Pituitary Apoplexy After Leuprolide Therapy in a Breast Cancer Patient: A Case Report

Pituitary apoplexy (PA) is a clinical syndrome resulting from sudden hemorrhage and/or infarction of the pituitary gland. Recent reports documented the development of PA secondary to treatment with gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonists for prostate cancer. A 52-year-old woman visited our emergency room with a severe headache, occurred 1 day prior. She underwent breast-conserving surgery for breast cancer 1 month prior. She was currently undergoing radiation and hormone therapy, consisting of leuprorelin. Brain contrast-enhanced MRI revealed a pituitary adenoma with internal hemorrhage in the sellar and suprasellar areas. Pachymeningeal enhancement was observed along the retroclival and bilateral frontal areas. The patient was diagnosed with PA and aseptic meningitis. The patient underwent total excision via transsphenoidal surgery 8 days after admission. The patient was pathologically diagnosed with a pituitary adenoma with necrosis. On immunochemical staining, the tumor was positive for follicle-stimulating hormone. The follow-up MRI revealed no evidence of residual tumor or an improved pachymeningeal enhancement. She is currently undergoing follow-up at the neurosurgery and endocrinology outpatient departments with no noted complications. In breast cancer patients receiving GnRH agonist therapy, PA may be rare complication.

Resolved Cerebral Venous Hypertension after Angioplasty of Central Venous Stenosis in a Hemodialysis Patient: A Case Report

Stenosis of the central veins is a common complication in hemodialysis patients. However, cerebral venous hypertension and neurological symptoms caused by central vein stenosis are relatively rare. We present a rare case of cerebral venous hypertension in a 63-year-old male who showed venous reflux into the dural sinuses due to central venous stenosis on time-of-flight MR angiography. After management for central venous stenosis, the venous reflux disappeared.

Borden Type I Sigmoid Sinus Dural Arteriovenous Fistula Presenting as Subarachnoid Hemorrhage from a Feeding Artery Aneurysm of the Anterior Inferior Cerebellar Artery: A Case Report

Dural arteriovenous fistula is an acquired vascular anomaly that can cause various symptoms. Here, we report a rare case of Borden type I sigmoid sinus dural arteriovenous fistula presenting as subarachnoid hemorrhage. Bleeding occurred from a side-wall aneurysm in the lateral pontomedullary segment of the anterior inferior cerebellar artery, which was a minor pial feeder. Features on imaging modalities, including brain CT, CT angiography, MR imaging/angiography and digital subtraction angiography, are described with a literature review.

Evaluation of Cerebral Blood Flow Using Arterial Spin Labeling in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease

Purpose@#This study aimed to compare the brain perfusion status of patients with chronic kidney disease to a normal control group to identify any significant differences. @*Materials and Methods@#The perfusion state of the brain was measured by MRI using the arterial spin labeling technique in 36 patients undergoing hemodialysis due to chronic kidney disease and 36 normal controls. Images were then analyzed in a voxel-wise manner to detect brain areas showing significant perfusion differences between the two groups. @*Results@#Patients with chronic kidney disease showed increased perfusion in the form of large clusters across the right fronto-parieto-temporal lobe and the left parieto-occipital lobe. In addition, perfusion increased in the bilateral thalami, midbrain, pons, and cerebellum (p < 0.01, familywise error corrected). @*Conclusion@#Brain perfusion appears to increase in patients with chronic kidney disease compared to normal controls. Uremic toxicity is thought to be the cause of this increase as it can cause damage to the microscopic blood vessels and their surrounding structures.

Borden Type I Sigmoid Sinus Dural Arteriovenous Fistula Presenting as Subarachnoid Hemorrhage from a Feeding Artery Aneurysm of the Anterior Inferior Cerebellar Artery: A Case Report

Dural arteriovenous fistula is an acquired vascular anomaly that can cause various symptoms. Here, we report a rare case of Borden type I sigmoid sinus dural arteriovenous fistula presenting as subarachnoid hemorrhage. Bleeding occurred from a side-wall aneurysm in the lateral pontomedullary segment of the anterior inferior cerebellar artery, which was a minor pial feeder. Features on imaging modalities, including brain CT, CT angiography, MR imaging/angiography and digital subtraction angiography, are described with a literature review.

An MRI-Based Quantification for Correlation of Imaging Biomarker and Clinical Performance in Chronic Phase of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine the relation between quantitative magnetic resonance imaging biomarkers, and clinical performances in chronic phase of carbon monoxide intoxication. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eighteen magnetic resonance scans and cognitive evaluations were performed, on patients with carbon monoxide intoxication in chronic phase. Apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) ratios of affected versus unaffected centrum semiovale, and corpus callosum were obtained. Signal intensity (SI) ratios between affected centrum semiovale, and normal pons in T2-FLAIR (fluid-attenuated inversion recovery) images were obtained. The Mini-Mental State Exam, and clinical outcome scores were assessed. Correlation coefficients were calculated, between MRI and clinical markers. Patients were further classified into poor-outcome and good-outcome groups based on clinical performance, and imaging parameters were compared. T2-SI ratio of centrum semiovale was compared, with that of 18 sex-matched and age-matched controls. RESULTS: T2-SI ratio of centrum semiovale was significantly higher in the poor-outcome group, than that in the good-outcome group and was strongly inversely correlated, with results from the Mini-Mental State Exam. ADC ratios of centrum semiovale were significantly lower in the poor outcome group than in the good outcome group, and were moderately correlated with the Mini-Mental State Exam score. CONCLUSION: A higher T2-SI and a lower ratio of ADC values in the centrum semiovale, may indicate presence of more severe white matter injury and clinical impairment. T2-SI ratio and ADC values in the centrum semiovale, are useful quantitative imaging biomarkers for correlation with clinical performance in individuals with carbon monoxide intoxication.

Craniopharyngioma with Intratumoral Hemorrhage and Superficial Siderosis

Superficial siderosis of the central nervous system (CNS) is a progressive and debilitating neurological disease manifesting sensorineural hearing loss, cerebellar ataxia, and pyramidal tract signs. Chronic extravasation of blood into the subarachnoid space results in the accumulation of hemoglobin derivate in the subpial layer of the CNS, which is toxic to the neural tissues. Craniopharyngioma is a benign third ventricle tumor, which rarely presents with tumor bleeding. We report a rare case of superficial siderosis associated with craniopharyngioma with intratumoral hemorrhage in a patient with no history of prior trauma or CNS surgery.

Computational Fluid Dynamics of Intracranial and Extracranal Arteries using 3-Dimensional Angiography: Technical Considerations with Physician's Point of View / 신경중재치료의학

We investigate the potentials and limitations of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis of patient specific models from 3D angiographies. There are many technical problems in acquisition of proper vascular models, in pre-processing for making 2D surface and 3D volume meshes and also in post-processing steps for display the CFD analysis. We hope that our study could serves as a technical reference to validating other tools and CFD results.

MRI Findings of Intramuscular Foreign Body Injection: A Case Report

There are various types of foreign body reactions, such as inflammation, edema, fluid collection, hematoma, infection, abscess and granulomas. There are various imaging findings according to types of foreign bodies and depending on the lapse of time. Therefore, correct diagnosis of a foreign body reaction is difficult and easily confused with soft tissue neoplasm. The MRI is ideal for the detection of foreign bodies regardless of radiolucency or acoustic impedance. It is especially very useful in the evaluation of the surrounding tissue reaction. The authors report a case of a 26-year-old female patient with both forearm swelling due to self-injection of a mixture of powdered tablets and saline. The lesion shows numerous internal T1 and T2 dark signal intensity micro-spots with surrounding fluid collection, which are diagnosed as foreign bodies with surrounding inflammatory changes during an operation.

Computational Flow Dynamics of the Severe M1 Stenosis Before and After Stenting / 신경중재치료의학

PURPOSE: Computational flow dynamic (CFD) study has not been widely applied in intracranial artery stenosis due to requirement of high resolution in identifying the small intracranial artery. We described a process in CFD study applied to symptomatic severe intracranial (M1) stenosis before and after stenting. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Reconstructed 3D angiography in STL format was transferred to Magics (Materialise NV, Leuven, Belgium) for smoothing of vessel surface and trimming of branch vessels and to HyperMesh (Altair Engineering Inc., Auckland, New Zealand) for generating tetra volume mesh from triangular surface-meshed 3D angiogram. Computational analysis of blood flow in the blood vessels was performed using the commercial finite element software ADINA Ver 8.5 (ADINA R & D, Inc., Lebanon, MA). The distribution of wall shear stress (WSS), peak velocity and pressure in a patient was analyzed before and after intracranial stenting. RESULTS: Computer simulation of wall shear stress, flow velocity and wall pressure before and after stenting could be demonstrated three dimensionally by video mode according to flow vs. time dimension. Such flow model was well correlated with angiographic finding related to maximum degree of stenosis. Change of WSS, peak velocity and pressure at the severe stenosis was demonstrated before and after stenting. There was no WSS after stenting in case without residual stenosis. CONCLUSION: Our study revealed that CFD analysis before and after intracranial stenting was feasible despite of limited vessel wall dimension and could reveal change of WSS as well as flow velocity and wall pressure.

High Shear Stress at the Surface of Enhancing Plaque in the Systolic Phase is Related to the Symptom Presentation of Severe M1 Stenosis

The computational fluid dynamics methods for the limited flow rate and the small dimensions of an intracranial artery stenosis may help demonstrate the stroke mechanism in intracranial atherosclerosis. We have modeled the high wall shear stress (WSS) in a severe M1 stenosis. The high WSS in the systolic phase of the cardiac cycle was well-correlated with a thick fibrous cap atheroma with enhancement, as was determined using high-resolution plaque imaging techniques in a severe stenosis of the middle cerebral artery.

Computational Flow Dynamics Study in Severe Carotid Bulb Stenosis with Ulceration / 신경중재치료의학

PURPOSE: Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) applications for atherosclerotic carotid stenosis have not been widely used due to limited resolution in the severely stenotic lumen as well as small flow dimension in the stenotic channel. MATERIALS AND METHODS: CT data in DICOM format was transformed into 3 dimensional (3D) CFD model of carotid bifurcation. For computational analysis of blood flow in stenosis, commercial finite element software (ADINA Ver. 8.5) was used. The blood flow was assumed to be laminar, viscous, Newtonian, and incompressible. The distribution of wall shear stress (WSS), peak velocity and pressure across the average systolic and diastolic blood pressures permitted construction of a contour map of the velocity in each cardiac cycle. RESULTS: Computer simulation of WSS, flow velocity and wall pressure could be demonstrated three dimensionally according to flow vs. time dimension. Such flow model was correlated with angiographic finding related to maximum degree of stenosis associated with ulceration. Combination of WSS map and catheter angiogram indicated that the highest WSS corresponded to the most severely stenotic segment at systolic phase, whereas ulceration, which is the weakest point of the plaque, appeared at the downstream side of the carotid bulb stenosis. CONCLUSION: Our preliminary study revealed that 3D CFD analysis in carotid stenosis was feasible from CT angiography source image and could reveal WSS, flow velocity and wall pressure in the severe carotid bulb stenosis with ulceration. Further CFD analysis is warranted to apply such hemodynamic information to the atherosclerotic lesion in the more practical way.

Late Vascular Complication after Mandibular Ramus Sagittal Split Osteotomy: A Case Report

PURPOSE: The mandibular ramus sagittal split osteotomy is a common procedure in cosmetic surgery. A late complication of this procedure, pseudoaneurysm rarely happens. The purpose of this case is to present our experience that is rare late vascular complication after mandibular ramus sagittal split osteotomy. METHODS: A 21-year-old male was operated by local plastic surgeon for treatment of mandibular prognathism. After 9 days, the man was transferred to our hospital with persistent bleeding and swelling on the mandibular area. We operated the man three times and failed to control hemorrhage. Therefore, we did angiography and found the pseudoaneurysm on the buccal and pterygoid branches of internal maxillary artery. Then we did selective embolization for removal of the pseudoaneurysm. RESULTS: The man was operated using the therapeutic embolization, and the pseudoaneurysm was removed. The results were successful, and we couldn't find any bleeding and the pseudoaneurysm during the follow-up of 12 months. CONCLUSION: The selective embolization is the good therapeutic method of late vascular complication after mandibular ramus sagittal split osteotomy.

Late Vascular Complication after Mandibular Ramus Sagittal Split Osteotomy: A Case Report

PURPOSE: The mandibular ramus sagittal split osteotomy is a common procedure in cosmetic surgery. A late complication of this procedure, pseudoaneurysm rarely happens. The purpose of this case is to present our experience that is rare late vascular complication after mandibular ramus sagittal split osteotomy. METHODS: A 21-year-old male was operated by local plastic surgeon for treatment of mandibular prognathism. After 9 days, the man was transferred to our hospital with persistent bleeding and swelling on the mandibular area. We operated the man three times and failed to control hemorrhage. Therefore, we did angiography and found the pseudoaneurysm on the buccal and pterygoid branches of internal maxillary artery. Then we did selective embolization for removal of the pseudoaneurysm. RESULTS: The man was operated using the therapeutic embolization, and the pseudoaneurysm was removed. The results were successful, and we couldn't find any bleeding and the pseudoaneurysm during the follow-up of 12 months. CONCLUSION: The selective embolization is the good therapeutic method of late vascular complication after mandibular ramus sagittal split osteotomy.

Schwannomatosis Involving Peripheral Nerves: A Case Report

Schwannomatosis or neurilemmomatosis has been used to describe patients with multiple nonvestibular schwannomas with no other stigmata of neurofibromatosis type-2 (NF-2). In our case, schwannomatosis, multiple schwannomas were present in a 21-yr-old woman with no stigmata or family history of NF-1 or NF-2. She had no evidence of vestibular schwannoma or other intracranial tumors. Multiple peripheral tumors were found in the carotid space of the neck, and soft tissue of posterior shoulder, lower back, ankle and middle mediastinum. All of those tumors were completely limited to the right side of the body. All surgically removed tumor specimens in this patient proved to be schwannomas.

Usefulness of Thromboaspiration with Desilets-Hoffman Sheath in Thrombosed Hemodialysis Access Graft

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the feasibility, efficacy and safety of percutaneous thromboaspiration with a Desilets-Hoffman Sheath compared with the previously established percutaneous mechanical thrombectomy technique in cases of occluded dialysis graft. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred and sixty eight patients (103 women, 65 men; mean age, 54.7 years; mean graft age, 20.9 months) with 225 episodes of dialysis graft thrombosis underwent percutaneous thromboaspiration with a 7F Desilets-Hoffman sheath using the crossing catheter or single puncture technique. The technical success rate, procedure time, and complication and patency rates were analyzed. RESULTS:Technical success was achieved in 200 of the 225 procedures (88.9%). The average duration of the intervention was 74.3+/-35 minutes. The primary patency rate was 63.1% at 3 months, 44.2% at 6 months and 26.3% at 1 year. Major complications occurred in 4% of the cases (4 venous ruptures; 4 arterial embolisms; 1 arterial rupture) and minor complications occurred in 13.8% of the cases (26 minor venous ruptures; 4 intragraft ruptures; 1 venous dissection). These results were quite similar to those obtained with the previous mechanical thrombectomy technique. CONCLUSION: Percutaneous thromboaspiration of occluded dialysis grafts with a Desilets-Hoffman Sheath is an effective and safe method.

MR Findings of the Spinal Epidural Lesions

The spinal canal takes the form of a series of cylinders designated by their relationship to the meninges and is divided by the dura mater into the epidural or extradural space and the intradural space. The epidural space is composed of spinal ligaments, connective and areolar tissue, the epidural venous plexus, lymphatic channels and supporting elements, and various pathologic entities are found there. MR imaging can accurately depict the extent and characteristics of lesions, and in some cases specific diagnosis is possible. In this pictorial essay, we illustrate a variety of spinal epidural lesions and their MR findings.

A Case Report of Complete Testicular Feminization Syndrome with Rudimentary Salpinx / 대한산부인과학회잡지

The Complete testicular feminization syndrome is a hereditary syndrome characterized clinically by female phenotype with 46, XY karyotype and bilateral testes. There is a congenital insensitivity to androgens, transmitted by means of a maternal X-linked recessive gene responsible for the androgen intracellular receptor. Therefore, androgen induction of Wolffian duct development does not occur. However, anti-mullerian hormone activity is present and the individual does not have mullerian development. Principle of treatment is reinforced to live normal female life. This is a case report of testicular feminization syndrome with rudimentary salpinx with the brief review of literatures.

Determination of Language Dominance Using Functional MRI in Patients with Intractable Seizure: Comparison with Wada Test

PURPOSE: To investigate the efficiency or potency of functional MRI (fMRI) for the determination of language dominance by comparing the results of fMRI with those of the Wada test. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Among 34 patients with intractable seizure who underwent both fMRI and the Wada test, we analyzed the results of 30 (men:women=19:11; mean age=29.7 years). Using echoplanar imaging and the blood oxygen level dependent technique, fMRI was performed using a 1.5 T MR imager with a standard head coil. The language task consisted of two parts: reading words and generating words. For fMRI, a multi-event multi-task paradigm consisting of two sets of activation, rest, and alternative periods was used. Image processing involved the use of the Z test (Z threshold = 1.0 -1.2). To determine the lateralization index, we calculated the activation pixels within the whole frontal cortex., and to ascertain the discrepancy between the two tasks, the clustering grade of activation pixels was measured. After the injection of thiopental, language dominance was determined by means of a modified Wada test. The results of this and the findings of fMRI were compared with the results of Fisher 's exact test (p 0.05). CONCLUSION: For the determinaton of language dominance, fMRI showed good correlation with the Wada test. The word generation task was more efficient than the reading task. fMRI which is non-invasive and repeatable, is therefore more efficient and useful than the invasive Wada test.

A Prospective Study on Ceftriaxone-associated Biliary Pseudolithiasis: A Dose-related Comparison

PURPOSE: Ceftriaxone, a parenteral third-generation cephalosporine, is widely used in the treatment of various bacterial infections. It possesses high calcium-binding affinity, forming complexes with calcium in bile salts to develop precipitate that mimics gallstone on ultrasonography. Biliary pseudolithiasis resolves completely with cessation of therapy, but several symptomatic patients have undergone cholesystectomy. We prospectively evaluated the incidence, risk factors and dose- related comparison with ultrasonography. METHODS: Between November 1998 and August 1999, 81 cases of inpatients on ceftriaxone treatment in Dongguk University Pohang Hospital were enrolled for this study. They were divided according to dose of ceftriaxone, high-dose and low-dose groups. Repeated sonography was performed on 1, 3, 5 and 7 days after initiation of ceftriaxone treatrnent and then weekly until pseudolithiasis were resolved. RESULTS: Thirty-eight percent of the subjects acquired pseudolithiasis. Sonographic abnormalities appeared from 1 to 10 days after ceftriaxone therapy and completely resolved from 1 to 24 days after cessation of ceftriaxone therapy. The incidence of pseudolithiasis was significantly higher in the high-dose group(P<0.001). In the high-dose group, fasting over a day was a significant risk factor of pseudolithiasis(P<0.01). Sex, age, duration of ceftriaxone therapy, laboratory findings, type of infection or chief complaint were not significant risk factors for pseudolithiasis. CONCLUSION: We suggest that abdominal ultrasonography should be considered in all children who receive high dose ceftriaxone with fasting over a day. If pseudolithiasis was developed, we can detect the most of resolution after 30 days of cessation of therapy.