Aqueductal stenosis and hydrocephalus: Rare sequelae of mumps virus infection

Summary A case of a rare acquired form of aqueductal stenosis and hydrocephalus developing as a late sequela of mumps virus infection of the central nervous system is presented. The experimental studies of mumps induced aqueductal stenosis in hamsters and mice and the four previously reported cases in the literature are reviewed.     

Congenital constriction of the foramen of Monro

Summary We report two cases of hydrocephalus in adults. The radiological investigations and direct inspection during surgery in one of the cases indicate that the hydrocephalus is caused in both cases by a benign stricture in the region of the foramen of Monro and that this constriction is congenital. This origin of hydrocephalus has not been reported previously in adults.     

Acute hydrocephalus after iotrolan lumbar myelography

A 33-year-old woman with cryoglobulinaemia developed acute hydrocephalus 20 h after lumbar myelography using the water-soluble contrast medium iotrolan. After a ventricular drainage, she was free of symptoms and the hydrocephalus resolved. The development of acute hydrocephalus after myelography has not been reported previously. Received: 25 October 1996 Accepted: 15 April 1997     

Unilateral hydrocephalus: prenatal sonographic diagnosis

We studied six cases of unilateral hydrocephalus detected prenatally to analyze the sonographic features of the abnormality and to determine the cause and clinical outcome. In all cases, third-trimester sonograms showed marked unilateral lateral ventriculomegaly (mean atrial width, 4.4 cm) and normal contralateral lateral, third, and fourth ventricles. Five of the six cases had marked thinning of the cortical mantle on the affected side and shift of midline structures to the contralateral side. The causes of unilateral hydrocephalus were agenesis or stenosis of the foramen of Monro in three cases, transient obstruction of the foramen in one fetus with an intraventricular hematoma, underlying brain dysplasia in one fetus with a variant of holoprosencephaly, and undetermined in one case. All six neonates had placement of a ventriculoperitoneal shunt catheter; four of these have had normal cognitive development at follow-up. The remaining two infants have moderate to severe developmental impairment. Unilateral hydrocephalus is a rare anomaly that can be recognized by prenatal sonography. Even though unilateral ventriculomegaly may be marked, early diagnosis and treatment may result in a favorable clinical outcome.     

Unilateral ventricular reflux and asymmetric ventricular distribution of intrathecally introduced contrast medium or tracer

Fourteen cases of totally or predominantly unilateral ventricular reflux and stasis of intrathecally injected radioisotope or contrast medium were demonstrated by scintigraphy or computed tomographic cisternography. All showed asymmetric enlargement of the lateral ventricles and nine had ipsilateral brain lesions. Four case reports are presented. The pathophysiologic mechanism of communicating hydrocephalus and possible causes of unilateral ventricular reflux are discussed, as well as indications for ventricular shunt installation.     

Prenatal diagnosis and postnatal management of congenital unilateral hydrocephalus for stenosis of the foramen of Monro

Congenital hydrocephalus and ventriculomegaly can be diagnosed reliably with prenatal ultrasound and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). Unilateral hydrocephalus is uncommon, and the prognosis depends on etiology and postnatal management. Here, we present a case of a 32-years-old woman with prenatal diagnosis of unilateral hydrocephalus associated with stenosis of the foramen of Monro. Unilateral hydrocephalus is an uncommon feature that can be detected prenatally on ultrasound and MRI. In case of isolated stenosis of the foramen of Monro prognosis is good.     

Transient hydrocephalus due to movement of a clot plugging the aqueduct

A rare case of transient hydrocephalus is reported. A 64-year-old woman presented with headache. Computerized tomography (CT) scan revealed hydrocephalus with tiny blood clots in the left foramen of Monro and in the aqueduct. Six hours after the onset, the signs and symptoms disappeared spontaneously. The second CT showed improvement of the hydrocephalus with migration of the clot into the IV ventricle. Aqueductal trapping and releasing of the clot formed by bleeding from the choroid plexus located in the left foramen of Monro was suspected for the origin of the transient hydrocephalus.     

Fetal and funicular vascular anomalies: identification with prenatal US

Vascular anomalies of the umbilical cord and fetus were evaluated with ultrasound in 11 fetuses. The anomalies included true knot of the cord (n = 1), umbilical vein varix (n = 1), persistent right umbilical vein (n = 1), and unilateral hypertrophy of the iliac artery in cases of a single umbilical artery (n = 8). One fetus with a single umbilical artery had a meningocele, hydrocephalus, and polyhydramnios; another had mitral atresia. The other fetuses were healthy except for the vascular abnormalities. A previously unreported finding in the identification of a single umbilical artery is described.     

Lhermitte-Duclos disease: CT and MR findings

The typical CT findings of Lhermitte-Duclos disease (dysplastic gangliocytoma of the cerebellum) are a hypodense nonenhancing unilateral posterior fossa mass, with or without adjacent occipital thinning, hydrocephalus, and calcification. Magnetic resonance (MR) has been found to be very helpful, and superior to CT, in delineating the margins of the lesion for determining the extent of surgical resection. Since recurrence is known, MR is important in the follow-up of these patients. To our knowledge this is the first reported case that included MR examination with administration of gadolinium. There was no enhancement of the lesion, consistent with previous reports of no contrast enhancement on CT.     

Cholangiocarcinoma presenting as a cerebellar metastasis: case report and review of the literature

Cholangiocarcinoma is an uncommon tumor that presents with hepatobiliary dysfunction. We report a patient with a chronic progressive organic mental syndrome, diffuse weakness, and gait disturbance who was discovered to have obstructive hydrocephalus due to a neoplasm. Pathologic examination revealed primary cholangiocarcinoma metastatic to the cerebellum. This tumor has not been previously reported to present with neurologic involvement.     

Dural sinus malformation (DSM) in fetuses. Diagnostic value of prenatal MRI and follow-up

Dural sinus malformations (DSM) are rare malformations mainly reported after birth. The objectives of this study are to describe their prenatal patterns and to focus on their possible favorable outcome. This multicenter retrospective study reported 13 cases of DSM prenatally diagnosed. The admission criterion was a dural mass posterior to the vermis. In 12 patients, MRI was performed after US. Follow-up in 10 born babies (mean: 8 months) and three neuropathological examinations were available. In all fetuses, DSM presented as a well-delimited round mass involving the torcular. The follow-up examinations (n = 10) revealed progressive thrombosis of the DSM marked by a heterogeneous pattern (US and MRI) with concentric rings. The volume of the mass decreased, with complete regression in seven patients (five before and two after birth). One child died at the age of 5 months in the context of major hydrocephalus and another developed atrophy of the frontal lobes. The eight other babies were doing well (5 days to 3 years) without any treatment (n = 6) or following treatment for hydrocephalus (n = 2). Prenatal DSM may have a typical MR pattern, and the prognosis might not be as bad as has previously been reported. In the absence of criterion to predict the hydrovenous cerebral imbalance, it is mandatory to check the parenchyma and the ventricles during the pregnancy.     

MR imaging of familial basilar impression

Basilar impression was found in three members of one family. The mother showed an asymptomatic deformity, her eldest son complained of headache, drop-attacks, nystagmus, unilateral ophthalmoplegia, and ataxia; the middle son presented with headache, nystagmus, and hemiparesis. Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging demonstrated convexobasia of various degrees with elevation of the upper spine and malformation of the occipital bone. The medulla oblongata and the pons were flattened and dislocated backward in two cases. Chiari malformation was present in one case and mild hydrocephalus in another. A comparison of MR with CT imaging demonstrates some advantages of the former method in the assessment of the neural structures directly involved in basilar impression.     

Unilateral lumbosacral facet joint dislocation without associated fracture

In the lumbosacral spine, unilateral facet joint dislocation is an infrequent injury, which is often associated with fractures at the involved or other lumbar levels. The rare occurrence of unilateral lumbosacral facet joint dislocation without any associated fractures is presented with CT and MRI, and surgical correlation. To our knowledge, cross-sectional imaging of this injury has not previously been described in the published literature.     

脑室-腹腔分流术治疗脑积水

目的　分析脑室 腹腔 (V P)分流术治疗后脑积水患者的疗效及其并发症的相关因素。方法　 80例中 ,梗阻性积水 6 4例。 12例右额顶部头皮条件差及右侧开颅去骨瓣减压术后者、2例单纯左侧脑室积水者行左侧V P分流术 ,余 6 6例行右侧分流术。术中、术后预防性应用抗生素 ,术后短期应用皮质激素。结果　 80例术后均有短期低热 ,过度引流 16例 ,复发 2 2例 ,无一例感染。结论　V P分流术操作简便、严重并发症少、分流效果确切。术前、术中及术后合理治疗可有效控制感染 ,减小堵管率 ,提高治愈率     

Unusual small choroid plexus cyst obstructing the foramen of monroe: case report

This is a case report of unusual case of choroid plexus cyst at the right foramen of Monro in the anterior third ventricle that caused unilateral obstructive hydrocephalus. The value of small-FOV thin-section MR imaging in the diagnosis of small lesions of the foramen of Monroe is demonstrated. The immunohistochemical findings in choroid epithelial cysts in comparison with those of other types of cysts at this location are discussed.     

Large-cell calcifying Sertoli cell tumour of the testis: associated organ anomalies

A case is reported of unilateral, focal large-cell calcifying Sertoli cell tumour (LCCSCT) of the testis associated with complex endocrine disorders and cardiac myxomas. It is believed that there are two distinct groups of patients with this tumour: those who have complex dysplastic syndromes and bilateral and multifocal tumours; and those without any syndromes but who have unilateral and focal tumours. The presented case differs in that, although the patient has a unilateral focal tumour, unique organ anomalies, such as renal agenesis and inferior vena cava duplication, are also present. These anomalies with LCCSCT have not been reported before.     

Congenital cystic eye: features on MRI

Congenital cystic eye is a rare cause of cystic orbital lesion. The condition is recognized at birth as a large orbital mass in place of a normal eye. Only 29 cases have been reported previously. We report a case of unilateral congenital cystic eye with multiple brain anomalies in the form of agenesis of corpus callosum and grey matter heterotopias. In this case report we highlight the MRI features of this entity, which have not been described previously in the literature.     

Transdural spinal cord herniation: imaging and clinical spectra.

PURPOSETransdural herniation of the spinal cord is a rarely reported clinical entity, and many of the existing reports were published before the advent of MR imaging. We describe five current cases and compare them with findings in 25 cases reported in the literature to delineate the clinical and imaging spectra of transdural spinal cord herniation.METHODSMR imaging, CT myelography, and conventional myelography were performed in five patients with transdural herniation of the spinal cord. These studies, along with clinical findings, are described. Intraoperative photographs are included for one case. The salient features of both the current and previously reported cases are summarized in tabular form.RESULTSIn three cases, transdural spinal cord herniation occurred posttraumatically, in one case the cause was iatrogenic and in the others the herniation occurred spontaneously. Imaging features not previously reported include dorsally directed herniations at thoracolumbar levels (two patients), apparent (lacking surgical confirmation) syringomeyelia (one case), a vertebral body nuclear trail sign (one case), and intramedullary hyperintensities on MR images (two cases). Clinical features not previously reported include unilateral pyramidal-sensory deficits (one case) and isolated unilateral pyramidal signs (one case). Clinical findings similar to previous reports include progressive paraparesis (two cases) and progressive Brown-Séquard syndrome (one case).CONCLUSIONOur five cases illustrate certain clinical and imaging findings not previously reported, and, together with the established features of the 25 cases in the literature, delineate the spectra of transdural spinal cord herniation.     

CT and pneumographic studies of membranous occlusion of the aqueduct of Sylvius. A case report

Summary A case of membranous occlusion of the aqueduct of Sylvius with malformation of the skull and associated hydrocephalus is reported. The diagnosis was made with the help of CT, pneumoencephalography and ventriculography. In the literature membranous occlusion of the aqueduct has been considered to be a rare cause of hydrocephalus.     

Association of deep white matter infarction with chronic communicating hydrocephalus: implications regarding the possible origin of normal-pressure hydrocephalus

The coexistence of cerebrovascular disease leading to deep white matter infarction and normal-pressure hydrocephalus has been noted previously in clinical studies, as both diseases can present with the triad of gait disturbance, dementia, and incontinence. The purpose of this MR study was to determine if the two diseases demonstrated a statistical association. Evidence of patchy periventricular hyperintensity representing presumed deep white matter infarction was sought in 20 patients shunted for normal-pressure hydrocephalus and in 35 additional consecutive patients with clinical symptoms and MR findings consistent with normal-pressure hydrocephalus. Deep white matter infarction was also sought in 62 consecutive age-matched control subjects. There was a statistically significant (p less than .001) higher association (58%) of marked infarction in the 55 patients with normal-pressure hydrocephalus than in the age-matched controls (24%). MR findings of communicating hydrocephalus (ventriculomegaly and increased aqueductal CSF flow void) were sought in 78 consecutive patients with presumed deep white matter infarction, and the degree of severity of the two diseases was also found to be statistically significant (p less than .05). In view of this association, the possibility that the two diseases are related was considered. A potential mechanism is discussed whereby deep white matter infarction leading to decreased periventricular tensile strength could result in communicating hydrocephalus. It is plausible that normal-pressure hydrocephalus may result from a number of different insults to the brain.