Table of Contents
Editorial
Perspectives
Review Articles
Research Perspectives
Genetics Vignette
Brain
- T1 Gadolinium Enhancement of Intracranial Atherosclerotic Plaques Associated with Symptomatic Ischemic Presentations
The degree of contrast enhancement was assessed in 22 high-grade intracranial stenoses that were either symptomatic or asymptomatic. Seventy percent of symptomatic plaques showed contrast enhancement whereas this was seen in only 8% of those that were asymptomatic. This study suggests that intracranial stenoses can be evaluated with conventional MRI protocols and that there is a strong association between plaque contrast enhancement and ischemic symptoms.
- Higher Rates of Decline for Women and Apolipoprotein E ε4 Carriers
This study assesses the risk of being female in addition to the well-known factors of age and apolipoprotein E ε4 status in the development and progression of Alzheimer disease based on longitudinal brain atrophy, cognitive decline, and CSF markers. APOE ε4 accelerated rates of decline, especially in women. The gender effect was at least as important as APOE ε4 status and showed weaker relationships to CSF markers.
- Stroke-Like Migraine Attacks after Radiation Therapy (SMART) Syndrome Is Not Always Completely Reversible: A Case Series
Clinical and imaging findings in 11 patients with SMART syndrome were reviewed. All patients became symptomatic on average 20 years postirradiation and all showed unilateral gyriform cerebral enhancement that resolved spontaneously in 2–5 weeks though 45% had residual neurologic deficits. Twenty-seven percent of patients developed laminar necrosis and brain biopsies of 4 patients showed nonspecific findings.
Interventional
- Endovascular Treatment of Distal Anterior Cerebral Artery Aneurysms: Single-Center Experience and a Systematic Review
Results from a single center treating 20 patients with distal anterior cerebral artery aneurysms were analyzed and compared with those reported in a meta-analysis of 16 studies in the literature that included a total of 279 similar patients. These aneurysms may be treated with a high rate of success but complication rates are higher than those for aneurysms of the circle of Willis.
Extracranial Vascular
Head & Neck
Pediatrics
- Diffusion MRI Improves the Accuracy of Preoperative Diagnosis of Common Pediatric Cerebellar Tumors among Reviewers with Different Experience Levels
DWI studies of 96 cerebellar pediatric tumors were analyzed by neuroradiologists and residents in radiology during 2 sessions, one that included the DWI studies and one that did not. These observers were asked to categorize the masses as: astrocytoma, medulloblastoma, ependymoma, or atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumor. The addition of DWI resulted in significant improvement in the diagnosis of all tumors except ependymoma among all reviewers with different levels of experience.
- No Evidence for Impairment of Venous Hemodynamics in Children or Young Adults with Pediatric-Onset Multiple Sclerosis
The results of venous sonography, contrast-enhanced MRI, and MR venography in 26 pediatric patients with MS were compared with controls and 13 young adults with pediatric-onset MS. The authors concluded that chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency is rarely observed in children or young adults with pediatric-onset MS as venous anatomy and flow rates showed normal outflow in most subjects.
