Journal of neuroimaging : official journal of the American Society of Neuroimaging
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Recently, several studies reported increased signal intensity (SI) of the dentate nucleus (DN) on unenhanced T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) as a possible consequence of multiple applications of gadolinium-based contrast agents. The aim of this study was to investigate with sodium (23 Na) MRI possible tissue abnormalities of the DN in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. ⋯ Normal sodium signal in the T1-hyperintense DN in MS patients may point to relative tissue integrity despite gadolinium deposition in this area.
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Compared to the intracranial vasculature in sickle cell disease (SCD) patients, the morphologic changes of the extracranial vasculature in SCD patients are less well understood. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the tortuosity of the extracranial carotid and vertebral arteries in patients with SCD compared to age-matched controls. ⋯ Extracranial carotid and vertebral arterial tortuosity is increased in SCD patients. This could be related to aberrations in hemodynamics from nonlaminar flow in these vessels. These increases in extracranial vascular tortuosity could potentially lead to alterations in intracranial vascular tortuosity and may be an independent risk factor for cerebral infarct.
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Safety and Tolerability of SonoVue® in Patients with Large Artery Anterior Circulation Acute Stroke.
Ultrasound contrast agents (UCAs) are routinely used to improve the visualization of intracranial arteries. Since a higher rate of intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) has been observed in patients undergoing sonothrombolysis in combination with UCAs, we conducted this study with the aim of assessing safety and tolerability of SonoVue® in patients with acute ischemic stroke due to anterior circulation large artery occlusion (LAO) and eligible to intravenous thrombolysis and/or mechanical thrombectomy. ⋯ According to our study, SonoVue® can be safely administered to acute ischemic stroke patients with suspected anterior circulation LAO and/or inadequate temporal bone window.
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We report on the prognostic role of the cross-sectional area (CSA) enlargement and conduction block (CB) in radial neuropathy (Saturday night palsy [SNP]). ⋯ The CSA enlargement, but not the CB, seems to have a negative prognostic role in patients with SNP.
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Cerebral emboli are one potential cause of acute brain injury in children with congenital heart disease (CHD) undergoing cardiac catheterization. In this pilot study using transcranial Doppler (TCD) ultrasonography, we sought to evaluate the incidence, burden, and circumstances of cerebral high-intensity transient signals (HITS), presumably representing emboli, during pediatric cardiac catheterization. ⋯ HITS are common during pediatric cardiac catheterization, and associated with procedural factors. Whether curtains/clusters are worse than single, repetitive HITS is unknown. Larger studies are needed to determine whether HITS are a marker of risk of neurologic injury from emboli during pediatric cardiac catheterization.