Chronic encapsulated intracerebral hematoma

Radiological-morphologic features of chronic intracerebral hematomas are observed by computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance (MR), and in angiographic examination are particularly characterized by the absence of pathologic vascularization. The patient, aged 61, with confirmed diagnosis of encapsulated intracerebral hematoma, treated at the Clinic of Neurology and Clinic of Neurosurgery of the Military Medical Academy was presented. The patient was released after recovery, and was consequently followed up in an outpatient department by a neurosurgeon. Six-month follow-up demonstrated the regression of the clinical signs of the disease, as well as the alterations in CT and MR images in the same sense.     

Supratentorial arachnoid cyst and associated subdural hematoma: neuroradiologic studies

CT and MR images of 8 patients with supratentorial arachnoid cyst complicated by subdural hematoma were studied and compared with those of 8 patients who developed nontraumatic subdural hematoma without arachnoid cyst. Of the 8 patients with supratentorial arachnoid cyst, CT and MR disclosed temporal bulging and/or thinning of the temporal squama in all 6 patients with middle fossa arachnoid cysts, and the thinning of the calvaria was evident in another patient with a convexity cyst. Calvarial thinning at the site corresponding to interhemispheric arachnoid cyst was clearly depicted on coronal MR images. In contrast, none of the 8 young patients with nontraumatic subdural hematoma without arachnoid cyst had abnormal calvaria. Temporal bulging and thinning of the overlying calvaria were identified as diagnostic CT and MR features of arachnoid cyst with complicating intracystic and subdural hemorrhage. Radiologists should be aware of this association and should evaluate the bony structure carefully. Correspondence to: M. Ochi     

颅内海绵状血管瘤的CT和MRI诊断

目的:探讨脑内与脑外海绵状血管瘤的CT和MRI表现及诊断价值.方法:搜集45例颅内海绵状血管瘤的CT和MRI影像资料进行分析,MRI检查45例,CT检查30例,其中脑内型海绵状血管瘤42例,脑外型海绵状血管瘤3例,均经手术病理证实.结果:脑内型海绵状血管瘤可位于脑内任何部位,单发病灶多见,无明显占位效应,周围无或轻度水肿.CT检查的全部病例呈稍高及混杂密度影27例,增强扫描大都无强化;MRI检查T2 WI表现为"桑葚状"混杂高信号,周围有云絮状低信号环,增强后病灶仅少数轻度强化.脑外型病灶位于中颅窝鞍旁,MRI呈类似哑铃形或类圆形较均匀的稍长T1明显长T2信号,增强扫描呈明显均匀强化.结论:脑内与脑外型海绵状血管瘤的CT和MRI表现具有一定特征,MRI优于CT像,特别是MRI的T2 WI像有助于明确诊断.     

成人白血病中枢神经系统并发症的CT与MRI表现

目的 探讨成人白血病中枢神经系统并发症(CNSCL)的CT和MRI表现及其诊断价值.方法 回顾性分析18例经临床及手术病理证实的成人CNSCL的CT和MRI表现,其中急性淋巴细胞白血病7例,急性非淋巴细胞白血病10例,慢性粒单细胞白血病1例.CT平扫11例,其中增强1例;MR平扫16例,其中增强11例.结果 颅内受累14例:(1)颅内出血7例,其中脑内血肿4例,脑内血肿合并微出血1例,微出血2例.脑内血肿均为多发病灶.CT表现为团状高密度影;MRI表现为T1WI低信号或高低混杂信号,T2WI高信号或等高信号伴环状低信号环,病灶呈环形强化或无明显强化.脑微出血在磁敏感加权成像(SWI)上表现为多发斑点状及小条状低信号,其病灶检出率明显优于CT及MRI其他常规序列检查;7例中,伴脑梗死及蛛网膜下腔出血各1例.(2)颅内肿块5例:其中左额部内板下梭形病灶或跨颅板肿块2例,T1WI呈低信号,T2WI呈高低混杂信号,并有明显均匀强化,均见脑膜尾征;鞍区肿块1例,CT示鞍区高密度影,MRI示鞍区T1WI稍低信号,T2WI高信号,有不均匀强化;右侧脑室体旁肿块1例,T1WI、T2WI均呈等信号,有明显均匀强化.左额顶叶壁厚囊性肿块1例,呈环形强化.(3)梗阻性脑积水1例,表现为中脑导水管以上脑室系统扩张.(4)脑膜病变1例,MRI表现为广泛脑膜增厚伴明显均匀强化.椎管内病变4例:其中胸腰椎左侧椎旁软组织肿块2例,侵犯椎管内,伴邻近肋骨骨质破坏1例;椎管内肿块1例,表现为胸椎管后方梭形T1WI等高信号,T2WI等低信号灶,无明显强化;胸髓信号异常1例,表现为胸髓条状T2WI及液体衰减反转恢复(FLAIR)序列高信号影.结论 成人CNSCL影像表现多种多样,CT与MRI对该病的诊断价值相辅相成;白血病患者疑脑内病变者,建议常规使用SWI检查,以尽早发现脑微出血,降低脑内血肿发生的风险.

Abstract：

Objective To evaluate the CT and MRI findings and their diagnostic value of central nervous system complications of leukemia (CNSCL). Methods The CT and MRI findings of 18 adult patients with CNSCL proved by clinical features or pathology were retrospectively analyzed. Among 18 cases,7 were acute lymphocytic leukemia, 10 acute non-lymphocytic leukemia and 1 chronic myelomonocytic leukemia. Eleven cases underwent plain CT scan with one of them also receiving contrast-enhanced CT scan enhancement, 16 cases underwent plain MR scan with 11 of them receiving contrast-enhanced MR scan.Results Intracranial lesions in 14 cases: (1)intracranial hemorrhage was found in 7 cases, including intracerebral hematoma in 4 cases, micro-haemorrhage in 2 cases, and intracerebral hematoma accompanying by multiple intracerebral micro-haemorrhage foci in 1 case. All cases with intracerebral hematoma showed multiple lesions, which demonstrated high-density on CT images, and low or mixed signal on T1 WI, high- or intermediate signal with low-signal rim on T2 WI and ring enhancement or no evident enhancement. Microhaemorrhage manifested as multiple mini-mottling and strip hypointense foci on susceptibility weighted imaging, on which the detection rate of micro-haemorrhage foci was much higher than that on CT and other sequences of MRI. Among the 7 cases, one also had cerebral infarction and one subarachnoid hemorrhage.(2) Intracranial mass was found in 5 cases, among which two appeared as masses under or bestride cranium in the left frontal region with hypointensity on T1 WI, mixed signal on T2WI, strong homogeneous enhancement and dural tail sign;one showed a mass in saddle area, with high density on CT, slightly low signal on T1WI, high signal on T2WI and heterogeneous enhancement; one case displayed a mass near lateral ventricle with iso-intensity on T1 WI and T2WI and strong homogeneous enhancement; and one case manifested as cystic mass in the left fronto-apical lobe, with thick wall and ring enhancement (3)Obstructive hydrocephalus was found in 1 case, manifesting dilation of ventricles above the aquaeductus mesencephali. (4) Meningopathy was found in 1 case, manifesting diffuse thickening of meninges with strong homogeneous enhancement on MRI. Pathological changes of spinal canal was found in 4 cases among which two showed para-spinal mass involving vertebral canal and causing bone destruction of adjacent ribs; one case showed fusiform mass posterior to vertebral canal with high and intermediate signal on T1 WI and low and iso-signal on T2WI without enhancement; one showed zonale leison in thoracic cord with high signal on T2WI and fluid attenuated inversion recovery. Conclusion The radiologic manifestations of adult CNSCL are various and the role of CT and MRI for the diagnosis of CNSCL may complement each other. SWI is suggested as routine examination for patients of leukemia, in whom intracerebral lesions were suspected in order to find micro-haemorrhage as early as possible and reduce the risk of intracerebral hematoma occurrence.     

Penetrating aortic ulcers: diagnosis with MR imaging

The authors studied seven patients with penetrating aortic ulcers with use of magnetic resonance (MR) imaging. All patients were evaluated for acute chest symptoms, and the presence of aortic ulcers was confirmed by means of angiography in all seven patients. Five patients also underwent computed tomography (CT). Three patients underwent surgical repair of the thoracic aorta. MR findings included intramural hematoma and focal aortic wall ulceration in four patients, focal ulceration in one, focal intramural hematoma in one, and focal intramural hematoma with rupture in one. The diagnosis of intramural hematoma was made by the detection of increased signal intensity on T1- and T2-weighted MR images. MR imaging was superior to angiography in depicting the extent of intramural thrombus, although one ulceration diagnosed at angiography was missed at MR imaging. MR imaging was superior to CT in differentiating acute intramural hematoma from atherosclerotic plaque and chronic intraluminal thrombus, although it did not depict displaced intimal calcification in one patient with extensive intramural hematoma.     

Intracranial vascular malformations: MR and CT imaging

Twenty-four patients with 29 cerebrovascular malformations were evaluated with a combination of computed tomography (CT), angiography, and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging. Characteristics of the malformations on MR images were reviewed retrospectively, and a comparative evaluation of MR and CT images was made. Of 14 angiographically evident malformations, 13 intra-axial lesions were detected on both CT and MR images, and one dural malformation gave false-negative results on both modalities. The appearance of parenchymal lesions on MR images closely mirrored characteristic CT findings. Calcific foci were difficult to separate from vessels on both images. Clot was more easily identified on MR images. In the detection of 15 angiographically occult malformations, CT proved more sensitive when focal calcification was the only evidence of their presence. MR study failed to detect two small supratentorial lesions evidenced by faint calcifications on CT scans. In two patients, MR images showed small hemorrhages not detectable by CT, and MR provided strong evidence for the diagnosis of hematoma for 12 lesions. Angiographically evident malformations have a highly characteristic appearance on MR images. MR may be more sensitive than CT in the detection of small hemorrhagic foci associated with cryptic arteriovenous malformations and may add specificity in the diagnosis of occult malformations in some cases, but MR is less sensitive than CT for the detection of small calcified malformations.     

Surface-coil MR of orbital pseudotumor

Fifteen patients with clinical presentations compatible with idiopathic inflammatory orbital pseudotumor were examined by CT and MR imaging to determine if MR could add specificity to the CT appearance of this entity. MR was performed on a 1.5 T system, using surface-coil and head-coil techniques. Idiopathic pseudotumor was confirmed in nine patients on the basis of response to steroid therapy in the absence of local cause or systemic illness. One other patient had biopsy-proven idiopathic pseudotumor. Five patients proved to have other orbital entities, including metastases, infectious myositis, hemorrhage, and orbital sarcoid. In all 10 patients with confirmed pseudotumor, CT and MR were abnormal. MR abnormalities in 10 of 10 patients with pseudotumor were hypointense to fat and isointense to muscle on T1-weighted images. On T2-weighted images the lesions of pseudotumor were isointense or only minimally hyperintense to fat in nine of 10 cases; in one case, the enlarged muscle was markedly hyperintense to fat. The MR signal intensity of pseudotumor was similar to that found in infectious myositis and sarcoid. These findings contrasted to the MR appearance of the other disease entities examined. Metastases appeared markedly hyperintense to fat on T2-weighted images, while hematoma was hyperintense to muscle and isointense to fat on T1-weighted images and markedly hyperintense to fat on T2-weighted images. In our preliminary series, surface-coil MR appears to add specificity to the CT appearance of orbital pseudotumor.     

Delayed intracerebral hemorrhage as demonstrated by CT scanning

Summary Three patients are presented who developed delayed intracerebral hematomas after head injury. Two patients had essentially negative CT scans on admission and developed intracerbral hematomas within 24 h after injury. They required surgical treatment and had fatal outcomes. The third patient presented with an epidural hematoma on CT scan, developed an intracerebral hematoma 48 h after evacuation of the epidural hematoma, and did well with conservative management.     

Longitudinal stress fractures of the tibia: diagnosis by magnetic resonance imaging

 Objective. Previous works describe magnetic resonance (MR) imaging characteristics of stress fractures. Diagnosis of the atypical, longitudinal type of stress fracture has been reported using computed tomography (CT). This report focuses on MR imaging of longitudinal stress fractures of the tibia. Materials and methods. Six cases are presented in which a longitudinal linear abnormal marrow signal was detected in the middle and distal parts of the tibial shaft. Five patients were imaged using a 1.5 Tesla MR unit. Axial, sagittal and coronal T1 and T2-weighted or fat suppressed proton density fast spin echo images were obtained in all but one patient. One patient was imaged using a 0.5 Tesla MR unit with axial and coronal T1- and T2-weighted sequences. Initial conventional radiographs seen at clinical presentation were interpreted as normal in all cases. Two patients underwent radionuclide bone scan, and one patient was imaged with CT prior to MR imaging. Results. In each instance, MR imaging demonstrated linear marrow signal abnormalities orientated along the long axis of the tibial shaft. Endosteal and periosteal callus was identified on axial images. In all cases, MR imaging clearly demonstrated a fracture extending through one cortex with abnormal signal in both the marrow cavity as well as adjacent soft tissues indicating edema. Conclusion. MR imaging was shown to be excellent for demonstration of fracture lines, callus, and marrow and soft tissue abnormalities seen in association with longitudinal stress fractures.     

MR of cerebral abnormalities concomitant with primary intracerebral hematomas.

PURPOSETo determine whether arteriolar vessel wall degeneration in primary intracerebral hematomas might be associated with ischemic brain lesions and clinically silent (apparently intracerebral) previous hemorrhages.METHODSThe MR images of 120 consecutive patients (mean age, 60 years; age range, 22 to 84 years) with their first stroke caused by a primary intracerebral hematoma were reviewed retrospectively for coexisting ischemic damage and previous bleeds.RESULTSEarly confluent to confluent white matter hyperintensities, lacunes, or infarction were present in 83 (69%) of the patients, and 39 (33%) had had previous hemorrhages consisting of microbleeds or old hematomas. Extensive white matter hyperintensities and lacunes were most frequent in patients with thalamic primary intracerebral hematomas. There was no relationship between the frequency of old hemorrhages and the location of subsequent primary intracerebral hematomas.CONCLUSIONClinically silent ischemic lesions and previous hemorrhages are a common finding on MR images of patients with primary intracerebral hematoma. They may therefore serve as evidence of diffuse microangiopathy with a possible increased risk for cerebral hemorrhage.     

Intracerebral hematoma developing during MR examination

We report a case of a 78-year-old woman with cerebellar infarction who developed intracerebral bleeding during the magnetic resonance (MR) examination. The intensity of the hematoma was heterogeneous corresponding to the heterogeneous density shown on CT study that immediately followed the MR examination.     

Vergleich der Wertigkeit der Computertomographie und der Magnetresonanztomographie in der Diagnostik der akuten intrazerebralen Blutung

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Stroke symptoms are caused in 10 to 15% by intracerebral hemorrhage. From the clinical examination it is often impossible to differentiate intracerebral hemorrhage from cerebral ischemia. To exclude intracerebral hemorrhage as the cause of clinical symptoms a CT is usually performed. The aim of our study was a direct comparison of the sensitivity of Computed Tomography and MRI using different MR sequences for the detection of acute intracerebral hemorrhage. METHODS: In 8 male Wistar rats intracerebral hemorrhage was induced by infusion of collagenase into the caudate nucleus. After 1hour the brains were subsequently imaged with CT and MRI using T2- and T1-weighted Spin Echo sequences, diffusion-weighted sequences, T2*-weighted gradient echo sequences and FLAIR-sequences. Visibility of the intracerebral hemorrhage was examined using a scoring system from 1 = not visible to 5 = excellent visible. Finally, the intracerebral hemorrhage was verified by histological staining. RESULTS: In all animals, intracerebral hemorrhage was visible in T2*-weighted gradient echo and diffusion weighted MR images 1 h after infusion of collagenase. T2- and PD-weighted SE images were positive in 7/8 rats. T1-weighted images revealed signal changes in 5/8 rats, and FLAIR sequence was positive in 8/8 rats. In CT intracerebral hemorrhage was only visible in 3/8 rats. When measuring the increase of Hounsfield units within the suspected hemisphere we saw a mean increase of 7% compared to the normal hemisphere in 3/8 rats. CONCLUSIONS: In this animal model, T2*-weighted magnetic resonance imaging proved to be the most sensitive imaging modality in the detection of acute intracerebral hemorrhage and is by far more sensitive than CT.     

MR detection of hyperacute parenchymal hemorrhage of the brain.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSEThe detection of hemorrhage in acutely ill patients is crucial to clinical management. The MR features that allow diagnosis of intracerebral hematomas of less than 24 hours'' duration are described and the mechanistic basis of these features is investigated.METHODSThe clinical MR features of seven confirmed hyperacute intracerebral hematomas were compared with those of experimentally induced hematomas in a rat model in which detailed analyses of iron metabolism and morphometry were performed.RESULTSIn all patients and all animals, a hypointense rim on T2-weighted spin-echo images that was less marked on T1-weighted spin-echo images was seen surrounding a central isointense or heterogeneous region of hyperacute hematoma. Histologically, the clot showed interdigitation of intact erythrocytes and tissue at the hematoma-tissue interface without significant hemosiderin, ferritin, or phagocytic activity. Biochemically, the iron from the extravasated blood was present only as heme proteins within the first 24 hours.CONCLUSIONThe hypointense rim on T2-weighted images, and to a lesser extent on T1-weighted images, is a distinctive feature of hyperacute hematoma. This pattern is consistent with magnetic susceptibility variations of paramagnetic deoxygenated hemoglobin within intact erythrocytes at a microscopically irregular tissue-clot interface. The detection of hemorrhage is important in the management of patients with acute stroke.     

Intracranial hematomas studied by MR imaging at 0.17 and 0.02 T

The contrast in magnetic resonance (MR) images relies mainly on the relaxation time differences between the tissues. The relative differences in relaxation times T1 are bigger at lower field strengths, although the absolute values of T1 are smaller. A shorter T1 is also advantageous for the contrast of the T2 and proton density weighted images because of the more complete recovery of the spin system during the repetition time TR. Scrutiny of the clinical results of MR shows some unsolved problems in the specificity of diagnosing fresh intracranial hematomas. Low field MR imaging at 0.02 T seems to offer new vistas in this sense. Fresh subdural hematoma was more easily detected and differentiated at 0.02 T than at 0.17 T. The T2 of fresh intracranial hematomas was rather short compared with cerebrospinal fluid and edema and, unlike T1, was not highly dependent on magnetic field strength. The different visualization of acute versus late intracerebral hematoma and the changes during the resorption were demonstrated in follow-up studies of two patients at 0.17 T and of one at 0.02 T. In one patient the same lesion was imaged successively at both field strengths, showing the divergent contrast in the inversion recovery images at 0.02 and 0.17 T.     

Intracerebral gangliogliomas in patients with partial complex seizures: CT and MR imaging findings

The clinical and radiologic findings in 19 patients with partial complex seizures and surgically proved intracerebral gangliogliomas were reviewed to characterize the radiologic features of these lesions. The CT and MR findings were not specific. On CT the gangliogliomas can be hypodense with no enhancement and they often have calcifications. On MR these tumors have a wide variety of signals. In five of our cases the tumor had a high-intensity signal with a cystlike component on proton density- and T2-weighted images. In five cases the lesion had an inhomogeneously intense signal on proton density-weighted images and high signal intensity on T2-weighted images. The tumor had high-intensity signal on both proton density- and T2-weighted images in four patients. Finally, in two cases the MR findings were normal. We recommend MR as the examination of choice for patients with partial complex seizures because it allows an artifact-free evaluation of the temporal region. However, CT should also be performed in order to recognize calcifications that may be missed on the MR examination.     

Duodenal hematoma: the ring sign in MR imaging

Proper management of duodenal hematoma requires that an accurate diagnosis be made using noninvasive radiological methods. Conventional imaging may be nonspecific if there is no history of trauma or coagulopathy. Two cases of duodenal hematoma that were imaged by magnetic resonance (MR) and computed tomography (CT) are described. In both cases the hematoma had a well-defined concentric ring configuration on MR images, a finding which helped establish the diagnosis. MR imaging may provide tissue-specific characterization of duodenal hematomas.     

脑内型表皮样囊肿的CT和MRI诊断

目的探讨脑内型表皮样囊肿的CT和MRI影像表现特点,提高对脑内型表皮样囊肿影像诊断的准确性。资料与方法回顾性分析5例经手术病理证实的脑内型表皮样囊肿患者的CT和MRI影像资料。5例患者均行CT平扫检查,其中4例行CT增强检查。5例患者中4例行MRI平扫检查,其中2例行MRI增强检查。结果 5例中,3例位于小脑半球,1例位于基底节区,1例位于额叶。肿瘤呈不规则形或分叶状,与周围组织分界清晰。CT平扫为较均匀或轻度不均匀低密度,CT值-22～26 HU之间。MRI平扫T1WI上肿瘤呈不均匀低信号,内部可见散在絮状略高信号;T2WI及液体衰减反转恢复(FLAIR)图像上呈不均匀高信号。CT及MRI增强检查病灶均无明显强化。结论脑内型表皮样囊肿的CT、MRI表现较具有特征性,尤其是MRI对其诊断有重要价值。     

颅内动脉瘤破裂出血的CT诊断潜能

目的研究CT对颅内动脉瘤破裂出血的诊断潜能。方法对68例动脉瘤破裂的患者的CT表现进行分析,并与金标准DSA对照。结果首发蛛网膜下腔出血38例,脑内血肿11例,蛛网膜下腔出血并硬膜下出血1例,颅内血肿5例,脑室出血2例,脑积液4例,血管痉挛1例;动脉瘤破裂治疗中出现脑血管痉挛18例,脑积液11例。结论CT可显示动脉瘤破裂的一些特征性表现,能够根据不同脑池内积液、脑内血肿的特征性分布大致提示动脉瘤的部位。     

Thrombolytic therapy in myocardial infarction. Computerized tomography of encephalic complications]

PURPOSE: To evaluate the CT findings of intracerebral hemorrhage in patients undergoing thrombolytic therapy for acute myocardial infarction and to correlate the type of intracerebral hemorrhage with clinical outcome. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the clinical records and CT scans of intracerebral hemorrhage on a total of 302 patients who underwent thrombolytic therapy for acute myocardial infarction at our institution from January 1996 to September 1999. In each patient we evaluated: the number, sites and size of hemorrhage, and the presence and severity of mass effect. The site of the hemorrhage was classified as intraparenchymal, intraventricular, subdural and subarachnoid. RESULTS: Six patients (2%, mean age 74, range 66-80) developed intracerebral hemorrhage. There was a total of 22 hemorrhages: 1 subdural hemorrhage, 6 subarachnoid, 11 intraparenchymal and 4 intraventricular. Excluding intraventricular hemorrhage, 14/18 hemorr-hages were located supratentorially. In five patients there was a fluid-blood level. Three patients had severe mass effect with midline shift. Symptoms presented within 24 hours from the administration of thrombolytic therapy in all patients. All the patients who died had a large hematoma with a severe mass effect and a severe midline shift at CT scan. In the remaining patients, the hematoma was of medium size and no mass effect was seen. CONCLUSIONS: The most common site of hemorrhage was supratentorial and intraparenchymal. Large volume intracerebral hemorrhage, multiple hemorrhages and mass effect with midline shift were associated with increased mortality. The most commonly observed finding was a fluid-blood level hematoma.     

急性期脑内血肿3.0T MR扩散加权成像表现

目的:探讨3.0T MR设备中平面回波扩散加权成像(EPI-DWI)和表观扩散系数(ADC)图对急性脑内血肿的诊断价值及与脑梗死的鉴别诊断能力。方法:对18例急性期脑内血肿患者行EPI-DWI检查,获得ADC图并与CT及常规MRI进行对比。同期选择发病时间、病变体积相近的急性脑梗死患者18例,比较急性期脑内血肿与脑梗死的MRI表现。结果:所有急性期脑内血肿在EPI-DWI及ADC图上均为混杂信号,尤其是较大血肿;不同大小血肿周边均可见低信号环。所有急性脑梗死病变均未见周边环状低信号。结论:血肿周边低信号环为急性期脑内血肿的特异性DWI表现,可资与急性脑梗死相鉴别。