Imaging findings of intraventricular pilocytic astrocytoma.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to present the clinical and imaging findings of 16 patients with intraventricular pilocytic astrocytomas (PAs). METHODS: 16 patients with histopathological diagnosis of intraventricular PA between February 2016 and January 2022 were evaluated retrospectively. Imaging and clinical findings of the patients, as well as apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) measurements were analyzed. RESULTS: Of 16 patients, 8 (%50) were male and 8 (%50) were female. The mean age of the patients was 20.8 years (2-44 years range). The most common symptoms in the patients were headache and ataxia. The mean long-axis size of lesions was found to be 48.19 ± 21.59 (range, 15-92 mm). 9 out of 16 lesions (56.2%) were located in the fourth ventricle. The majority of the lesions were iso-hypointense in T1W and hyperintense in T2W images. The mean ADC value of PAs was 1.57 × 10-3 ± 0.2 mm2/s, while the mean thalamic ADC and white matter ADC values were found to be 0.78 × 10-3 ± 0.04 and 0.76 × 10-3 ± 0.06 mm2/s, respectively. There was a statistically significant difference between the ADC values obtained from the solid components of the lesions and the thalami/white matter (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: PAs often originate from midline structures, however, they can also be located intraventricularly. Although intraventricular PAs are frequently seen in pediatric population, it should be kept in mind that they can also be seen in adults, albeit rarely. ADVANCES IN KNOWLEDGE: PA should be considered in the differential diagnosis of intraventricular neoplasms in case of high ADC values.

The effects of testosterone on transgender males on carotid intima-media thickness and serum inflammatory markers compared within patients with polycystic ovary syndrome.

Objective: To evaluate the effects of testosterone on carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) and serum inflammatory markers compared within transgender males (TGM-Former called female-to-male) and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).Methods: The prospective observational study included 30 TGM, 30 patients with PCOS, and 30 healthy women. Groups were compared for CIMT and hematologic inflammatory markers white blood cell (WBC), lymphocyte/monocyte ratio (LMR), neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet/lymphocyte ratio (PLR), and mean platelet volume (MPV).Results: The CIMT of the TGM group was 0.48 ± 0.09 mm was significantly higher than PCOS (0.41 ± 0.09 mm, p = .005) and the control group (0.38 ± 0.7 mm, p = .001). The mean NLR, LMR, and MPV values were similar (p > .05). TGM had higher WBC levels compared to control women (p = .029). TGM had significantly lower PLR compared to PCOS and the control group (p = .001). CIMT were related to age (r = .390, p = .04) and body mass index (BMI) (r = .392, p = .03) in TGM.Conclusion: Increased CIMT in TGM individuals is not associated with inflammation; it seems to be a deleterious effect of exogenous testosterone exposure. Since increased CIMT may be a sign of serious cardiovascular problems developing in the future, it is suggested that it will be beneficial for these individuals should undergo clinical and radiological evaluation at regular intervals.

Potential Association Between COVID-19 Vaccination and Facial Palsy: Three Cases With Neuroimaging Findings.

Acute onset Facial palsy was reported in four vaccinated participants in the BNT162b2 (Pfizer-BioNTech) vaccine clinical trials published on December 10, 2020. So far, few cases of Facial palsy among the mRNA vaccine groups have been previously documented in the literature. Facial palsy is cited as medically attended adverse event following immunization on April 12, 2021, after the first dose of the approved Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccines for preventive immunization for SARS-CoV-2 is administrated to the population in Turkey. This study is aimed to describe clinical and magnetic resonance imaging features of three patients, who developed acute onset peripheral facial paralysis after administration of the BNT162b2 vaccine, without any previous medical condition. The first patient presented with right sided facial palsy within the same day following the vaccine was administrated, while the second patient presented with left sided facial palsy 2 months after vaccination. The third patient, on the other hand, presented with right sided facial palsy and abducens nerve (CN VI) paralysis two days after vaccine was administrated.

Posterior Reversible Encephalopathy Syndrome in a Pediatric COVID-19 Patient.

Novel coronavirus disease 2019 is a viral infectious disease which commonly involve the lungs with primarily radiologic manifestations of atypical or organizing pneumonia. It can cause multisystemic involvement including central nervous system symptoms. One of these neurologic manifestations is posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES). It is suggested that the increased levels of cytokines and inflammatory mediators in the course of the disease are responsible for cerebrovascular endothelial dysfunction and disruption of the blood-brain barrier. To the best of our knowledge, no pediatric PRES has been reported related to coronavirus disease 2019. Here, we present a pediatric PRES case associated with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection.

Bilateral Epiphora as Only Presenting Sign of Total Paranasal Sinus Aplasia.

ABSTRACT: A 20-year-old female patient was presented with a bilateral epiphora. She had no history of infection or trauma related to the sinus areas. On examination, her facial appearance was abnormal and fullness on the face was observed. The fluorescein dye disappearance test was positive in both eyes. The lacrimal system irrigation was patent nasolacrimal duct. However, the dacryoscintigraphy imaging scan demonstrated bilateral obstruction at the nasolacrimal duct-inferior meatus junction. Nasal endoscopy did not reveal any pathologic findings, and lateral nasal wall, septum, and nasal cavities were normal. The patient was referred to the radiology department for a computed tomography of the paranasal sinus as a preoperative diagnostic imaging for lacrimal intervention. Computed tomography revealed the absence of all paranasal sinuses on both sides as well as absence of the ostiomeatal complex and ethmoidal air cells. Both bony lacrimal canal was narrow. Epiphora may be initial sign of total paranasal sinus aplasia.