Acute to Subacute Spinal Cord Infarction Mimicking Acute Multiple Sclerosis: Usefulness of Diffusion-Weighted MRI for Diagnosis

Background: Spinal cord infarction (SCI) is difficult to diagnose because of its rarity, unknown etiology, and unestablished diagnostic criteria. Additionally, the timeline of SCI has not been studied in detail, as few studies using diffusion-weighted image (DWI) sequences of the spine of a small target population have been previously conducted. Case Study: A 56-year-old male with underlying arrhythmia suddenly developed visual field defects on the right side, pain in the left upper extremity, and a tingling sensation in the left hand. Brain Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed acute to subacute stages of multifocal brain infarction. On additional cervical spinal MRI, it showed atypical MRI findings of SCI, considered late acute to early subacute phase, which were similar to those seen in the acute phase of multiple sclerosis (MS). Additional DWI revealed restricted diffusion. From these findings, it could be inferred that the patient’s SCI occurred at the same time as the multifocal brain infarctions caused by atrial fibrillation. Conclusion: A DWI sequence of spine MRI could be helpful in the diagnosis of acute to subacute phase SCI and in differentiating with acute MS.

Spinal cord infarction and peripheral extra corporeal membrane oxygenation- Case series

Background Veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA ECMO) is increasingly utilized in patients with cardiogenic shock due to improved technology and outcomes. Peripheral VA ECMO offers several advantages over central ECMO and is becoming increasingly popular. However, when configured via the femoral vessels, retrograde flow to the descending aorta and arch of aorta competes with antegrade ventricular output and can be associated with a watershed phenomenon and increased risk of neurologic and visceral injury. Case Summary In this case series we report three patients who were supported with peripheral VA ECMO for cardiogenic shock. All three were successfully weaned from peripheral VA ECMO, however they had developed bilateral lower limb paralysis. MRI revealed spinal cord infarction in all three patients. All patients subsequently succumbed to multiorgan failure and did not survive to hospital discharge. Discussion The use of mechanical circulatory support, in particular, peripheral ECMO, has escalated with advances in technology, better understanding of cardiac physiology and improving outcomes. Spinal cord infarction is a rare but serious complication of peripheral VA ECMO support with only a few case reports published. Further studies are needed to identify the exact cause and prevention of this rare but often terminal complication. Through this series of three patients supported on peripheral VA ECMO complicated by spinal cord infarction, we review previously published reports, analyse possible mechanisms, and propose alternate management strategies to be considered in patients at risk.

Acute Quadriparesis in a Smoker

A 51-year-old woman was seen for evaluation of transverse myelitis. Pertinent medical history included hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and 50 pack-years of cigarette smoking. Two months earlier, she was shopping and suddenly had excruciating pain in her upper back. Two hours later, severe weakness of both hands developed abruptly. Over the next 8 hours, severe paraparesis and urinary retention developed, with inability to lift legs against gravity, and she reported a T1 sensory level. Review of the outside magnetic resonance imaging noted key imaging findings, including initially normal magnetic resonance imaging within the first 12 hours of symptom presentation, and subsequent magnetic resonance imaging on day 3 showing anterior pencil-like hyperintensity on sagittal view and anterior U- or V-shaped pattern on axial view (termed U/V pattern), without associated gadolinium enhancement. Diffusion-weighted imaging was not obtained. Given the rapid, severe deficits with pain, spinal cord infarction was considered most likely, and the magnetic resonance imaging findings were typical. Magnetic resonance angiography of the neck with T1-fat-saturated views was obtained and did not show dissection. Laboratory evaluation showed a low-density lipoprotein value of 124 mg/dL and hemoglobin A1c of 6.2%. The patient was diagnosed with probable spontaneous spinal cord infarction on the basis of diagnostic criteria. The patient was counselled on smoking cessation, started on an aspirin and statin regimen, and followed up by a primary care provider for management of vascular risk factors. Residual neuropathic pain was treated with high doses of gabapentin. Importantly, unnecessary additional immunotherapy was avoided by establishing the correct diagnosis. Spontaneous spinal cord infarctions are an underrecognized cause of acute myelopathy. Spinal cord infarctions generally occur in older persons, with most cases associated with typical vascular risk factors, arterial dissection, and fibrocartilaginous embolism; historically, cases were often secondary to syphilis.

Abstract 1122‐000032: Spinal Cord Infarction a Young Patient with a Hypoplastic Vertebral Artery

Introduction : Rare presentation of disease processes is absolutely intriguing to the human mind. Spinal cord infarction is abundantly reported to be secondary to cardiological procedures, patients carrying multiple vascular risk factors and vertebral artery dissections. But for it to happen in a patient who is young, relatively healthy and without vascular risk factors is quite interesting. Herein, we present the case of a patient presented with bilateral upper extremity weakness, who has a hypoplastic right vertebral artery that has coincided with him being a professional gamer with exerting compression from video‐gaming posturing of “forward leaning with neck hyperextension”, resulting in cervical spinal cord infarction. Methods : Case report Results : Vertebral artery dissection was excluded by CTA and MRA. our hypothesis was that the patient is a professional gamer and his posture of leaning forward and neck hyper‐extension had a role in inducing his spinal cord infarction given the fact of him having a hypoplastic right vertebral artery. Conclusions : Vertebral artery disease is a well‐recognized cause of ischemia in the posterior cerebral circulation. Recently, however, cervical cord infarction, albeit being extremely rare, has been increasingly reported as a complication of vertebral artery diseases such as dissection. Awareness must be raised that such condition can also happen in the young population due to compression of the vertebral arteries, especially when one is hypoplastic.

Ischemic Stroke: Uncommon and Special Situations

Most ischemic stroke is caused by atherosclerosis (large- and small-vessel disease) and cardioembolic sources (eg, atrial fibrillation). However, it is important to recognize the clinical, laboratory, and radiologic manifestations of rarer causes of stroke since the treatment may differ from the treatment of more typical causes. This chapter reviews the less common causes of stroke in addition to stroke in special situations: stroke in children, stroke in pregnant women, spinal cord infarction, and cerebral venous sinus thrombosis.