhage ascertained from routine neck magnetic resonance angiography studies using validated methods. Infarct location was determined from diffusion-weighted imaging. Intraplaque hemorrhage and infarct location were assessed separately in a blinded fashion by a neuroradiologist. We used the McNemar test for matched data to compare the prevalence of intraplaque hemorrhage ipsilateral versus contralateral to brain infarction. We reclassified stroke subtypes by including large-artery atherosclerosis as a cause if there was intraplaque hemorrhage ipsilateral to brain infarction, regardless of the degree of stenosis. Results— Among the 1721 acute ischemic stroke patients registered in the Cornell Acute Stroke Academic Registry from 2011 to 2015, 579 were eligible for this analysis. High-risk plaque was more common ipsilateral versus contralateral to brain infarction in large-artery atherosclerotic (risk ratio [RR], 3.7 [95% CI, 2.2–6.1]), cryptogenic (RR, 2.1 [95% CI, 1.4–3.1]), and cardioembolic strokes (RR, 1.7 [95% CI, 1.1–2.4]). There were nonsignificant ipsilateral-contralateral differences in high-risk plaque among lacunar strokes (RR, 1.2 [95% CI, 0.4–3.5]) and strokes of other determined cause (RR, 1.5 [95% CI, 0.7–3.3]). After accounting for ipsilateral high-risk plaque, 88 (15.2%) patients were reclassified: 38 (22.6%) cardioembolic to multiple potential etiologies, 6 (8.5%) lacunar to multiple, 3 (15.8%) other determined cause to multiple, and 41 (20.8%) cryptogenic to large-artery atherosclerosis. Conclusions— High-risk carotid plaque was more prevalent ipsilateral to brain infarction across several ischemic stroke subtypes. Accounting for such plaques may reclassify the etiologies of up to 15% of cases in our sample.

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Acute Silent Brain Infarction in Monocular Visual Loss of Ischemic Origin

Cerebrovascular Diseases ◽

10.1159/000437274 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 40 (3-4) ◽

pp. 151-156 ◽

Cited By ~ 28

Author(s):

Florian Lauda ◽

Hermann Neugebauer ◽

Lars Reiber ◽

Eric Jüttler

Keyword(s):

Acute Stroke ◽

Brain Infarction ◽

Resonance Imaging ◽

Stroke Management ◽

Stroke Patients ◽

Embolic Material ◽

Frequent Finding ◽

Silent Brain Infarction ◽

Retinal Artery ◽

Magnetic Resonance Imaging Mri

Background and Purpose: Non-arteritic branch/central retinal artery occlusions (BRAO/CRAO) and amaurosis fugax (AF) are predominantly caused by embolism. Additionally, transported embolic material could cause ischemic stroke. The aim of the study was to investigate the prevalence, pattern and underlying cause of concurrent acute brain infarctions in unselected patients with RAO and AF. Methods: A total of 213 consecutive patients with BRAO (20.7%), CRAO (47.4%), or AF (31.9%) were retrospectively studied from 2008 to 2013. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was used to detect acute brain infarctions and a cardiovascular workup was performed to detect underlying etiologies according to the Trial of Org 10172 in Acute Stroke Management (TOAST). Results: MRI was obtained after 23.78 (±32.26) hours from the time of symptom onset. Acute brain infarctions were detected in 49 patients (23%); 44 of them (89.8%) did not experience any additional neurological symptoms. Older age (p < 0.001/p < 0.001), hypertension (p = 0.01/p = 0.03), atrial fibrillation (p = 0.006/p = 0.03) and type of RAO (p = 0.02/p = 0.016) were associated with total/silent stroke, respectively. In multivariate analysis, only age and type of occlusion remained positive predictors for silent stroke. Etiology of BRAO/CRAO and AF remained undetermined in 124 patients (58.2%). This rate was lower in patients with acute stroke (40.8 vs. 63.4%). Conclusions: Silent brain infarction is a frequent finding in unselected patients with BRAO/CRAO and AF. Etiology remains undetermined in approximately every second case. Because silent brain infarctions bear a high risk of future stroke, patients with BRAO/CRAO and AF should undergo prompt neuroimaging and cardiovascular checkup, preferably on a stroke unit.

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Graduating neurology residents’ experience with use of intravenous tPA for acute ischemic stroke

Stroke ◽

10.1161/str.32.suppl_1.324-b ◽

2001 ◽

Vol 32 (suppl_1) ◽

pp. 324-324

Author(s):

Brett L Cucchiara ◽

Scott E Kasner

Keyword(s):

Ischemic Stroke ◽

Acute Stroke ◽

Acute Ischemic Stroke ◽

Stroke Patient ◽

Current Treatment ◽

Acute Stroke Patient ◽

Career Plans ◽

Stroke Team ◽

Faculty Supervision

45 Background: Intravenous tPA was approved as a treatment for acute ischemic stroke in 1996. One potential barrier to increased use of tPA has been lack of experience and training among neurologists. To date, there has been no formal assessment of neurology residents’ experience with tPA during their training. Methods: A 12 item survey was sent in March 2000 to all graduating neurology residents as identified by AMA-GME files. Follow-up surveys were sent in April and May to non-responders. Survey items established residents’ experience and confidence with assessment of the acute stroke patient and use of tPA. Responses were assessed using a 5 point Likert scale. Presence of a dedicated stroke team, ongoing stroke clinical trials, and post-residency career plans were also assessed. Results: Of 398 graduating residents for whom addresses were available, 287 (72%) responded. 80% of respondents had personally treated a patient with tPA; 33% had done so without direct faculty supervision. 12% had neither treated nor observed a patient being treated with tPA. 89% had cared for an acute stroke patient in the first hours after administration of tPA. 73% felt comfortable independently treating acute stroke patients with tPA. 65% of residents had formal NIHSS training. Nearly all residents felt confident in their ability to identify hemorrhage (99%) and early infarct signs (94%) on CT. Residents whose institutions had a stroke team were more likely to have provided post-tPA care (93% vs 71%, p<0.001), to have had formal NIHSS training (69% vs 44%, p<0.001), and to feel comfortable independently treating patients with tPA (75% vs 62%, p=0.08). There was no association between career plans (academics vs private practice) and any survey items. Conclusion: One fifth of graduating neurology residents had never personally treated an acute stroke patient with tPA; one in ten had never seen tPA administered. One quarter did not feel comfortable independently treating with tPA. Experience with current treatment for acute stroke should be considered an essential part of neurology residency training. Stroke teams may be helpful in accomplishing this goal.

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Augmentation of peripheral lymphocyte-derived cholinergic activity in patients with acute ischemic stroke

BMC Neurology ◽

10.1186/s12883-019-1481-5 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 19 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Meng Yuan ◽

Bin Han ◽

Yiping Xia ◽

Ye Liu ◽

Chunyang Wang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Ischemic Stroke ◽

Acute Stroke ◽

Acute Ischemic Stroke ◽

Mononuclear Cells ◽

Human Peripheral Blood ◽

Brain Infarction ◽

Cholinergic Activity ◽

Post Stroke ◽

Increased Risk ◽

Cholinergic Pathway

Abstract Background Brain ischemia activates the parasympathetic cholinergic pathway in animal models of human disease. However, it remains unknown whether activation of the cholinergic pathway impacts immune defenses and disease outcomes in patients with ischemic stroke. This study investigated a possible association between peripheral cholinergic activity, post-stroke infection, and mortality. Methods In this study, we enrolled 458 patients with acute ischemic stroke (< 24 h after onset), 320 patients with ischemic stroke on day 10, and 216 healthy subjects. Peripheral cholinergic activity, reflected by intracellular acetylcholine (ACh) content in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), was determined by ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS). Expression of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) was measured by quantitative real-time PCR and western blot. Regression analyses were used to assess associations between peripheral cholinergic function and clinical outcomes. Results Within 24 h after the onset of acute ischemic stroke, there was a rapid increase in peripheral cholinergic activity that correlated with brain infarction volume (r = 0.67, P < 0.01). Specifically, lymphocyte-derived ACh levels were significantly higher in stroke patients with pneumonia (0.21 ± 0.02 ng/106 PBMC versus 0.15 ± 0.01 ng/106 PBMC, P = 0.03). Of note, lymphocytic AChE catalytic activity was significantly lower in these patients. One-year mortality was significantly greater in patients with higher intracellular ACh levels within the first 24 h after acute stroke. Conclusions Lymphocytes produced increased amounts of ACh in patients with acute stroke, and pneumonia was a likely result. The association between this enhanced cholinergic activity and increased risk of pneumonia/mortality suggests that increased cholinergic activity may contribute to fatal post-stroke infection.

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Abstract TP44: Quantifying Edema in Acute Stroke

Stroke ◽

10.1161/str.48.suppl_1.tp44 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 48 (suppl_1) ◽

Author(s):

George Harston ◽

James Kennedy

Keyword(s):

Acute Stroke ◽

Vasogenic Edema ◽

Relative Difference ◽

Hemorrhagic Transformation ◽

Stroke Imaging ◽

Research Priority ◽

The Difference ◽

Mri Study ◽

Selection Of

Introduction: The Acute Stroke Imaging Roadmap III identifies structural distortion due to vasogenic edema and hemorrhage as a research priority for defining final infarction. Non-linear registration (NLR) of a follow up scan to an undistorted presenting scan could correct for distortions due to edema, hemorrhage or atrophy, achieving this goal. In addition, the difference between the volume of infarction following NLR and the volume following a rigid body registration (RBR) reflects the degree of anatomical distortion. In this study we evaluate this technique to correct for subacute edema at different timepoints, and generate a metric to quantify brain swelling at these times. We determine whether early edema at 24 hours predicts edema at 1 week. Methods: Patients with non-lacunar ischemic stroke were recruited into a MRI study. Patients had structural T1-weighted, T2-weighted FLAIR and diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI, b=1000/0) at presentation, 24hrs, 1wk and 1mo. Infarction was defined manually at 24hrs using DWI, and at 1wk and 1mo using FLAIR image by 2 raters. To quantify edema, both NLR warps and RBR matrices were generated between the T1 images at each timepoint to the presenting T1 scan. Infarct masks were transformed to presenting image space using RBR and NLR, and the relative difference in volumes used to quantify the Edema Metric (EM). Results: 34 patients were recruited into the study. NLR corrected for distortions due to edema and hemorrhagic transformation at the 24hr and 1wk timepoints. The EM at 24 hours, 1 week and 1 month were 17.7% (p=0.009), 26.5% (p=0.02), and 7.1% (p=0.05) respectively for the manually defined infarct masks. EM at 24 hours predicted edema at 1 week (r 2 =37%, p=0.009), but not at 1 month (r 2 =3%, p=0.6). Conclusions: NLR provides an opportunity to correct for edema at subacute timepoints and by comparing infarct volumes to those following RBR provides a measure of edema. The EM quantifies the contribution of edema at 24hrs and 1wk, and potentially allows the selection of patients at 24hrs who are likely to develop significant swelling at 1 week. The EM may also be useful in stroke trials to quantify the effect sizes of treatments aimed at minimizing edema in stroke.

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Embolic MCA Stroke Treated With tPA and TICI-3 Mechanical Thrombectomy Complicated by Hemiballismus: A Case Study and Literature Review

Military Medicine ◽

10.1093/milmed/usab436 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Peter S Tatum ◽

Joshua Kornbluth ◽

Andrew Soroka

Keyword(s):

New Right ◽

Left Middle Cerebral Artery ◽

Facial Weakness ◽

Tissue Plasminogen ◽

Magnetic Resonance Imaging Mri ◽

Ischemic Events ◽

Ballistic Movements ◽

Left Middle

ABSTRACT This report examines the etiology of hemiballistic movements that began 24 hours after a 63-year-old male with vascular risk factors received tissue plasminogen activator (tPa) and thrombolysis in cerebral ischemia 3 (TICI3) thrombectomy for a left middle cerebral artery (MCA) ischemic stroke. The clinical course was reviewed from an admission at a large academic institution where assessments included physical exams, head and neck computed tomography angiography (CTA), and head magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) without contrast. The patient’s initial physical exam was consistent with a left MCA syndrome and included a National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) of 20. CTA showed an embolic M2 occlusion. After tPA and TICI 3 thrombectomy, NIHSS improved to 3 for dysarthria, facial weakness, and language deficits. MRI showed left insular diffusion restriction. New right-sided hemiballistic movements began 24 hours after treatment. At his six-week follow-up outpatient appointment, the movements were no longer present, and his neurologic exam was unremarkable, including an NIHSS of zero. No prior cases of hemiballism have been reported as a likely complication of treatment with tPa and thrombectomy. The globus pallidus is the suspected origin of the ballistic movements either from a decreased insular signal or embolic event during treatment. As stroke interventions improve, the susceptibility of certain tissues to brief ischemic events during treatment must be assessed.

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Progressive Intracranial Vertebral Artery Dissection Presenting with Isolated Trigeminal Neuralgia-Like Facial Pain

Case Reports in Neurological Medicine ◽

10.1155/2015/387139 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 2015 ◽

pp. 1-4 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Tomoki Nakamizo ◽

Takashi Koide ◽

Hiromichi Miyazaki

Keyword(s):

Trigeminal Neuralgia ◽

Vertebral Artery ◽

Facial Pain ◽

Brain Infarction ◽

Vertebral Artery Dissection ◽

Artery Dissection ◽

Life Threatening ◽

Magnetic Resonance Imaging Mri ◽

The Brain

Intracranial vertebral artery dissection (IVAD) is a potentially life-threatening disease, which usually presents with ischemic stroke or subarachnoid hemorrhage. IVAD presenting with isolated facial pain is rare, and no case with isolated trigeminal neuralgia- (TN-) like facial pain has been reported. Here, we report the case of a 57-year-old male with IVAD who presented with acute isolated TN-like facial pain that extended from his left cheek to his left forehead and auricle. He felt a brief stabbing pain when his face was touched in the territory of the first and second divisions of the left trigeminal nerve. There were no other neurological signs. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain 7 days after onset revealed dissection of the left intracranial vertebral artery without brain infarction. The pain gradually disappeared in approximately 6 weeks, and the patient remained asymptomatic thereafter, except for a brief episode of vertigo. Follow-up MRI revealed progressive narrowing of the artery without brain infarction. This case indicates that IVAD can present with isolated facial pain that mimics TN. IVAD should be considered in the differential diagnosis of acute facial pain or TN.

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Neurobrucellosis with ischemic stroke and spinal cord involvement: a case report

BMC Neurology ◽

10.1186/s12883-021-02155-2 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Hongfeng Wen ◽

Di Jin ◽

Lina Cai ◽

Tao Wu ◽

Haichao Liu

Keyword(s):

Spinal Cord ◽

Ischemic Stroke ◽

Clinical Manifestations ◽

Transverse Myelitis ◽

Lower Limbs ◽

Spinal Cord Atrophy ◽

Magnetic Resonance Imaging Mri ◽

The Right ◽

Next Generation Sequencing Ngs

Abstract Background Brucellosis is a common zoonotic disease that may have a variety of clinical manifestations when it affects the nervous system. Ischemic stroke is a rare clinical symptom, but if it is not diagnosed and treated early, it may cause more severe consequences. Case presentation We report a 38-year-old man presenting with hearing impairment for four years and sudden weakness of the right limb for two years, recurrent aphasia, and gradual weakness of bilateral lower limbs for nine months. He had bilateral positive Babinski’s sign. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) showed raised protein and pleocytosis. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed ischemic infarcts in the pons and extensive enhancement of spinal meninges combined with spinal cord atrophy and ischemia. The tests revealed Brucella Rose Bengal positive in serum and CSF. Brucella culture in CSF was also positive. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) of CSF revealed positive for Brucella with 105 species were detected. He showed significant improvement with antibiotics at five months follow-up. Conclusions Neurobrucellosis may mimic stroke and transverse myelitis like syndromes. NB is a treatable infectious condition and should always be considered in the differentials, especially if there are risk factors, as in our case.

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