A Study to Evaluate the Role of Three-Dimensional Pseudo-Continuous Arterial Spin Labelling in Acute Ischemic Stroke.

Introduction Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is well known to detect ischemic brain tissue and evaluate the tissue vulnerable to infarction. Diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) has been a mainstay of stroke evaluation but has a few shortcomings, as it generally indicates only the core of ischemia and does not provide information regarding the tissue at risk or the ischemic penumbra surrounding the infarct. Perfusion imaging identifies brain tissue that has reduced blood flow as a potential target for reperfusion therapy. Arterial spin labelling (ASL) is a new non-invasive, non-contrast MRI perfusion sequence used to detect areas of hypoperfusion qualitatively and quantitatively and also identify the area at risk, i.e., the penumbra, in acute ischemic stroke. The most important component of the imaging is to determine the ischemic penumbra. One of the working definitions of penumbra is brain tissue that is ischemic but not yet infarcted and is at risk of further damage unless the flow is rapidly restored. Hence, perfusion-diffusion mismatch provides a realistic target for potential intervention. The aim of our study is to assess the role of ASL imaging in identifying the penumbra and providing insight into the management of acute ischemic stroke. Materials and methods Patients who presented with symptoms of acute ischemic stroke were included in the study, and an MRI stroke protocol comprising DWI, fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR), ASL, and magnetic resonance angiogram (MRA) sequences was done. Post-thrombolysis, a follow-up MRI was done using DWI, ASL, and MRA to see the restoration of perfusion in the ischemic penumbra. Three-dimensional pseudo-continuous ASL (in our study, ASL refers to pseudo-continuous ASL) is included in the stroke protocol in cases of acute ischemic stroke and assessed qualitatively. Results Our study included 43 patients (n = 43), of whom 39.5% (17 patients) belong to the age group of 51-60 years and 2.3% (one patient) are in the age group of 21-30 years. All 43 cases demonstrated DWI-FLAIR mismatch, suggestive of ischemic stroke within the window period, and all 43 cases showed DWI-ASL mismatch, suggestive of a large yet potentially salvageable peri-infarct ischemic penumbra. The most common territory involved was the middle cerebral artery (MCA), and the posterior cerebral artery (PCA) was the least commonly involved territory. We had one case involving the MCA-PCA watershed zone. Conclusion Arterial spin labelling is a novel, non-invasive, non-contrast MRI sequence with the capability to provide qualitative information regarding the salvageable ischemic penumbra, and timely management prevents the progression of the penumbra. The incorporation of ASL as part of the standard neuroimaging protocol aids in the management of acute stroke, giving insight into the prediction of outcome.

Radiological Manifestations of Rhino-Orbito-Cranial Mucormycosis in COVID-19 Patients Correlated With Pathological and Clinical Outcomes and Emphasis on Magnetic Resonance Imaging-Based Scoring System.

There was tremendous increase in the number of cases of mucormycosis among patients affected by coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) during the second wave of pandemic in South Asian countries. This invasive fungal infection primarily affects paranasal sinuses and can have orbito-facial and intracranial extension. We are presenting the radiological findings of invasive mucormycosis with pathological and clinical outcome correlation. It is important for radiologists to have the knowledge of various presentations of this opportunistic infection for early diagnosis and helping clinicians in planning the appropriate line of management. The study also emphasizes on the correlation between the extent of involvement with clinical outcome and we proposed a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) based scoring system to standardize and prognosticate the patients affected with mucormycosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We utilized GE 1.5 tesla, 16-channeled MRI machine for scanning the clinically suspected mucormycosis patients and did plain and contrast study of the paranasal sinuses, orbito-facial study and included brain as and when required. Images were acquired in axial, coronal, and sagittal planes using T1, T2, and fat-saturated short tau inversion recovery sequences (STIR), fat-saturated contrast sequences for better evaluation of the extent of the disease. Diffusion-weighted sequence was also acquired to detect ischemic changes in optic nerve or brain parenchyma. Contrast study was used to detect any major vessel occlusion or cavernous sinus thrombosis in the study population. RESULTS: Total number of cases (n) included in the study were 32. The mean age group was 41-50 years with the median age was 47 years. Out of 32 cases (n=32), in 16 cases (50%) the disease was limited only to the paranasal sinuses and in remaining 16 (50%) cases, disease has spread to other regions such as orbits, facial soft tissues, optic nerve, and brain parenchyma. All the 18 cases with Mild score (MRI ROCM score 1-3) survived and all those with severe score (2 cases) (MRI ROCM score 7-10) did not survive. CONCLUSION: During the second wave of COVID-19 pandemic, we observed a significant rise in acute invasive mucormycosis infection primarily involving the paranasal sinuses and spread to orbito-facial, cerebral parenchyma causing related complications and hence increased morbidity and death. Radiologically, using MRI, it was effectively possible to detect early extrasinonasal spread and other fatal complications thereby guiding the physicians and surgeons in the proper early aggressive management of the disease. Here, we have described the radiological characteristics of paranasal sinus mucormycosis and its spread to other regions. We also proposed an MRI-based Scoring System for standardized assessment of the disease severity. We observed in our study that the extent of disease on MRI is directly correlating with mortality.

Fetal Cyclopia, Proboscis, Holoprosencephaly, and Polydactyly: A Case Report With Review of Literature.

We present a case of holoprosencephaly (HPE) with cyclopia and proboscis. The mother was a 35-year-old, G1P1 with no known comorbid conditions, not in a consanguineous marriage, and with no history of illicit drug use. On a routine antenatal ultrasound scan, features of alobar HPE, proboscis, and other anomalies were identified. The mother was counseled about the condition and as per their consent, the pregnancy was terminated. After labor induction, she gave birth to a female neonate weighing 1,000 g. The newborn's Apgar score could not be calculated. In the initial physical examination, an eye and a 3.5-cm proboscis were seen in the middle of the forehead. The newborn had no nose, and the outer ears were normal. On postmortem examination, alobar HPE, polydactyly, ventricular septal defect, and myelomeningocele were confirmed. This case report highlights the importance of attention to these details during antenatal scans for early detection in order to reduce the maternal and neonatal health burden. The pictures presented in this article were taken after obtaining parental consent.

Right Vertebral Artery Arising From Ipsilateral Common Carotid Artery With Severe Stenosis of Ostio-proximal Segment of Aberrant Right Subclavian Artery: A Rare Life-Saving Variant.

Anomalous origins of vertebral arteries are rare vascular anomalies that are incidentally identified during computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, or digital subtraction angiograms. We present the case of a 45-year-old male who had gangrene of the right ring finger associated with absent radial, ulnar, and brachial artery pulses. A computed tomography angiogram of the upper limb including the arch of aorta showed an aberrant right subclavian artery having near-total stenosis at the origin. An anomalous origin of the right vertebral artery from the right common carotid artery was also noted. This incidental variant anomaly of the vertebral artery was vital in this case as it spared the posterior cerebral circulation from vascular insufficiency complications. It is also important for future head and neck endovascular interventions to avoid inadvertent arterial injury.

Proximal Interruption of Pulmonary Artery: Spectrum of Radiological Findings With Emphasis on Chest Radiograph and Contrast-Enhanced Computed Tomography (CECT).

Introduction Proximal interruption of pulmonary artery (PIPA) is a congenital anomaly presenting with aberrant termination of the pulmonary artery at the hilum. It results in a variety of radiological and clinical manifestations. Clinically, isolated PIPA can be asymptomatic till late adulthood or can present with dyspnoea, chest discomfort, hemoptysis and recurrent infections. PIPA can be associated with multiple cardiovascular anomalies such as tetralogy of Fallot (TOF), ventricular septal defects (VSD), and scimitar syndrome. We present a spectrum of cases with both isolated proximal interruption of the pulmonary artery and cases associated with other cardiovascular abnormalities. Typical chest radiographs and chest contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CECT) findings are discussed and demonstrated in detail. Proper and early diagnosis is a crucial step as it can significantly modify the treatment choice, thereby reducing morbidity. Objective To document the different presentations of the proximal arrest of pulmonary arteries, to document associations with cardiovascular and pulmonary manifestations, and to elaborate on and demonstrate the various radiological imaging findings. Material and methods All the cases that were reported with proximal interruption of pulmonary artery on the CECT studies conducted between 2019 and 2022 at a tertiary care hospital in Telangana, India. The demographic data, clinical presentation, chest radiographs, and chest CECT were collected retrospectively. Data analysis was done using Microsoft Excel 2019 to calculate descriptive statistics. A total of 22 cases were identified of which three cases were excluded of as they were previously operated and 19 cases were taken as the study population. Results Nineteen patients were included in the study. Demographic details, clinical history, CECT, and chest radiographs were collected wherever available. The majority of the cases belonged to the ≤ 10 yrs age group with the most common clinical presentation being a previous diagnosis of tuberculosis or recurrent upper respiratory tract infections. The predominant findings on chest radiographs were deviation of the trachea to the affected side, volume loss in the ipsilateral lung field, and compensatory hyperinflation of the contralateral lung field. On the CECT chest, the main findings were interrupted pulmonary artery, hypoplastic lung fields with bronchiectasis, or ground glassing. Associated cardiovascular and pulmonary malformations were identified with notable cases: TOF, right-sided aortic arch and scimitar syndrome. Their typical imaging findings have been elucidated and discussed in detail. Conclusions Patients with recurrent respiratory infections or hemoptysis having hypoplastic lung field with hyperinflation of the contralateral lung on chest radiographs should be evaluated for pulmonary artery interruptions. Chest CECT allows evaluation of the bronchial tree and lung parenchyma at the same time which helps distinguish pulmonary interruption from conditions such as Swyer-James-Macleod syndrome, pulmonary hypoplasia, thromboembolism and arteritis. Cases with PIPA can also be associated with cardiovascular and pulmonary anomalies such as TOF, partial anomalous pulmonary venous connection (PAPVC), and VSD. The knowledge of these associations is essential as they can influence the mode of treatment and can help reduce the long-term morbidity and mortality associated with the condition.

Cisplatin induced cerebral sinus venous thrombosis in cervical cancer patients treated with concurrent chemoradiation: a case series.

Cisplatin is a widely used chemotherapeutic agent. Concurrent chemotherapy with cisplatin is an important component in the management of carcinoma cervix. The common side effects of cisplatin chemotherapy include nausea, vomiting, dyselectrolytemia, nephrotoxicity, etc. These side effects are anticipated and managed during chemotherapy. Thromboembolic events are rare complications with cisplatin. We present three cases of cisplatin related cerebral sinus venous thrombosis (CSVT). These patients were receiving concurrent chemoradiation for carcinoma cervix. These patients presented with neurological symptoms and were evaluated and diagnosed with CSVT. They recovered after appropriate management. Clinicians should be aware that CSVT, though uncommon, is a life threatening complication during cisplatin chemotherapy which should be appropriately evaluated and effectively managed.