Journal of neuroimaging : official journal of the American Society of Neuroimaging
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Review Case Reports
Evidence of acute ischemic tissue change in transient global amnesia in magnetic resonance imaging: case report and literature review.
Transient global amnesia is a benign syndrome of sudden-onset alteration of behavior with temporary dysfunction of anterograde and recent retrograde memory. Its neural substrates remain uncertain. ⋯ The authors report a case of a 62-year-old man with a transient attack of memory disturbance, suggestive of transient global amnesia, in which magnetic resonance imaging performed 48 hours after onset showed left mesial temporal lobe signal changes on diffusion-weighted imaging and fluid-attenuated inversion recovery images. The findings and a literature review lend further support to the ischemic pathogenesis of transient global amnesia as a possible etiology, and underscore the role of diffusion-weighted imaging in the diagnosis of this condition.
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Early and accurate diagnosis of cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT) is possible with the help of computed tomography (CT) scan and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Empty delta sign on postcontrast CT is present in only up to 30% of the cases. The role of CT venography is not yet established, but it is emerging as an effective modality for diagnosis of CVT. ⋯ Diffusion-weighted imaging is a relatively new MRI technique that is extremely sensitive in detecting acute arterial strokes and can distinguish cytotoxic and vasogenic edema. The presence of hyperintense signal on diffusion-weighted imaging in the occluded veins or sinuses at the time of diagnosis may predict a low rate of vessel recanalization. Contrast angiography should be strongly considered if isolated cortical vein thrombosis is suspected.