MR Manifestations of the Brain in Neuropsychiatric Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Patients

PURPOSE: The primary goal of this study was to evaluate the MR findings of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients with neuropsychiatric symptoms. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The MR images of 38 patients with SLE were evaluated based on the presence of the following abnormal lesions: the locations of the abnormal signal intensity lesions in the white matter, infarctions, a small vessel vasculopathy, leukoencephalopathy, hemorrhage, abscess, and other lesions. RESULTS: The MR images showed an abnormality in 22 of 38 (58%) episodes. Abnormal signal intensities were noted in the subcortical and periventricular white matter in six cases, acute territorial infarctions in five cases, multiple small acute embolic infarctions in four cases and a brain abscess in two cases. A reversible posterior leukoencephalopathy was found in one case. In addition, another patient had vasogenic edema with focal central cytotoxic edema at the pons. The entire cerebral and corpus callosum volumes were significantly smaller in four patients with SLE as compared to the volumes in healthy control subjects. CONCLUSION: SLE may induce variable MR imaging findings of the CNS. Recognition of the variable findings is helpful for easy diagnosis and prompt treatment.

A Case Report of a Ciliated Hepatic Foregut Cyst in the Liver

A ciliated hepatic foregut cyst (CHFC) is a rare cystic lesion consisting of a ciliated pseudostratified columnar epithelium, subepithelial connective tissue, a smooth muscle layer, and an outer fibrous capsule. A CHFC is usually unilocular and occurs at a higher frequency in males. A predilection exists at the medial segment located at the left lobe of the liver. We report the first case of a ciliated hepatic foregut cyst mimicking hepatic metastasis on a CT scan of a patient concurrently afflicted with gastric cancer.