AJNR. American journal of neuroradiology
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AJNR Am J Neuroradiol · Apr 2005
ReviewHemangioblastomas of the lower spinal region: report of four cases with preoperative embolization and review of the literature.
Hemangioblastomas (HBs) are rare lesions accounting for 1-5% of all spinal cord tumors. Seventy-five percent of spinal HBs are intramedullary. Lesions of the conus medullaris and the cauda equina are uncommon, and the filum terminale location is very rare. HBs of the lower spinal region are highly vascular tumors requiring surgery that is potentially complicated by excessive bleeding. In the literature, there are few reports concerning preoperative embolization of HBs, and only few cases are reported in spinal location. Presurgical embolization of HBs located in the lower spinal region has not been described. Although lower spinal HBs are predominantly fed by the anterior spinal artery (ASA), embolization of these lesions is possible and can reduce tumor vascular supply, thus facilitating surgery. We report our experience in four rare cases of solitary HBs occurring in the lower spinal region. ⋯ Our results indicate that preoperative embolization of HBs of the lower spinal region is an useful procedure in aiding surgical resection of these highly vascular tumors. With a meticulous technique, embolization can be performed through the ASA.
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AJNR Am J Neuroradiol · Apr 2005
The posterior lumbar ramus: CT-anatomic correlation and propositions of new sites of infiltration.
Lumbar zypapophyseal joints are innervated by the medial branch of the posterior lumbar ramus. The aim of this work was to describe the precise course of the medial ramus on axial CT scans and to define a precise location for its selective infiltration. ⋯ The accessory process and the groove bounded laterally by the ala of the sacrum and medially by the base of the superior articular process of S1 can be easily depicted on CT images and may allow a precise and selective infiltration of the medial branch of the posterior lumbar ramus.
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AJNR Am J Neuroradiol · Apr 2005
Clearing of red blood cells in lumbar puncture does not rule out ruptured aneurysm in patients with suspected subarachnoid hemorrhage but negative head CT findings.
In evaluating the results of lumbar puncture (LP), a decrease in the number of red blood cells (RBCs)/mm3 between the first and fourth tubes collected (clearing) has often been assumed to indicate a traumatic puncture rather than the presence of subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). We tested the hypothesis that, in the setting of severe headache, CSF clearing coupled with an unremarkable unenhanced CT scan was negatively predictive of the presence of aneurysm and could be used to reduce the need for conventional arteriography. ⋯ A 25% reduction in RBC concentration between the first and fourth tubes of CSF in patients with suspected SAH but negative CT findings occurs even in cases of ruptured aneurysms. Formal evaluation for the presence of an aneurysm is still necessary in this scenario.
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AJNR Am J Neuroradiol · Mar 2005
Comparative StudyCortical lesions in multiple sclerosis: combined postmortem MR imaging and histopathology.
Cortical lesions constitute a substantial part of the total lesion load in multiple sclerosis (MS) brain. They have been related to neuropsychological deficits, epilepsy, and depression. However, the proportion of purely cortical lesions visible on MR images is unknown. The aim of this study was to determine the proportion of intracortical and mixed gray matter (GM)-white matter (WM) lesions that can be visualized with postmortem MR imaging. ⋯ In contrast to WM lesions and mixed GM-WM lesions, intracortical lesions remain largely undetected with current MR imaging resolution.
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AJNR Am J Neuroradiol · Mar 2005
Comparative StudyDiagnostic and prognostic value of early MR Imaging vessel signs in hyperacute stroke patients imaged <3 hours and treated with recombinant tissue plasminogen activator.
Analogous to the CT hyperattenuated vessel sign (HMCAS), MR imaging may show hypo- or hyperintense vessels in acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients. We assessed the diagnostic and prognostic strength of early MR imaging vessel signs in AIS patients treated with intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) within 3 hours of the onset of symptoms. ⋯ Although early vessel signs can be helpful in the diagnosis of intravascular disease, they do not independently predict recanalization, ICH, or any of the three clinical outcomes in a multivariate logistic regression model. Thrombus composition as reflected by signal intensity characteristics on GRE and FLAIR does not predict the therapeutic effect of IVT.