ABSTRACT
The aim of the study is to define the role of associated malformations in the clinical evolution of children affected by myelomeningocele. MRI investigation of the spinal cord was carried out on 25 patients between the age of 7.3 and 18.10 with MMC repaired and followed up for at least 7 years. The relation between associated malformations demonstrated by MRI and clinical trend was analysed. The results are the following: 1) presence of asymptomatic tethered cord in all cases; 2) high frequency (92%) of Chiari malformation; 3) presence of syringomyelia in 20% of patients, symptomatic in 1; 4) presence of ventricular enlargement in 72% of cases without increased intracranial pressure syndrome. For a better therapeutic approach prospective MRI studies are needed in order to follow up associated malformations.
Subject(s)
Magnetic Resonance Imaging , Meningomyelocele/diagnosis , Meningomyelocele/surgery , Adolescent , Cerebral Ventricles/pathology , Child , Female , Follow-Up Studies , Humans , Hydrocephalus/complications , Hydrocephalus/diagnosis , Hydrocephalus/surgery , Male , Meningomyelocele/physiopathology , Postoperative Period , Spinal Cord/abnormalities , Spinal Cord/pathology , Spinal Cord/physiopathologyABSTRACT
Leptomeningeal melanoblastosis is a rare phakomatosis; the amelanotic variant has not till now been described. In this paper we report the case of a young man suffering from amelanotic leptomeningeal melanoblastosis manifested as medullary syndrome and secondary intracranial hypertension. The diagnosis of leptomeningeal melanoblastosis was hypothesized on the basis of CSF and neuroradiological findings and it was finally confirmed by the histopathology.
Subject(s)
Hydrocephalus/etiology , Melanosis/diagnosis , Nervous System Diseases/etiology , Adolescent , Humans , Hydrocephalus/physiopathology , Intracranial Pressure , Male , Melanosis/complications , Melanosis/pathology , Nervous System Diseases/pathology , Nervous System Diseases/physiopathologyABSTRACT
MR is generally known to be more sensitive but less specific than CT in the detection of brain lesions. In our opinion multiple echo sequences can markedly improve MR specificity in the diagnosis of tumors. We reviewed a series of 343 intracranial tumors studied with MR using multiple echo sequences and histologically verified. On the basis of the different signal patterns we divided brain tumors into 5 classes. Class 1: the signal intensity of the tumor increases progressively in T2 WI (100% of craniopharyngiomas, 21/21; 100% of epidermoid tumors, 12/12; 81% of astrocytomas (grades I to III), 64/79; 65% of neurinomas, 30/46). Class 2: the signal intensity of the lesion decreases progressively in T2 WI: A) the tumor has higher signal intensity than the parenchyma in all echoes (100% of medulloblastomas, 14/14; 53% of pituitary adenomas, 15/28); B) the tumor has the same signal intensity as the parenchyma in late echo acquisitions (100% of ependymal tumors, 12/12; 60% of meningiomas, 25/41). Class 3: the tumor has the same signal intensity as the parenchyma in all echoes (34% of meningiomas, 14/41). Class 4: glioblastoma model: one or more cysts of high signal intensity in T2 WI and slightly hyperintense nodules and/or rings and hyperintense peritumoral edema (73% of glioblastomas, 35/48; 72% of metastases, 18/25). Class 5: oligodendroglioma model: mixed hyper/hypointense pattern; cyst, calcifications and edema are very difficult to recognize within the lesion (95% of oligodendrogliomas, 18/19). The signal pattern was sometimes characteristic but never pathognomonic. Nevertheless, this classification proved to be an useful criterion to restrict the number of possible diagnoses. The study of T1 and T2 values seems to be less useful.
Subject(s)
Brain Neoplasms/diagnosis , Magnetic Resonance Imaging , Brain/pathology , Brain Neoplasms/classification , Brain Neoplasms/secondary , Diagnosis, Differential , Humans , Time FactorsABSTRACT
IDSA studies were performed in 6 patients with AVM and hemangioblastomas of the spinal cord. IDSA appears to be the most suitable angiographic approach for the study and embolization of this kind of lesions of the spinal cord even when special conditions require repeating some injections on conventional angiography.
Subject(s)
Spinal Cord/blood supply , Adult , Angiography/methods , Arteriovenous Fistula/diagnostic imaging , Arteriovenous Malformations/diagnostic imaging , Cerebellar Neoplasms/diagnostic imaging , Hemangiosarcoma/diagnostic imaging , Hematoma, Subdural/diagnostic imaging , Humans , Middle Aged , Radiographic Image Enhancement , Spinal Cord/diagnostic imaging , Spinal Cord Neoplasms/diagnostic imaging , Vascular Diseases/diagnostic imagingABSTRACT
Forty surgically proved gliomas have been studied by MR: 21 were low-grade gliomas and 19 were anaplastic astrocytomas and glioblastomas. The examination involved the use of T1-weighted (IR and/or SE, TR 500 ms, TE 50 ms) and T2-weighted scans (SE, TR 1000 ms, TE 50 with multiple echos). All patients underwent CT and surgical removal or stereotactic biopsy whose findings were retrospectively compared with those of MR. MR findings were similar in low-grade and anaplastic astrocytomas, but quite different from imaging of glioblastomas. Tumoral cyst and areas of necrosis were recognized on MR studies and confirmed by surgical findings. Differentiation between tumor and oedema was difficult. The MR images did not allow a more specific diagnosis of nature or of malignancy than available with CT up to now, but offer major advantages, such as a superior depiction of tumor extent and anatomic relationships.
Subject(s)
Brain Neoplasms/diagnosis , Glioma/diagnosis , Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy , Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Astrocytoma/diagnosis , Astrocytoma/pathology , Biopsy , Brain Neoplasms/pathology , Child , Evaluation Studies as Topic , Female , Glioblastoma/diagnosis , Glioblastoma/pathology , Glioma/pathology , Humans , Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy/methods , Male , Middle Aged , Oligodendroglioma/diagnosis , Oligodendroglioma/pathology , Tomography, X-Ray ComputedABSTRACT
Findings at magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT) where reviewed in 53 surgically confirmed cases with glioma. Astrocytomas showed a constant MR signal pattern in 87 per cent and glioblastomas in 80 per cent. This pattern was found useful when it was correlated with CT. MRI was also found to be of value in planning stereotactic biopsy and in confirming the trajectory.
Subject(s)
Biopsy , Brain Neoplasms/diagnosis , Glioma/diagnosis , Magnetic Resonance Imaging , Stereotaxic Techniques , Tomography, X-Ray Computed , Brain Neoplasms/diagnostic imaging , Brain Neoplasms/pathology , Diagnosis, Differential , Glioma/diagnostic imaging , Glioma/pathology , HumansABSTRACT
Tumors involving or arising from the floor of the middle fossa in cases seen at the Neurological Institute C. Besta were reviewed, and the radiological findings of plain films, angiographic and CT studies are described. Meningiomas, metastases, trigeminal neurinomas, epidermoids, chordomas and chondromas were included in the study.
Subject(s)
Brain Neoplasms/diagnostic imaging , Cranial Nerve Neoplasms/diagnostic imaging , Meningeal Neoplasms/diagnostic imaging , Skull Neoplasms/diagnostic imaging , Trigeminal Nerve , Cerebral Angiography , Chondroma/diagnostic imaging , Chordoma/diagnostic imaging , Diagnosis, Differential , Epidermal Cyst/diagnostic imaging , Humans , Meningioma/diagnostic imaging , Neurilemmoma/diagnostic imaging , Tomography, X-Ray ComputedABSTRACT
A case of carotid-cavernous fistula characterized by an unusual computerized tomography (CT) pattern is reported. The CT study showed a hyperdense lesion in the right frontoparietal region, and angiography demonstrated an uncommonly large venous network in the same area. After embolization by a detachable balloon technique, these findings gradually resolved. The CT pattern was probably due to the unusually large venous drainage and to the related ischemia of the brain parenchyma.
Subject(s)
Arteriovenous Fistula/diagnostic imaging , Carotid Artery Diseases/diagnostic imaging , Cavernous Sinus/diagnostic imaging , Tomography, X-Ray Computed , Arteriovenous Fistula/therapy , Carotid Artery Diseases/therapy , Carotid Artery, Internal , Catheterization , Cavernous Sinus/physiology , Embolization, Therapeutic , Humans , Male , Middle AgedSubject(s)
Brain Neoplasms/diagnostic imaging , Cranial Nerve Neoplasms/diagnostic imaging , Meningeal Neoplasms/diagnostic imaging , Pituitary Neoplasms/diagnostic imaging , Adenoma/diagnostic imaging , Adolescent , Adult , Cerebral Angiography , Child , Child, Preschool , Chondroma/diagnostic imaging , Chordoma/diagnostic imaging , Cranial Fossa, Posterior , Epidermal Cyst/diagnostic imaging , Female , Glioma/diagnostic imaging , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Neurilemmoma/diagnostic imaging , Tomography, X-Ray ComputedABSTRACT
12 patients, 10 women and 2 men, were operated on for removal of a jugular foramen neurinoma. Removal was total in 11 cases and operative mortality was 16.6%. As there are no clinical or instrumental signs that permit sure distinction between these tumours and those of the cerebellopontine angle, only a thorough radiological study of the jugular foramen allows correct diagnosis. Often, however, the diagnosis is made during the operation.