Concurrent subarachnoid haemorrhage and internal carotid artery dissection: a transcranial colour-coded sonography diagnosis.

We report the case of a young woman affected by an aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH) and numerous anatomic abnormalities. A Transcranial Colour-Coded Duplex Sonography, performed with the aim of monitoring the vasospasm, showed a non-pulsatile flow with loss of sharp systolic peak and lowering of mean flow velocities in the right extracranial Internal Carotid Artery (ICA) and all its intra-cranial branches. This event suggested a possible concomitant acute right ICA sub-occlusion with a lack of collateral circulation. This type of flow is typically found in systemic and brain arteries of patients undergoing to venous-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation or to left ventricular assist devices. The absence of an adequate cerebral collateral circulation might be the explanation for this type of atypical flow. Aneurysms and arterial dissections contribute to SAH and ischemic stroke events, leading to long-term physical and cognitive disability. In our case, the prompt neurosonological diagnosis leaded to patient's good outcome.

Endovascular treatment of acute ischemic stroke due to tandem lesions of the anterior cerebral circulation: a multicentric Italian observational study.

PURPOSE: Acute ischemic stroke (AIS) due to tandem lesions (TLs) of extracranial Internal Carotid Artery and Anterior Cerebral Circulation are challenging for endovascular treatment (EVT). This study aims to evaluate feasibility, safety and efficacy of EVT for TLs' AIS, with or without emergent carotid artery stenting (eCAS), in a real-life scenario. METHODS: Retrospective review of prospectively collected non-randomized thrombectomy databases from five stroke centers between 2015 and 2019. Consecutive patients with TLs' AIS were selected. Clinical, neuroimage and procedure features, as well as antiplatelet therapy regimen, were evaluated. Primary outcome was 90-day mRS ≤ 2. Secondary outcomes included: mTICI score 2b-3, extracranial recanalization, procedural complications, symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage (SICH) and 90-day mortality. RESULTS: Two hundred twenty-seven patients were enrolled (67.8% males; mean age 65.9 ± 12.9 years). We obtained mTICI 2b-3 in 77.1%, extracranial recanalization in 86.8%, 90-day mRS (available in 201/227 cases) ≤ 2 in 49.8%. Procedural complications occurred in 16.7%, SICH in 9.7%; 90-day mortality rate (available in 201/227 cases) was 14.4%. The strongest predictors of good clinical outcome were young age (p < 0.0001), low baseline NIHSS (p = 0.008), high baseline ASPECTS (p < 0.0001), good collateral flow (p = 0.013) and extracranial recanalization (p = 0.001). The most significant predictors of SICH were low baseline ASPECTS (p < 0.0001), occurrence of complications (p < 0.0001) and eCAS (p = 0.002). CONCLUSION: In our real-life series, the EVT for TLs' AIS was feasible, safe and effective in improving 90-day functional outcome with acceptable morbi-mortality rates. ECAS increased the risk of SICH, independently from the antiplatelet therapy regimen.

Intra-arterial chemotherapy for retinoblastoma: the dosimetric impact.

PURPOSE: Purposes are (1) to measure main radiation parameters and (2) to propose a method to estimate the absorbed doses of internal organs starting from DAP values. Measuring the exposition of internal organs by repeated irradiations on an anthropomorphic phantom with the same settings used in vivo, we could establish correlations between (1) DAP and the dose recorded by a dosimeter placed along the X-ray beam entrance pathway; (2) the dose recorded by the same dosimeter and the absorbed dose in internal organs. METHODS: Forty-four consecutive patients (16 males, 28 females) (mean age 35.4 months) treated at our institution with IAC (216 procedures: 196 via the ICA and 20 into branches of the ECA) were included in this prospective study. IAC was divided into 5 phases. Fluoroscopic time, DAP, and ESD were measured. RESULTS: The mean DAP was 595 ± 445 cGy cm2 and the mean fluoroscopic time was 540 ± 403 s. ESD was on average 9.59 mGy (range 0.8-165 mGy). The absorbed dose was lower than 12.1 mGy in the left retina (the more exposed organ) in 75% of single treatments and lower than 25 mGy in 95% of treatments. In the cases of 3 and 6 sessions, the left retina of 75% of patients absorbed respectively less than 36.3 and 72.7 mGy, whereas the left retina of 95% of patients received less than 75.2 and 150.4 mGy. Other organs were less exposed. CONCLUSION: This paper describes a method of absorbed dose estimation providing ranges used clinically in a single practice and the basis for further prospective studies.

Single-center experience using the 3MAX or 4MAX reperfusion catheter for the treatment of acute ischemic stroke with distal arterial occlusions in patients not eligible for intravenous fibrinolysis.

BACKGROUND: In acute stroke, distal cerebrovascular occlusions can be linked to severe clinical symptoms, and treatment by mechanical thrombectomy may have an important clinical impact. When intravenous fibrinolytic therapy is firmly contraindicated, it remains the only treatment option. METHODS: A total of 42 patients with isolated distal arterial occlusions and absolute contraindication for intravenous fibrinolytic therapy were retrospectively included. Mechanical thrombectomy was performed using Penumbra 4MAX or 3MAX aspiration catheters. When aspiration alone did not result in successful revascularization, a stent retriever was added. RESULTS: Direct thromboaspiration was the first treatment option in all patients. 16.7% of cases required the additional use of a stent retriever. A TICI score ≥ 2b reperfusion at the end of the procedure was obtained in 76.2% and a Rankin Score of 2 or less at 90 days in 45.7%. Two hemorrhagic complications were observed. CONCLUSIONS: Direct thromboaspiration appears a safe technique in acute isolated distal arterial occlusions. In a cohort of patients with absolute contraindication for intravenous fibrinolytic therapy, a significant percentage achieved good revascularization.

Double ophthalmic arteries arising from the internal carotid artery: a case report of a hidden second ophthalmic artery.

A case of double ophthalmic arteries arising from the internal carotid artery with unique features is reported. This case was discovered following in the course of time the progress of a thrombosis of the anterior cavernous sinus associated with a low-flow direct arteriovenous fistula of the superior ophthalmic vein. At different time points, the same patient underwent four angiographic studies and one computerized tomography with contrast medium. Angiographies showed that the double internal carotid artery origin of the ophthalmic artery was detectable only within a short range of time. To the best of our knowledge, this case is unique as it demonstrates that a second ophthalmic artery may lie hidden, showing itself only under particular hemodynamic requirements.

Pseudo-intraventricular hemorrhage from a deep calcarine fissure.

Evidence of areas of increased attenuation density within lateral ventricles at computed tomography (CT) of the brain is a finding of acute or subacute intraventricular hemorrhage. The purpose of this case report is to describe a 14-year-old female who presented with an episode of complicated migraine. Brain CT showed an area of high attenuation density (35 Hounsfield Units) in the trigone and occipital horn of the right lateral ventricle, mimicking a blood-fluid level from subacute intraventricular hemorrhage. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain showed that this resulted from gray matter lining a deep calcarine fissure. A deep calcarine fissure may mimic intraventricular hemorrhage at CT. Correct CT and MRI interpretation allows to avoid invasive diagnostic tests including lumbar puncture or intra-arterial catheter angiography.

Contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging of fibrovascular tissue ingrowth within synthetic hydroxyapatite orbital implants in children.

PURPOSE: To assess the usefulness of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in assessing fibrovascularization progression into synthetic hydroxyapatite (HA) implants inserted in anophthalmic sockets of children submitted to enucleation. METHODS: We studied 23 HA orbital implants in 23 children who underwent enucleation for retinoblastoma. Each patient was examined by MRI within to 9 to 69 weeks after implant insertion (mean 34 weeks, median 30 weeks). No patient had received chemotherapy or radiotherapy at MRI examination. From each T1-weighted, fat-suppressed enhanced axial examination, the image depicting the center of the implant was identified. Enhancement was evaluated using a 5-point scale. Additionally, possible associated orbital and intracranial pathologies and implant migration or extrusion were evaluated. RESULTS: All patients showed areas of enhancement of the implant consistent with the presence of fibrovascular ingrowth. There was no grade 1 enhancement in our series. Grade 2 was observed in 1 patient (4.34%), grade 3 in 7 patients (30.43%), grade 4 in 11 patients (47.82%), and grade 5 in 4 patients (17.39%). During follow-up there were no cases of clinically evident orbital infection, implant migration, or implant extrusion. No second tumor, optic nerve invasion, orbital extension, tumor relapse, or leptomeningeal brain seeding were noted. CONCLUSIONS: In this series, enhanced MRI showed satisfactory fibrovascular ingrowth of orbital implants since the 13th week after HA spheres insertion, with a trend towards progressive enhancement during the following weeks. The data also confirm the advice to wait at least 5-6 months after enucleation to perform drilling and peg placement.

Regression of dilated perivascular spaces of the brain.

PURPOSE: Perivascular, or Virchow-Robin, spaces of the brain represent interstitial fluid-filled spaces continuous with subpial spaces, and not invagination of cerebrospinal fluid-filled subarachnoid spaces. Regression of a dilated, or even giant, perivascular space occurs rarely. The purpose of this paper is to describe magnetic resonance imaging evidence of complete regression of dilated perivascular spaces (dPVSs). METHODS: Patient 1 was a 76-year-old woman with right hemiparesis and aphasia from a left cranial vault meningioma infiltrating the superior sagittal sinus, and a left temporal lobe giant perivascular space. Patient 2 was a 70-year-old man with pituitary apoplexy, vasospasm, cerebral ischemia, and two dPVSs, one in the right temporal lobe, and one in the left anterior perforate substance. Patient 3 was a 78-year-old man with a generalized seizure, and a right temporal lobe dPVS. RESULTS: In all the patients, temporal lobe giant or dPVSs underwent regression, following meningioma subtotal resection (patient 1) or pituitary lesion shrinkage (patient 2), or spontaneously (patient 3). In patient 2, the left anterior perforate substance dPVS was unchanged. CONCLUSIONS: Temporal lobe giant or dPVSs may regress, eventually together with resection or regression of intracranial tumors, also distant from the PVSs. Cerebral edema does not seem the only factor influencing dilatation of PVSs.

Neuroradiological follow-up of the growth of papillary tumor of the pineal region: a case report.

Papillary tumor of the pineal region (PTPR) is a recently described distinct clinicopathological entity. The purpose of this case report is to increase the knowledge of its neuroradiological findings and natural history by describing the long-term clinical and neuroradiological follow-up of a PTPR occurring in a 56-year-old Italian male patient. At magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) obtained at diagnosis, the lesion showed a subtle high signal intensity on T1-weighted imaging. Twenty-nine months later, MRI showed clearcut enlargement of the lesion, which had only a small area of high signal intensity on T1-weighted images, and a minimum apparent diffusion coefficient of 0.854 x 10(-3) mm(2)/s. Treatment included surgery followed by irradiation. Three-month MRI follow-up did not show disease relapse.

Retinoblastoma: Abnormal gadolinium enhancement of anterior segment of eyes at MR imaging with clinical and histopathologic correlation.

PURPOSE: To evaluate abnormal gadolinium enhancement of the anterior segment of eyes harboring retinoblastoma at magnetic resonance (MR) imaging and correlate this finding with clinical and histopathologic information. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Three neuroradiologists examined 46 eyes with 34 retinoblastomas in 25 children on gadolinium-enhanced T1-weighted orbital MR images obtained shortly after contrast material injection for evidence of abnormally high signal intensity in the anterior segment. Twenty-two of the 34 affected eyes were enucleated, and six of these 22 eyes were treated with preenucleation adjuvant therapy. Thus, correlation of the clinical, MR imaging, and histopathologic findings in 16 eyes was performed. Statistical analysis was performed with nonparametric methods (Fisher exact test). P <.05 indicated a statistically significant difference. RESULTS: Fourteen of the 34 affected eyes showed abnormal gadolinium enhancement of the anterior segment. Regarding the 16 eyes evaluated for statistical analysis, a significant correlation (P =.011) between abnormal gadolinium enhancement of the anterior segment and histopathologically documented optic nerve infiltration was noted. A trend toward an association between abnormal enhancement and elevated intraocular pressure (P =.215), tumor growth beyond the equator at MR imaging (P =.125), and histopathologically proved iris neoangiogenesis (P =.182) also was noted. Histopathologic evidence of optic nerve and/or choroid infiltration correlated significantly (P =.001; sensitivity, 100% [nine of nine eyes]; specificity, 86% [six of seven eyes]) with abnormal enhancement. CONCLUSION: Abnormal gadolinium enhancement of the anterior segments of eyes harboring retinoblastoma seems to indicate more aggressive tumor behavior.