Spinal Hematomas: What a Radiologist Needs to Know.

Spinal hematomas are a frequent indication for radiologic evaluation and can be a diagnostic dilemma for many radiologists and surgeons. There are four types of spinal hematomas: epidural, subdural, subarachnoid, and intramedullary (spinal cord) hematomas. Because they differ by their location in relationship to the meningeal membranes and spinal cord, unique radiologic appearances can be recognized to distinguish these types of spinal hemorrhage. Anatomic knowledge of the spinal compartments is essential to the radiologist for confident imaging diagnosis of spinal hematomas and to specify correct locations. MRI is the modality of choice to diagnose the location of the hematoma, characterize important features such as age of the hemorrhage, and detect associated injury or disease. Each type of spinal hematoma has imaging patterns and characteristics that distinguish it from the others, as these specific spinal compartments displace and affect the adjacent anatomic structures. Early detection and accurate localization of spinal hematomas is critical for the surgeon to address the proper treatment and surgical decompression, when necessary, as neurologic deficits may otherwise become permanent. Online supplemental material is available for this article. ©RSNA, 2018.

Isolated left upper eyelid ptosis with pansinusitis and contralateral otitis media in a 9-year-old boy.

PURPOSE: Upper eyelid ptosis has different etiologies in children and adults. In children, the common causes include orbital cellulitis, congenital ptosis, Cranial Nerve (CN) III palsy, and Horner's syndrome. The purpose of this report is to discuss an unusual presentation of ptosis. OBSERVATIONS: We describe a case of a 9-year-old boy with left-sided ptosis with no apparent clinical signs of orbital or preseptal infection. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed pansinusitis and contralateral otitis media with direct extension into the superior aspect of the left orbit affecting the levator palpebrae superioris muscle. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPORTANCE: This finding on imaging disclosed the etiology of an otherwise unexplained case of upper lid ptosis.

Imaging of pediatric neurovascular emergencies.

Pediatric strokes are rare but critical diagnoses to make in the emergency setting. They are associated with a set of pathologies that are not frequently encountered in the adult population. Some of these diseases have variable clinical presentations and imaging appearance depending on the age of onset and severity of the underlying pathologies. This article reviews the differential diagnoses and noninvasive imaging evaluation of pediatric cerebral ischemic and hemorrhagic diseases.