AJNR. American journal of neuroradiology
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AJNR Am J Neuroradiol · Feb 2018
White Matter Changes Related to Subconcussive Impact Frequency during a Single Season of High School Football.
The effect of exposing the developing brain of a high school football player to subconcussive impacts during a single season is unknown. The purpose of this pilot study was to use diffusion tensor imaging to assess white matter changes during a single high school football season, and to correlate these changes with impacts measured by helmet accelerometer data and neurocognitive test scores collected during the same period. ⋯ Our findings suggest that subclinical neurotrauma related to participation in American football may result in white matter injury and that alterations in white matter tracts within the limbic system may be detectable after only 1 season of play at the high school level.
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AJNR Am J Neuroradiol · Feb 2018
The CT Swirl Sign Is Associated with Hematoma Expansion in Intracerebral Hemorrhage.
Hematoma expansion is an independent determinant of poor clinical outcome in intracerebral hemorrhage. Although the "spot sign" predicts hematoma expansion, the identification requires CT angiography, which limits its general accessibility in some hospital settings. Noncontrast CT, without the need for CT angiography, may identify sites of active extravasation, termed the "swirl sign." We aimed to determine the association of the swirl sign with hematoma expansion. ⋯ The NCCT swirl sign was reliably identified and is associated with hematoma expansion. We propose that the swirl sign be included in risk stratification of intracerebral hemorrhage and considered for inclusion in clinical trials.
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AJNR Am J Neuroradiol · Feb 2018
Leukoaraiosis Attenuates Diagnostic Accuracy of Large-Vessel Occlusion Scales.
Prehospital stroke scales may help identify patients likely to have large-vessel occlusion to facilitate rapid triage to thrombectomy-capable stroke centers. Scale misclassification may result in inaccurate decisions and possible harm. Pre-existing leukoaraiosis has been shown to attenuate the association between deficit type and stroke severity. We sought to determine whether leukoaraiosis affects the predictive ability of 5 commonly used large-vessel occlusion scales. ⋯ The diagnostic accuracy of the tested large-vessel occlusion scales was attenuated in the presence of moderate-to-severe leukoaraiosis. This information that may aid the design of future studies that require large-vessel occlusion scale screening of patients who are likely to have concomitant leukoaraiosis.
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AJNR Am J Neuroradiol · Feb 2018
Clinical and Radiologic Characteristics of Deep Lumbosacral Dural Arteriovenous Fistulas.
Spinal dural arteriovenous fistulas located in the deep lumbosacral region are rare and the most difficult to diagnose among spinal dural arteriovenous fistulas located elsewhere in the spinal dura. Specific clinical and radiologic features of these fistulas are still inadequately reported and are the subject of this study. ⋯ Clinical symptoms caused by deep lumbosacral spinal dural arteriovenous fistulas are comparable with those of spinal dural arteriovenous fistulas at other locations. Medullary congestion in association with an enlargement of the filum vein or other lumbar radicular veins is a characteristic finding in these patients. Spinal time-resolved contrast-enhanced dynamic MRA facilitates the detection of the drainage vein and helps to localize deep lumbosacral-located fistulas with a high sensitivity before DSA. Definite detection of these fistulas remains challenging and requires sufficient visualization of the fistula-supplying arteries and draining veins by conventional spinal angiography.