Spontaneous intracranial hypotension with isolated cortical vein thrombosis and subarachnoid haemorrhage

Spontaneous intracranial hypotension (SIH) associated with subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH) has never been reported. Here, we report on a case of a 33-year-old woman with SIH, who developed simple partial sensory seizures 3 weeks later. Neuroimaging studies, including brain computed tomography and angiography, were initially normal, but revealed an isolated cortical venous thrombosis at 3 weeks. One week later, brain magnetic resonance imaging showed SAH around the thrombosed cortical vein. We postulate that the decline in the venous blood flow velocity due to SIH may have resulted in cortical venous thrombosis, which in turn led to rupture of the vessel wall and SAH in this patient.     

Short term vs. long term test-retest reproducibility of ¹²³I-ADAM for the binding of serotonin transporters in the human brain

Previous brain imaging studies have demonstrated a seasonal difference of serotonin transporter (SERT) binding in the human brain. However, the results were somewhat contradictory. We conducted test-retest study with single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) with 123I-ADAM as ligand in 28 healthy subjects. Ten of the subjects were studied within 1 month, whereas 18 were randomly assigned to be studied over a period of up to 1 year. The primary measure was the specific uptake ratio (SUR). Regions of interest included the midbrain, thalamus, putamen and caudate. The intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC) was 0.52-0.94 across different brain regions over 1 month, whereas the ICC was -0.24-0.63 over a 1-year period. The 1-month variability ranged from 6.5 ± 5.1% to 12.5 ± 10.6% across different brain regions, and the 1-year variability ranged from 16.5 ± 9.6% to 41.9 ± 35.5%. The Kruskal-Wallis test revealed a significant difference of variability across months. The Wilcoxon Signed Ranks Test showed the SUR between test-retest scans was of borderline significance. Curve fitting, using a 4th degree polynomial model, revealed a significant circadian correlation between the variability and interval of test-retest measurements. Our findings demonstrate the test-retest reproducibility of 123I-ADAM in different time periods and suggest that circadian variation of SERT levels in the human brain might exist.     

Unusual giant intraspinal teratoma in an infant

There are few cases of giant pediatric intraspinal teratoma. We report a case of a 4-month-old female baby with giant intraspinal teratoma. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the spine revealed a large intradural tumor from the C7 to S2 level, with solid, cystic, and fatty components. Partial surgical removal of the tumor showed pathology of a mature cystic teratoma. The imaging diagnosis of intraspinal teratoma included the location, solid and cystic component, and fatty content. The MR techniques adopted included gradient echo sequences as used to detect teeth or calcification. The difficulties in surgical resection of this case are also presented.     

Brain morphological changes associated with cyclic menstrual pain

Primary dysmenorrhea (PDM) is the most prevalent gynecological disorder for women in the reproductive age. PDM patients suffer from lower abdominal pain that starts with the onset of the menstrual flow. Prolonged nociceptive input to the central nervous system can induce functional and structural alterations throughout the nervous system. In PDM, a chronic viscero-nociceptive drive of cyclic nature, indications of central sensitization and altered brain metabolism suggest a substantial central reorganization. Previously, we hypothesized that disinhibition of orbitofrontal networks could be responsible for increased pain and negative affect in PDM. Here, we further tested this hypothesis. We used an optimized voxel-based morphometry (VBM) approach to compare total and regional gray matter (GM) increases and decreases in 32 PDM patients with 32 healthy age and menstrual cycle matched (peri-ovulatory phase) controls. Abnormal decreases were found in regions involved in pain transmission, higher level sensory processing, and affect regulation while increases were found in regions involved in pain modulation and in regulation of endocrine function. Moreover, GM changes in regions involved in top-down pain modulation and in generation of negative affect were related to the severity of the experienced PDM pain. Our results demonstrate that abnormal GM volume changes are present in PDM patients even in the absence of pain. These changes may underpin a combination of impaired pain inhibition, increased pain facilitation and increased affect. Our findings highlight that longer lasting central changes may occur not only in sustained chronic pain conditions but also in cyclic occurring pain conditions.     

Spinal dural arteriovenous anomalies.

The clinical data, radiologic findings, and treatment in 14 cases of spinal dural arteriovenous (AV) anomaly were reviewed. All patients had typical findings of feeding artery, nidus, and draining vein on spinal angiograms. Radiologic diagnosis of spinal AV malformation was first made after myelography in 13 cases and after magnetic resonance (MR) imaging in one case. Thirteen patients underwent embolization; one patient underwent repeat embolization 14 months after the first procedure. The other patient underwent surgical ligation. All patients had clinical improvement after treatment. A high index of clinical suspicion, a complete myelographic examination or an MR image of good quality, and a properly performed complete spinal angiographic study are important for early diagnosis. Embolization may be the treatment of choice. For best results, the feeding artery next to the nidus and the draining vein close to the nidus should be occluded, and the nidus itself should be obliterated.     

Evaluation of clinical and MR findings for the prognosis of spinal epidural haematomas

AIM: The potential of MR and clinical findings of spinal epidural haematomas (SEHs), particularly the early MR findings, to help minimize delays in diagnosis, to aid prognosis and as a reference for conservative treatment, are evaluated. METHODS: Retrospectively 20 patients with SEHs (14 men and 6 women) were examined to record their neurological deficit, MR findings, management, clinical outcome, and interval between symptom onset and MRI or surgery. Two-tailed Fisher's exact test was used for these analyses. RESULTS: Of 8 patients with severe neurological deficit at the onset of symptoms, none had obvious clinical improvement after either surgical or conservative management. Of 12 patients with mild to moderate deficits, 11 (92%) showed improvement or recovery of clinical symptoms. T2-weighted images revealed myelopathy or infarction of the compressed spinal cord in 9 patients, 7 (78%) of whom had no improvement in neurological deficit with either conservative or surgical management. Images in 6 patients showed contrast enhancement in the haematomas. CONCLUSION: Poor clinical outcomes were observed mainly in those with severe neurological deficit and hyperintensity on T2-weighted images of the involved spinal cord. Surgery did not appear to improve outcome in many of these patients. In acute SEHs, MRI showed characteristic findings, such as contrast enhancement, which should not be confused with signs of inflammatory or neoplastic epidural disease.     

Posterior cranial fossa crowdedness is related to age and sex: an magnetic resonance volumetric study

PURPOSE: To measure 3-dimensional (3D) posterior cranial fossa (PCF) crowdedness and to evaluate the effect of age, sex, and body height on PCF. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Fifty-two healthy volunteers (24 M and 28 F; mean age 55.4 +/- 17.2 years; range 24-82 years) were recruited. Using a semi-automated magnetic resonance technique, we calculated a PCF crowdedness index (CI) as the ratio of hindbrain (HB) volume to PCF volume x 100% and correlated this index with age, sex, body height, and other crowdedness parameters. RESULTS: The mean PCF CI was 93.7 +/- 2.7%. Women had a more crowded PCF than men (95.0+1.7% versus 92.1 +/- 2.7%; P<0.001). PCF CI declined with age for both men (r = -0.61; P=0.002) and women (r = -0.68; P<0.001). The association with age--but not HB volume was maintained after we controlled for sex and body height. On multiple regression, both age and sex accounted for 57.5% of the PCF CI variance. CONCLUSION: Our study shows that PCF CI is associated with age and sex, and can therefore be used as a surrogate to assess hindbrain atrophy in a cross-sectional sample. Moreover, sex- and age-specific normal ranges may be needed to evaluate the PCF CI in clinical practice.     

Epileptic negative myoclonus: SPECT, PET, and video/EEG studies and the dramatic effects of levetiracetam

An 18-year-old woman presented with epileptic negative myoclonus (ENM) as her major seizure pattern for 4 years. Her seizures were characterized by intermittent postural lapse of the right limbs for a period of hours to 2 days. Ictal electroencephalography (EEG)–electromyography showed a silent period that was time-locked to generalized spike–wave discharges. Video/EEG monitoring demonstrated marked improvement of ENM after oral administration of levetiracetam. Cranial magnetic resonance imaging was normal, but 2-deoxy-2-[¹⁸F]fluoro-d-glucose positron emission tomography during frequent ENM showed hypometabolism in the left frontoparietal cortex. Technetium-99m-ethyl cysteinate dimer single-photon emission computed tomography revealed hyperperfusion over the left parietal cortex and putamen. Here, we document the short-term effects of levetiracetam in this subject with nearly isolated ENM and the neuroimaging results during ENM. Long-term follow-up is in progress to evaluate the clinical evolution and long-term effects of levetiracetam on ENM.     

Bath-related thunderclap headache: a study of 21 consecutive patients

We consecutively recruited 21 patients (all women, mean 54 ± 8 years) with bath-related thunderclap headache (BRTH). Thirteen of them were in menopause, two had just ceased hormonal therapy, and one was at 3 months postpartum. Bathing was the initial trigger for thunderclap headaches in nine patients (43%). Many patients ( n  = 15, 71%) had other non-bath-related attacks. Most patients ( n  = 18, 86%) reported that the headache occurred immediately when water was sprayed over their body, with warm water (52%) as the most common. During the disease course [mean 14 days (6–34)], the mean number of BRTH was 5.1 ± 3.6 attacks. Nineteen patients (90%) changed bathing habits to prevent attacks. Thirteen patients (62%) had magnetic resonance angiography vasoconstrictions, and two of them (15%) developed reversible posterior encephalopathy. None of the patients without vasoconstrictions had this complication. Nimodipine was effective in stopping further attacks in 84% (16/19) treated patients. No relapse was reported at a mean follow-up of 30 months. BRTH occurred exclusively in women and predominantly in middle age. Deficiency or fluctuation of female sex hormones may play a role. About 60% patients showed cerebral vasospasms, fulfilling the diagnosis of reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome and indicating a risk of posterior encephalopathy.