Neonatal giant dural sinus ectasia: a multimodality imaging approach.

Dural venous sinus ectasia is a rare anomaly characterised by the formation of a large vascular lake within the leaves of the dural sinuses, usually associated with thrombosis. These lesions can cause brain compression, cardiac insufficiency and disseminated intravascular coagulation, which may lead to poor prognosis. We present the case of a neonate who presented with an intracranial mass on prenatal ultrasound. Postnatal transcranial ultrasonography, cranial CT and cranial MRI demonstrated a large lesion predominantly occupying the dural sinus confluence, extending into the sagittal sinus, straight sinus and right transverse sinus. The left marginal sinus remains unfused and patent. Concomitant arteriovenous malformations were evident in the median interhemispheric fissure and the left Sylvian fissure. There are several published case reports and case series describing malformations of the dural sinuses in perinatal and neonatal patients in recent years, but this case is unique in that: (1) there is the presence of a vascular malformation concomitant to the dural sinus ectasia and (2) it highlights the importance of imaging in clinching the diagnosis of giant dural venous sinus ectasia, as it is often misdiagnosed as more common conditions such as extra-axial intracranial haemorrhage.

Musculoskeletal ultrasound using superb microvascular imaging documents treatment response to biosimilar infliximab in rheumatoid arthritis.

A 60-year-old woman with rheumatoid arthritis consulted for acute flare. She had elevated disease activity score 28 - erythrocyte sedimentation rate (DAS 28-ESR) of 6.88 and clinical disease activity index (CDAI) of 32. Her 12-joint ultrasound revealed widespread joint effusion. Synovial vascularity scores measured through superb microvascular imaging (SMI) and power Doppler were universally increased. We documented her treatment response 2 weeks after she received a single dose of biosimilar infliximab using clinical and sonographic data. Her DAS 28-ESR and CDAI scores decreased to 4.21 and 7.0, respectively. Reduction in synovial vascularity scores was demonstrated using SMI. While there was near total resolution in joint effusion and tenosynovitis, SMI was able to demonstrate synovial vascularity in joints with no clinical swelling nor tenderness. Musculoskeletal ultrasound and superb microvascular imaging are useful adjuncts in evaluating synovitis in rheumatoid arthritis and documenting treatment response through documentation of synovial vascularity, effusion and tenosynovitis.