MRI imaging of posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome associated with pregnancy

Purpose

Our purpose is to characterize MRI, and diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) findings in pregnant patients who were identified clinically to have PRES. We study the conversion of reversible vasogenic edema to irreversible cytotoxic edema and predict the progression to infarction.

Patients and methods

Twenty two pregnant females, aged between 20 and 46 years with gestational age between 20 and 40 weeks of gestation and with neurological manifestations had undergone conventional MRI, diffusion weighted image study, and ADC map.

Results

Lesions were mainly affecting the parieto-occipital regions, symmetrical or slightly asymmetrical distribution of the lesions in both cerebral hemispheres was found in most cases. The MRI findings in all the twenty two patients were: abnormal low SI in T1 WI, abnormal high SI on T2 and FLAIR WI. In DWI, hyperintensity with hyperintensity in ADC map was seen in 15 patients, hyperintensity with hypointensity in ADC map in 4 patients, normotensive in DWI with hyperintensity in ADC map in 3 patients.

Conclusion

The diagnosis of PRES has important therapeutic and prognostic value. The use of diffusion-weighted imaging and ADC maps allows an earlier and clearer differentiation of cytotoxic and vasogenic edema, which can predict the development of infarction.     

Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome mimicking subacute ischemic stroke: a case report

Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome, an acute onset neurological syndrome, is among the conditions that must be differentiated from stroke. Herein, we report a rare case of posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome mimicking subacute ischemic stroke. A 68-year-old man was transferred by ambulance to our hospital because of visual disturbance. He showed left homonymous hemianopsia. Magnetic resonance imaging (diffusion-weighted imaging and fluid-attenuated inversion recovery imaging) revealed high signal intensity in the right occipital lobe. We suspected subacute cerebral infarction. After admission, he developed cortical blindness and increased blood pressure. Fluid-attenuated inversion recovery imaging revealed high signal intensity and elevated apparent diffusion coefficient values in the bilateral occipital lobes. We diagnosed the patient with posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome. Antihypertensive treatment improved his clinical symptoms. Careful imaging assessment, including of changes over time, is important for diagnosing posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome.     

后循环可复性脑病综合征临床及影像表现

后循环可复性脑病综合征(PRES)是以头痛、间性发作、精神状态改变和视觉障碍为主要表现的临床综合征,临床上可与高血压、子痫、肾脏疾病、电解质紊乱等一系列疾病相关。MRI检查通常可发现后循环脑区局灶性可复性血管源性脑水肿,血管成像可发现血管弥漫或局灶性痉挛表现。就与PRES相关的主要临床疾病及其临床表现和影像特征进行综述。     

脑后部可逆性脑病综合征的MRI特征和临床价值

目的探讨脑后部可逆性脑病综合征的MRI特征和临床价值。方法回顾性分析25例脑后部可逆性脑病综合征(PRES)孕妇的MRI资料并随访观察。结果所有病例MRI均显示脑实质内多发性的斑片状T1WI低信号、T2WI及FLAIR高信号病灶,大致对称分布。病灶分布以顶枕叶白质为主,额颞叶、基底节、小脑、脑干及皮层灰质也可受累。DWI(b=1000)显示高信号病灶9例,其中ADC图呈低信号3例,提示形成脑梗死。随访发现22例病灶于治疗后短期内恢复,病灶范围大、分布广或于DWI、ADC图显示弥散受限者预后较差。结论孕妇PRES的MRI表现具有显著的特征,MRI对早期诊断、判断预后和指导治疗有重要价值。     

Central-variant posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome in an infant with mid-aortic syndrome: A rare case of symmetric basal ganglia lesions

Central-variant posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome is an atypical subtype of posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome that occurs during rapid fluctuations in blood pressure, leading to cerebrovascular autoregulatory failure and endothelial dysfunction. Few reports have described posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome in infants. A 4-month-old girl, who was diagnosed a month before with hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy due to sudden cardiac arrest, showed persistent renovascular hypertension with a systolic blood pressure of 200 mmHg. Computed tomography of the head revealed a new-onset low-attenuation area in the bilateral basal ganglia, and computed tomography of the trunk revealed severe long-segment narrowing of the abdominal aorta encompassing the bilateral renal arteries. She was treated with antihypertensive drugs and peritoneal dialysis. Follow-up imaging after blood pressure stabilization showed resolution of the low-attenuation area in the bilateral basal ganglia. We diagnosed her basal ganglia lesions as central-variant posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome. She suffered from neurological sequelae attributable to hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy but showed no evidence of basal ganglia dysfunction. Here, we report a case of infantile central-variant posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome involving bilateral basal ganglia lesions with mid-aortic syndrome. The differential diagnosis of infantile symmetric bilateral basal ganglia lesions is broad and includes genetic, acquired metabolic or toxic, infectious, inflammatory, vascular, and neoplastic pathologies. Among them, central-variant posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome is rare but important because neurological prognosis may be favorable, and specific treatment, such as administration of antihypertensive drugs or discontinuation of drugs that induce posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome, is possible.     

Association of degree and type of edema in posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome with serum lactate dehydrogenase level: initial experience

Purpose

Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) is a clinicoradiologic entity characterized by headache, blurred vision and seizures with typical parieto-occipital predominantly vasogenic edema, occasionally with cytotoxic edema. The association between the degree and type of edema in PRES with biochemical parameter, especially serum lactate dehydrogenase, has not been determined.

Material and methods

Thirty-five patients with typical clinical symptoms and characteristic MR imaging findings of PRES were included in this study. The extent of brain edema was graded on the anatomical distribution by 2 observers blinded to patients’ clinical record, as well as the type of brain edema determined on DWI and ADC map. The levels of biochemical parameters were correlated with the degree of edema and compared between different types of edema.

Results

Serum LDH concentrations between patients with cytotoxic edema and with vasogenic components were not statistically different (NWU test, U = 93.0, Z = 1.818, P = 0.069). Only serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) concentration was significantly correlated with the score of brain edema distribution (Spearman's rho correlation, r = 0.721, P = 0.00). No relationship was found between other biochemical parameters and the degree and type of brain edema.

Conclusion

Increased serum LDH level, which plays an essential role in endothelial injury, may be a potential risk factor for the development of edema in PRES.     

CT and MRI findings with pathological correlation of an intracerebral malignant fibrous histiocytoma (MFH): a case report

The CT and MRI findings in a case of an intracranial malignant fibrous histiocytoma are reported. Pathological correlation was demonstrated and tumour vascularization was best seen at angiography. Despite its low incidence in brain. MFH is of special interest because of its ubiquitous location and poor prognosis.Correspondence to: C. Berchtenbreiter     

系统性红斑狼疮的心脏X线与病理对照分析（附8例报告）

本文报告系统性红斑狼疮（简称ＳＬＥ）８例，均做了尸体解剖检查并发现心、肺和肾等多脏器损害。全部病例的心脏临床表现均较病理改变轻微，其中两例Ｘ线未发现心脏及肺循环异常。心脏增大的病理基础是ＳＬＥ侵及心脏全层与心包；高血压是导致心脏增大的另一个主要因素。左心衰竭产生肺静脉高压；胸部病变及肺小动脉玻璃样变性可导致肺动脉高压。     

Fluorescein photodiagnosis of idiopathic retinal vasculitis,aneurysms, and neuroretinitis (IRVAN) syndrome: A case report and long-term outcome of photocoagulation therapy

Idiopathic retinal vasculitis, aneurysms, and neuroretinitis (IRVAN) syndrome is a disease characterized by multiple retinal macroaneurysms, neuroretinitis and peripheral capillary non-perfusion, leading to irreversible visual loss. It includes five stages and has previously been rarely reported. IRVAN syndrome is especially rare in Asia. In this report, we describe laser diagnosis and therapy in an Asian patient with IRVAN syndrome over two years of follow-up. We observed non-perfusion retina and dilated retinal capillaries in the contralateral eye. Photocoagulation is an effective therapy to control retinal macroaneurysms and nonperfusions and to prevent visual loss, particularly in the early stages of IRVAN syndrome (stages 2 & 3). To the best of our knowledge, this is the first long-term observation of photocoagulation in IRVAN syndrome. We discovered the early signs of such lesions, which may be beneficial for clinical diagnosis and therapy.     

Successful medical treatment of aortic intramural hematoma (Stanford type B) in a patient with aberrant right subclavian artery: A case report

Intramural Hematoma (IMH) forms part of the acute aortic syndrome, aortic dissection, and penetrating aortic ulcer. It is a life-threatening aortic disease that warrants prompt diagnosis and management. Like aortic dissections, it is classified using the Stanford classification system as type A (proximal to the origin of the left subclavian artery) and type B (distal to the origin of the left subclavian artery). Patients with type A IMH is generally managed surgically, and uncomplicated type B IMH is managed medically. The right subclavian artery arises typically from the brachiocephalic trunk. Aberrant right subclavian arteries (ARSA) are rare and derive directly from the aortic arch distal to the left subclavian artery. In this case report, a 73-year-old female presented with right-sided chest pain and shortness of breath. On examination, her heart rate was 100 bpm and blood Pressure was 185/85 and her ECG showed sinus rhythm. Following a CT scan, she was found to have a type B Aortic IMH with an ARSA. She was medically managed with vigorous blood pressure control. After a period of intravenous blood pressure treatment, she was treated with oral medication. Her subsequent CT scan showed that the hematoma was stable. She was followed up with MRI scanning 1 year later, which showed complete healing of the aorta with no changes in diameter. This case illustrates the importance of strict blood pressure management and follow-up imaging in patients presenting with type B IMH. It is important to monitor these patients regularly and where blood pressure control alone is not sufficient, further intervention may be required. Even though the complete resolution may be achieved as in this case, these patients will need to be kept under surveillance with repeated scans to monitor for any changes.