可逆性后部脑病综合征MRI脑水肿与血清乳酸脱氢酶及脑钠肽的关系

目的 探讨可逆性后部脑病综合征(PRES)患者的MRI影像学特点,进一步分析发病时患者脑水肿程度与血清乳酸脱氢酶(LDH)、脑钠肽(BNP)的关系.方法 回顾性分析17例PRES患者的临床资料及MRI影像学特征,依据FLAIR、DWI及ADC图评价患者脑水肿类型及程度,分析脑水肿评分与LDH、BNP的相关性.结果 MR...     

Peripheric smell regions in patients with temporal and frontal lobe epilepsies: An MRI evaluation

ObjectivesWe investigated peripheric smell regions of olfactory bulb (OB) volume and olfactory sulcus (OS) depth in temporal and frontal lobe epilepsy patients by cranial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).MethodsIn this retrospective study, cranial MRI images of 150 adult patients were included. Group 1 was consisted of 50 adult patients with temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE). Group 2 was consisted of 50 adult patients with frontal lobe epilepsy (FLE). The control group (Group 3) was consisted of 50 healthy subjects without epilepsy. OB volume and OS depth were measured in all groups.ResultsOB volumes of the temporal and frontal epilepsy groups were significantly lower than those of the control group (p_adjusted < 0.0175). However, OS depths were not different between groups 1–3 (p > 0.05). In the temporal and frontal epilepsy groups, there were positive correlations between OB volumes; OS depths; left OB volume and bilateral OS depths p < 0.05). There were no significant correlations between OB volume and OS depth; and age and gender of the epilepsy group (p > 0.05).ConclusionWe concluded that temporal and frontal epilepsy maybe related to decrease in OB volume and may cause olfactory impairment. Olfactory deficit maybe related to central epileptic focus. Therefore, early diagnosis and appropriate treatment of epilepsy are important to prevent olfactory impairment.     

Respiratory function after lesions in medulla oblongata

Abstract

Objectives: To evaluate the correlation of lesions of the brain as visualized in cranial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and the ability of spontaneous respiration.

Methods: In a prospective concept, cranial MRI after traumatic brain injury or spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage was performed in 250 subjects at an early stage. All MRI findings were correlated with respiratory conditions on the day of examination. Sedation was performed only to facilitate toleration of the artificial ventilation, as and when necessary. Spontaneous respiration could hence be registered clinically.

Results: Thirteen subjects (5.2%) had no spontaneous respiration. In these cases, a bilateral lesion of the distal medulla oblongata could be displayed. In four of these cases, no additional injuries of the brainstem were detected. These subjects awoke 2 days after the impact with tetraparesis and apnea. Combined lesions of the medulla oblongata and other brainstem regions were found in nine subjects. All these patients died without awakening. In the absence of a bilateral lesion of the caudal medulla oblongata, spontaneous respiration was always possible. A unilateral lesion of the caudal medulla oblongata was visualized in one patient who had the ability of spontaneous respiration.

Conclusions: This work confirms the presence of autonomous respiratory centers within the caudal medulla oblongata that allows sufficient adequate respiration in coma. Respiration ceases in the presence of a bilateral lesion of this area.     

Somatosensory evoked magnetic fields in hemimegalencephaly

Abstract

Somatosensory maps were determined in three patients with hemimegalencephaly using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and magnetoencephalography (MEG). MRIs were characterized by thickened gray matter with clearly aberrant lamination patterns. Somatosensory Evoked Fields (SEFs), as measured by MEG, were absent from the affected hemisphere in the two patients with severe cortical lamination defects. The third patient presented with relatively preserved cortical lamination in the frontal lobe and clear cortical SEFs in this region, indicating somatotopical reorganization. These findings suggest that the presence and location of MEG-derived somatosensory maps reflect the severity of the cortical lamination defects in hemimegalencephaly. [Neurol Res 2002; 24: 459-462]     

并发颅内出血的可逆性后部脑病综合征5例临床分析并文献复习

目的探讨可逆性后部脑病综合征(posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome,PRES)并发颅内出血的临床及影像学特点。方法回顾性分析我院5例并发颅内出血的PRES患者的临床及影像学特点。结果 5例PRES患者均为年轻女性,4例继发于子痫前期,另1例继发于慢性肾衰竭。临床表现为头痛、癫痫发作、视物模糊、意识状态改变及局灶性神经功能缺损等。影像主要表现为双侧大脑后部为主的血管源性脑水肿,但也有额叶、基底节、脑干、小脑受累和细胞毒性脑水肿等不典型表现。5例患者均合并脑实质血肿,4例位于水肿周围,1例并发硬膜下血肿。5例患者均合并血小板减少及凝血功能异常,且均因病情危重而入住重症监护病房,经积极治疗后临床表现及影像学表现均明显好转。结论合并凝血功能异常的PRES较易出现颅内出血等并发症。     

The role of standing flexion-extension radiographs for spondylolisthesis following single level disk surgery

Abstract

Objectives: Spondylolisthesis is the forward displacement of a lumbar vertebra relative to the adjacent vertebra, occurs as result degeneration or surgery and is a special type of lumbar instability. There is no consensus about which radiologic modality or findings truly reflect the lumbar instability and the exact incidence after single level disk surgery is unknown.

Methods: In this prospective study, we have included 90 patients who were operated by the same surgeon with single level disk herniation. We aimed at evaluating the post-operative lumbar spondylolisthesis, with flexion and extension lateral radiographs in addition to standard magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Results: We have seen spondylolisthesis in six of 90 cases with standing lateral flexion-extension radiographs, which were undefinable with MRI. Pain intensity and functional-economic rating scale (Prolo scale) were unremarkable.

Discussion: We have concluded that standing flexion-extension radiographs should be routinely combined in patients with failed back surgery syndrome and even if lumbar instability is clinically suspected, especially when conventional MR examination is normal. When the MR examination showed spondylolisthesis, standing flexion-extension radiographs could not give additional information.     

Posterior reversible encephalopathy and Guillain-Barré syndrome in a single patient: Coincidence or causative relation?

We report 62-year-old female patient with coincident posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) and Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS). The first presentation of PRES was a generalised tonic-clonic seizure. A risk factor for PRES was acute arterial hypertension. The diagnosis of PRES was established by MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) and hypertension was treated with labetalol 800mg daily followed by regression of symptoms of PRES. Two days after the seizure the first motor signs of GBS presented with a weakness in both upper arms. The diagnosis of GBS was finally established 6 days after the seizure by clinical evolution, lumbar puncture and electrophysiological findings. After treatment of GBS with intravenous immunoglobulins (IVIg), antihypertensive therapy could be phased out and finally stopped. The patient was discharged after 25 days without any medication. At that time she was completely recovered from PRES and recovering well from GBS. The acute arterial hypertension, the provoking factor of PRES, was probably caused by an autonomic dysfunction in the context of GBS before motor signs of GBS were present but we speculate also that there are other GBS related factors playing a role in PRES. This hypothesis is based on the relatively high coincidence of these two rare syndromes which appears from a review of the literature. One other possible mechanism can be the influence of cytokines, produced in the context of a GBS, on the permeability of blood brain barrier.     

Characteristic brain hypoperfusion by 99mTc-ECD single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) in patients with the first-episode schizophrenia

ObjectiveIn this study, we evaluated brain perfusion in patients with first-episode medicated schizophrenia using the new analytical method, statistical parametric mapping (SPM) applied to single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT).MethodWe performed SPECT with 99-Tc-ethyl cysteinate dimer (99mTc-ECD) of the brain and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in patients with schizophrenia (n = 30) and control subjects matched for age and gender (n = 37). A voxel-by-voxel group analysis was performed using SPM2 (Z > 3.0, P < 0.001, uncorrected for multiple comparisons).ResultIn comparison with control subjects, the volumes of the bilateral frontal areas were found to be decreased on MRI. Blood flow was found to be reduced in the bilateral temporal areas in the patients with schizophrenia on SPECT.ConclusionIn this study, patients with first-episode schizophrenia appeared to have significant bilateral temporal hypoperfusion, although temporal volumes were not significantly decreased in comparison with control subjects. Abnormality of temporal lobe blood flow in schizophrenia may show that functional changes occur earlier than structural changes, and may assist in the diagnosis of schizophrenia.     

Clinical,MRI and 18F-FDG-PET/CT analysis of progressive supranuclear palsy

BackgroundProgressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) is a kind of neurodegenerative disease. In the present study, the clinical and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) features of PSP were analyzed, and fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG PET) brain imaging was performed to preliminarily explore the characteristics of cerebral glucose metabolism, so as to make a more accurate and differential diagnosis.MethodsIn accordance with the diagnostic criteria, the clinical symptoms, the unified Parkinson’s disease rating scale (UPDRS), the mini-mental state examination (MMSE), the activities of daily living (ADL), and the magnetic resonance image (MRI) of 19 patients with PSP were examined and FDG-PET brain imaging was performed. Visual analysis and statistical parameter diagram were used to analyze the characteristics.ResultsConcerning the clinical characteristics, 84.21% of the patients with PSP had early recurrent falls, 63.15% had vertical supranuclear ophthalmoplegia, and 47.37% had symptoms of dementia. The MRI scans showed that 57.89% of the patients had a “hummingbird” sign in the middle sagittal position. The FDG-PET imaging indicated that glucose metabolism in the midbrain and frontal lobe was decreased in patients with PSP.ConclusionsStudying the clinical and MRI features of patients with PSP can be helpful in the diagnosis, especially as some signs could be found in the early stage by FDG PET, enhancing early diagnosis and differentiation.     

Frontal lobe connectivity and cognitive impairment in pediatric frontal lobe epilepsy

Purpose: Cognitive impairment is frequent in children with frontal lobe epilepsy (FLE), but its etiology is unknown. With functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), we have explored the relationship between brain activation, functional connectivity, and cognitive functioning in a cohort of pediatric patients with FLE and healthy controls. Methods: Thirty‐two children aged 8–13 years with FLE of unknown cause and 41 healthy age‐matched controls underwent neuropsychological assessment and structural and functional brain MRI. We investigated to which extent brain regions activated in response to a working memory task and assessed functional connectivity between distant brain regions. Data of patients were compared to controls, and patients were grouped as cognitively impaired or unimpaired. Key Findings: Children with FLE showed a global decrease in functional brain connectivity compared to healthy controls, whereas brain activation patterns in children with FLE remained relatively intact. Children with FLE complicated by cognitive impairment typically showed a decrease in frontal lobe connectivity. This decreased frontal lobe connectivity comprised both connections within the frontal lobe as well as connections from the frontal lobe to the parietal lobe, temporal lobe, cerebellum, and basal ganglia. Significance: Decreased functional frontal lobe connectivity is associated with cognitive impairment in pediatric FLE. The importance of impairment of functional integrity within the frontal lobe network, as well as its connections to distant areas, provides new insights in the etiology of the broad‐range cognitive impairments in children with FLE.     

MRI with diffusion tensor imaging post-mortem at 3.0 T in a patient with frontotemporal dementia

The formalin-fixed brain of a patient with clinically diagnosed frontotemporal dementia (FTD) was examined post-mortem using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) at 3.0 T. Frontotemporal atrophy as well as bilateral frontal white matter abnormalities were seen. The white matter changes were slightly more extensive on DTI than on conventional MRI. Correlation with histopathology of the corresponding regions revealed typical frontal lobe degeneration of non-Alzheimer type, with mild frontotemporal degeneration in the outer cortical layers and a moderate frontal white matter gliosis with demyelination. Post-mortem MRI/DTI with histopathologic correlation will enhance our understanding of the basis of white matter changes observed in dementia patients and may improve the in vivo MRI/DTI diagnostic assessment in FTD.     

Atypical non-progressive semantic impairment following allogeneic bone marrow transplantation in a patient with Waldenström’s macroglobulinemia: A case report

Objective: A case report of a 74-year-old male presenting with an atypical multimodal semantic impairment. The patient was diagnosed with Waldenström macroglobulinemia (WM) for which he received allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT) due to disease progression. Following BMT, he developed a sudden onset of semantic difficulties that have remained unchanged for eight years. No other cognitive functions have been affected and his activities of daily living remain fully preserved.

Method: The patient was assessed at our neuropsychology unit with six neuropsychological evaluations over an 8-years follow-up period following BMT. Additional semantic tests were administered during the last three evaluations. Four MRI scans (at age 62, 66, 69 and 74) and 18F-FDG PET (at age 74) were obtained.

Results: The patient presents a multimodal semantic impairment, including naming impairment, visual agnosia, prosopoanomia, associative prosopagnosia, topographical disorientation and impaired retrograde memory for public events. MRI scans and 18F-FDG PET revealed bilateral symmetrical atrophy (temporal?>?frontal) and inferior bilateral temporal lobe hypometabolism, respectively. Neuroradiological examination was unremarkable prior to BMT.

Conclusion: Clinical diagnosis remains a challenge given the focal and stable nature of his deficits. We hypothesize that the BMT procedure might have resulted in the temporal lobe damage and subsequent semantic impairment. We recommend obtaining a thorough neuropsychological evaluation of patients who receive allogenic BMT, both prior to and following transplant.     

Marked brain asymmetry with intact cognitive functioning in idiopathic Parkinson’s disease: a longitudinal analysis

Objective: A 71-year-old (MN) with an 11-year history of left onset tremor diagnosed as Parkinson’s disease (PD) completed longitudinal brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and neuropsychological testing. MRI scans showed an asymmetric caudate nucleus (right < left volume). We describe this asymmetry at baseline and the progression over time relative to other subcortical gray, frontal white matter, and cortical gray matter regions of interest. Isolated structural changes are compared to MN’s cognitive profiles. Method: MN completed yearly MRIs and neuropsychological assessments. For comparison, left onset PD (n = 15) and non-PD (n = 43) peers completed the same baseline protocol. All MRI scans were processed with FreeSurfer and the FMRIB Software Library to analyze gray matter structures and frontal fractional anisotropy (FA) metrics. Processing speed, working memory, language, verbal memory, abstract reasoning, visuospatial, and motor functions were examined using reliable change methods. Results: At baseline, MN had striatal volume and frontal lobe thickness asymmetry relative to peers with mild prefrontal white matter FA asymmetry. Over time only MN’s right caudate nucleus showed accelerated atrophy. Cognitively, MN had slowed psychomotor speed and visuospatial-linked deficits with mild visuospatial working memory declines longitudinally. Conclusions: This is a unique report using normative neuroimaging and neuropsychology to describe an individual diagnosed with PD who had striking striatal asymmetry followed secondarily by cortical thickness asymmetry and possible frontal white matter asymmetry. His decline and variability in visual working memory could be linked to ongoing atrophy of his right caudate nucleus.     

Identification of Frontal Lobe Epileptic Foci in Children Using Positron Emission Tomography

Summary: Purpose: Presurgical evaluation for intractable frontal lobe epilepsy (FLE) is difficult and invasive, partly because anatomic neuroimaging studies with computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) typically do not show a discrete lesion. In adult patients with FLE, functional neuroimaging of glucose metabolism with positron emission tomography (PET) is less sensitive in detecting focal metabolic abnormalities than in temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE). Comparable data on children with FLE are not available. Methods: We used high-resolution PET scanning of glucose metabolism to evaluate 13 children (age 17 months to 17 years; mean age 9.5 years) with intractable FLE being considered for surgical treatment. Only children with normal CT and MRI scans were included. Results: Hypometabolism including the frontal lobe was evident in 12 of the 13 children, was unilateral in 11 of 13, and was restricted to the frontal lobe in 8 of 13. One child showed bilateral frontal cortex hypometabolism and another had anictal PET scan demonstrating unilateral frontal cortex hyper-metabolism surrounded by hypometabolism. Additional hypo–metabolic areas outside the frontal cortex were observed in 5 children in parietal and/or temporal cortex. Localization of seizure onset on scalp EEG was available in 10 children and corresponded to the location of frontal lobe PET abnormality in 8. However, in 4 of the 10 children, the extent of hypometabolism exceeded the epileptogenic region indicated by ictal EEG. In 2 of the 13 children, the abnormality evident on EEG was more extensive than that evident on PET. In the remaining 3 children for whom only interictal EEG data were available, the PET foci did not correspond in location to the interictal EEG abnormalities. In 11 of the 13 children, the presumed region of seizure onset in the frontal lobe, as based on analysis of seizure semiology, corresponded to the locations of frontal lobe glucose metabolism abnormalities. Conclusions: Although high-resolution PET appears to be very sensitive in localizing frontal lobe glucose metabolic abnormalities in children with intractable FLE and normal CT/ MRI scans, the significance of extrafrontal metabolic disturbances requires further study; these may represent additional epileptogenic areas, effects of diaschisis, seizure propagation sites, or secondary epileptogenic foci.     

Cerebellar asymmetry,cortical asymmetry and handedness: Two independent networks

ABSTRACT

In 46 right-handers and 46 left-handers, we used functional magnetic resonance imaging to record activity in the frontal lobes while they generated words, the temporal lobe while they made synonym judgments, and the parietal lobe while they watched videos of manual actions. In each case we also recorded activity in the cerebellum. Laterality indices showed a significant left-hemispheric bias in each cortical lobe and a right-hemispheric bias in the cerebellum for the 2 language tasks, but not during action observation. Cerebellar asymmetry also correlated negatively with frontal and temporal asymmetry, reflecting contralateral connections, but not with parietal asymmetry. A factor analysis of the inter-correlations among laterality indices revealed 2 factors, implying independent lateralized networks, with cerebellar asymmetry strongly linked to a language network in frontal and temporal cortices, and handedness strongly linked to an action-observation network in the parietal lobe.     

Distribution of regional gray matter abnormalities in a pediatric population with temporal lobe epilepsy and correlation with neuropsychological performance

ObjectiveThe goals of the work described here were to determine if hippocampal and extrahippocampal atrophy in children with temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) follows a pattern similar to that in adult patients, and to assess the clinical and neuropsychological relevance of regional brain atrophy in pediatric TLE.MethodsChildren with symptomatic TLE (n = 14: 9 with mesial TLE due to hippocampal atrophy and 5 with TLE due to neocortical lesions), healthy children (n = 14), and 9 adults with mesial temporal lobe epilepsy (MTLE) were compared using voxel-based morphometry (VBM) of brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The children underwent a comprehensive neuropsychological battery.ResultsChildren with MTLE with unilateral hippocampal atrophy (n = 9) exhibited a significant reduction in gray matter in the hippocampus ipsilateral to the seizure origin and significant atrophy in the ipsilateral cingulate gyrus and contralateral middle frontal lobe. Children with TLE (n = 14) exhibited a significant reduction in the gray matter of the ipsilateral hippocampus and parahippocampal gyrus. There was a correlation between gray matter volume in children with TLE and scores on several neuropsychological tests. Atrophy in pediatric patients with MTLE was less extensive than that in adults, and involved the hippocampi and the frontal cortex.ConclusionsSimilar to adult MTLE, pediatric MTLE is associated with hippocampal and extrahippocampal cell loss. However, children display less intense quantifiable gray matter atrophy, which affects predominantly frontal lobe areas. There was a significant association between volume of gray matter in medial temporal and frontal regions and scores on neuropsychological tests. In childhood, TLE and the concomitant cognitive/behavior disturbances are the result of a damaged neural network.     

Magnetic resonance imaging of pachymeningeal enhancement in Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease

Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada (VKH) disease is a systemic disease consisting of bilateral granulomatous panuveitis combined with cutaneous and neurologic manifestations. However, there have been few reports of brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in VKH disease. A 54-year-old Korean woman presented with severe periorbital pain, blurred vision and meningismus. Ophthalmologic examination disclosed bilateral optic disc edema with peripapillary nerve fiber hemorrhages. Lumbar puncture revealed monocytic pleocytosis. After a diagnosis of VKH disease was made, the patient was treated with high-dose corticosteroid. Brain MRI showed diffusely thickened posterior ocular walls with retinal detachment and perineural infiltrative changes along the optic nerves and adjacent pachymeningeal enhancement of the anterior temporal lobes bilaterally. We report a case of VKH disease with panuveitis and meningeal involvement of the anterior temporal lobe detected by brain MRI.     

A magnetic resonance imaging study in first-episode disorganized-type patients with schizophrenia

Abstract Although a number of radiological studies have suggested that brains of patients suffering from schizoprenia have morphological abnormalities, the results are inconsistent. In the present study, in order to examine the brain, morphological features of homogeneous schizophrenics' brain magnetic resonance imagings (MRI) were taken, before neuroleptic treatment, from subjects suffering from disorganized-type schizophrenia, (DOS) during their first episodes. Results showed that DOS had significantly smaller indices for bilateral frontal gray matter (GM), left hippocampal formation (HF), left parahippocampal gray matter (PHGM) and left cingulate gyrus gray matter (CGM) than normal controls. These findings support the previous computed tomography (CT) and MRI studies on schizophrenic brains, although the subjects were not defined as disorganized-type, and may suggest the involvement of a neurocircuit between the bilateral frontal lobe and the left side of limbic system in the first-episode DOS group.     

可复性后部脑病综合征的影像学诊断

目的探讨可复性后部脑病综合征（PRES）的影像学表现.方法回顾性分析了12例PRES病人的临床和影像学资料,其中9例为子痫/先兆子痫,2例为高血压脑病,1例为环孢菌素A（CSA）的神经毒性.12例均行MRI检查,其中7例同时行钆喷替酸葡甲胺（Gd-DTPA）增强扫描,4例行磁共振血管造影（3D-TOF MRA）检查,1例行弥散加权成像（DWI）.7例行CT平扫检查,2例行脑血管造影（DSA）检查.结果MRI显示病灶基本上呈双侧对称性分布,多数病灶位于顶、枕叶脑实质内,T1WI呈等或略低信号,T2WI呈高信号,FLAIR像显示皮层和皮层下白质明显高信号影,较T1WI、T2WI更加清楚.注射Gd-DTPA后多无明显异常对比增强.1例DWI显示双侧顶、枕叶及额叶皮层内弥散受限呈高信号,ADC图显示邻近的皮层下白质呈高信号.4例CT显示双侧顶、枕叶及额叶对称性斑片状低密度影,3例CT未见异常.经对症处理后复查示所有病灶几乎完全吸收消失.结论PRES的影像学表现具有特征性.MRI应作为诊断本病的首选手段.     

Isolated oculomotor nerve palsy as the presenting clinical manifestation of a meningeal carcinomatosis: a case report

Abstract We present a previously unreported case of isolated oculomotor nerve palsy as the inaugural clinical sign of meningeal carcinomatosis (MC). Gadolinium-enhanced magnetic resonance images (MRI) were unremarkable. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis showed malignant cells consistent with a pulmonary adenocarcinoma; the chest CT revealed a small pulmonary mass in the upper right lobe. This case highlights the importance of considering MC in all patients who develop sudden oculomotor palsy; lumbar punctures should always be performed on patients with normal MRI when other possible causes of oculomotor palsy have been ruled out.