Alternate ventricular asymmetry could suggest a psychiatric diagnosis.

Routine magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the skull and brain for diagnostic purposes sometimes reveals a wider tip of the frontal ventricular horn on one side and a wider tip of the temporal horn on the other. A search for 'alternate ventricular asymmetry' in Google Scholar, Medline and PubMed Central yielded no results, so the digital archive of the hospital was searched for such cases. A total of 5908 examinations were reviewed and 508 cases were found, comprising 6% of the neurological inpatients and 20% of the psychiatric inpatients (P = 0.001 by χ2 ). The >3-fold difference in the incidence of this particular ventricular asymmetry implies that it could suggest a psychiatric diagnosis. Clin. Anat. 30:50-52, 2017. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Primary nodular meningeal glioma mimicking metastatic tumor of the cerebellum with diffuse infra- and supratentorial leptomeningeal spread.

A 62-year-old man presented with acute headache, blurred and double vision, nausea, and ataxia. Magnetic resonance imaging showed an enhancing mass on the inferior aspect of the right cerebellar hemisphere as well as a thin, widespread leptomeningeal enhancement and T2-weighted hyperintense lesions in the left occipital lobe and both thalami. Lumbar puncture revealed clusters of anaplastic cells. Therefore, metastatic tumor of unknown origin was suggested. Despite whole brain irradiation and intrathecal chemotherapy the patient deteriorated gradually and died four months later. Post-mortem examination of the brain revealed a nodular, high-grade astrocytic tumor within the subarachnoid space on the lower portion of the right cerebellar hemisphere. Diffuse leptomeningeal spread was noted, but cerebellar parenchyma was not infiltrated.

An experimental high-resolution MR coil for the imaging of pathological findings in the post mortem brain stem.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the potential of an experimental coil using a whole-body MR unit to delineate pathological changes within formalin-fixed human brain stems. MATERIAL, METHODS, AND RESULTS: The MR images of 9 brain stems were compared with gross anatomy and corresponding histological sections. The resolution of the images was high enough to depict areas of clinically relevant pathological alterations.

Cellular uptake of magnetic fluid particles and their effects on human adenocarcinoma cells exposed to AC magnetic fields in vitro.

Suspensions of coated superparamagnetic particles (magnetic fluids, MF) in AC magnetic fields have a pronounced specific absorption rate (SAR) per mass compared to multidomain particles. The aim of the present study was to investigate cellular uptake and the biological effects of AC magnetic field excited bio-compatible magnetic fluids on human carcinoma cells in vitro. One of the fluids tested was a dextran magnetite, which has a very low cyto-toxicity with survival fractions (SF) between 0.8 and 0.9 at concentrations of up to 5 mg ferrite per ml. Human carcinoma cells intracellularly accumulate up to 1 pg ferrite/cell which has been demonstrated by electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray spectroscopy and measurements of intracellular iron. It has been shown that the ferrite core is not altered intracellularly, but many of the dextran shells are degraded which yields particle chains and other aggregates observed in TEM. Semi-solid pellets of the tumour cells were treated with AC magnetic fields (520 kHz, 4-12.5 kA/m) or waterbath hyperthermia at 43 and 45 degrees C, in presence of extracellular and/or intracellular magnetic fluid particles. Although MF heating is produced from individual particles, the survival fractions of MF heated and water bath heated cells are equal. In fact, the extracellular MF particle distribution is homogeneous enough to obtain similar inactivation. In contrast to earlier reports intracellular dextran magnetite particles in AC magnetic fields did not induce cell inactivation. Since the amount of intracellular ferrite should be indeed large enough for cell inactivation, the loss of dextran shells is most probably the main cause of limited effectiveness of the intracellular magnetite particles. The present work has demonstrated that: (1) MFH is able to inactivate tumour cells in vitro to at least the same extent as water bath hyperthermia; and (2) that there is a sensitizer effect of ferrofluids at 43 degrees C probably caused by free ferric ions which induce oxidative stress; and (3) that there is no cytotoxic effect of intracellular dextran magnetite particles 30-180 min excited with AC magnetic fields used in this study. For the new method the term 'magnetic fluid hyperthermia (MFH)' is proposed.

Clear cell meningioma: report of a spinal case.

A sacrococcygeal case of clear cell meningioma in a 38-year-old man is reported. Compared to the seven spinal clear cell meningiomas described so far, this case demonstrated the highest recurrency rate. Multiple recurrences were most likely due to the extensive infiltrative growth pattern of the tumor hindering complete microscopic surgical resection. Histologic parameters were not relevant to predict recurrences, since cellular anaplasia was lacking and growth fraction was low in the first operation and all subsequent recurrences. In view of what is now known of clear cell meningiomas, the tumor showed all histologic and immunohistochemical features which are typical for this tumor entity. However, the tumor was first diagnosed by capable pathologists and neuropathologists as fibroma-like mesenchymal tumor, metastatic renal carcinoma, chordoma, chondroma untypical osteosarcoma, and microcystic meningioma. Correct diagnosis was made by electron microscopy which has revealed comparable findings to those of other rare electron microscopical cases reported so far; high content of cytoplasmic glycogen diffusely distributed throughout the cytoplasm or aggregated within vacuoles, intermediate filaments, desmosomes, interdigitation of cell membranes and large amounts of collagen fibers, some of which were of the giant amianthoid type. Since meningiomatous features of clear cell meningiomas are not obvious light microscopically and the tumors may be confused with nonmeningiomatous neoplasms, electron microscopical investigation is highly recommended in each case of suspected clear cell meningioma.

The neuropathology and epidemiology of AIDS. A Berlin experience. A review of 200 cases.

The brains of 200 patients who died with Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) from Berlin were examined retrospectively. This study was specifically intended to evaluate and document the prevalence of neuropathologic abnormalities, establishing the frequency of the various types of structural lesions, their combinations, their relative incidence, and the risk factors involved in different age groups. The data were compared and contrasted with the findings reported from other parts of the world and other German cities. It was found that the mean age of this group of patients was 41.4 years old, 75% were homosexual/bisexuals (H/B) and 18.5% were drug abusers (DA). Only 5.5% were women. Brain parenchymal changes, called in this report, HIV-related encephalopathy (HIVRE), characterized by vacuolization or spongy changes and astrocytosis in the subcortical white matter, and occasionally in gray matter, were found in 67 patients (33.5%). Drug abusers had a higher incidence of HIVRE (59.5%) compared with homosexual/bisexuals (28%). This is statistically significant (p < 0.0005). CMV encephalitis was found in 26 patients (13%) (8% of the drug abusers in contrast to 13% in the homosexual/bisexuals group). Primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL) was seen in 28 patients (14%) regardless of the risk factor involved. 20 (13%) of the 150 H/B and 3 (8%) of the 37 DA had CMV encephalitis. Of the 150 H/B, 24 (16%) had PCNSL compared with only 4 of 37 (11%) of the DA. A significant incidence of opportunistic infections, both protozoal and viral was found in all groups. Cerebral toxoplasmosis occurred in 68 patients (34%). Microglial (phagocytic) nodules, probably related to CMV or cerebral Toxoplasmosis, were observed in 40 cases (20%). Diffuse microglial proliferation was noted in 104 patients (52%). Cerebral cryptococcosis was found in three patients. Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy was seen in 16 patients (8%). Various combinations of CNS pathological processes were found in 44 of the patients (22%). These include concomitant infections with Toxoplasma gondii and HIVRE in 13 patients; Toxoplasmosis and PCNSL in 8 patients; Toxoplasmosis with CMV and HIVRE in 4 patients; Toxoplasmosis with CMV in 2 patients; Toxoplasmosis with PCNSL and CMV in 2 patients; Toxoplasmosis with PCNSL and HIVRE in 2 patients and Toxoplasmosis with PML and HIVRE in 2 patients; Cerebral CMV with PCNSL and HIVRE in 4 patients; Cerebral CMV with HIVRE in 2 patients; PML with PCNSL in one patient; PML with HIVRE in 2 patients; and PML with PCNSL and HIVRE in one patient. Cerebrovascular lesions were found in 34 patients (17%).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)