Abnormal Signal Intensity Research Articles

Acute necrotizing encephalopathy of childhood secondary to influenza A H1N1 virus

Background: Acute necrotizing encephalopathy of childhood (ANEC) is a rare but distinctive type of encephalopathy predominantly involving infants and young children. This case report describes the characteristic neuroimaging findings which can aid in early diagnosis of ANEC. Case Presentation: An 11-year-old boy presented with a 2-day history of fever and flu-like illness and was given symptomatic treatment. He subsequently deteriorated on day 3 of illness with generalized tonic-clonic seizure and impaired consciousness. Magnetic resonance imaging done revealed abnormal signal intensities at bilateral thalami, brainstem, and cerebellum, which are suggestive of ANEC, correlating with his clinical presentation. Treatment was started immediately, but the patient had a very poor recovery. Conclusion: ANEC is a very rare encephalopathy and has very high mortality and morbidity with severe neurologic sequelae. Early diagnosis is important so that appropriate management can be provided.

Central patellar portal placement frequently provokes anterior knee compartment radiological abnormalities in anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.

A central patellar (CP) portal can be used to view the native femoral insertion site of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). It aids in the drilling of an anatomical tunnel; however, its impact on the patellar tendon and the infrapatellar fat pad remains a concern. The aim of this study was to investigate complications associated with the CP portal use in arthroscopic ACL reconstruction (ACLR). A total of 105 patients (107 knees, 60 females) who underwent ACLR with a CP portal from 2012 to 2017 were included in this study. The mean age was 28.3 ± 12.4years. All surgeries were single-bundle reconstructions using the trans-tibial technique via the CP and anteromedial portals. Post-operative events, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and arthroscopic findings associated with CP portal creation were evaluated. Five patients (4.7%) had symptomatic postoperative complications, which included two patients with patellar tendonitis and three patients with fibrosis in the anterior knee compartment. Abnormal signal intensity of the patellar tendon on MRI and increased thickness at the CP portal area were found in 18 of 25 knees (72%). Three of 56 knees (5.4%) that underwent second-look arthroscopy showed fibrosis of the infrapatellar fat pad. Seven patients (12.5%) showed hypertrophy of the ligamentum mucosum. The rate of symptomatic complications associated with CP portal placement was 4.7%; however, abnormal MRI or follow-up arthroscopy findings were much higher than clinically symptomatic patients. This study suggests that CP portal placement could provoke anterior knee compartment fibrosis or hypertrophy. IV.

An image processing algorithm to aid diagnosis of mesial temporal sclerosis in children: a case-control study.

Mesial temporal sclerosis (MTS) is an important cause of intractable epilepsy. Early and accurate diagnosis of MTS is essential to providing curative and life-changing therapy but can be challenging in children in whom the impact of diagnosis is particularly high. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) plays an important role in the diagnosis of MTS, and image processing of MRI is a recently studied strategy to improve its accuracy. In a retrospective case-control study, we assessed the performance of an image processing algorithm (Correlative Image Enhancement [CIE]) for detecting MTS-related hippocampal signal abnormality in children. Twenty-seven pediatric MTS cases (9 males, 18 females; mean age: 16±standard deviation [SD] 6.7years) were identified from a pathology database of amygdylo-hippocampectomies performed in children with epilepsy. Twenty-seven children with no seizure history (9 males, 18 females; mean age: 13.8±SD 2.8years), and with normal brain MRI, were identified for the control group. Blinded investigators processed the MRI coronal FLAIR (fluid-attenuated inversion recovery) images with CIE, saved the processed images as a separate series, and made equivalent region of interest measurements on the processed and unprocessed series to calculate contrast-to-noise ratio. Six blinded reviewers then rated the randomized series for hippocampal signal abnormality and MTS disease status. CIE increased signal intensity and contrast-to-noise ratio in 26/27 hippocampi with pathologically confirmed MTS (96.3%) with the mean (SD) contrast-to-noise ratio of cases increasing from 14.9 (11.1) to 77.7 (58.7) after processing (P<0.001). Contrast-to-noise ratio increased in 1/54 normal control hippocampi (1.9%), with no significant change in the mean contrast-to-noise ratio of the control group after processing (P=0.57). Mean (SD) reader sensitivity for detecting abnormal signal intensity increased from 83.3% (14.2) to 94.8% (3.3) after processing. Mean specificity for abnormal signal intensity increased from 94.4% (7.3) to 96.3% (0). While sensitivity improved after processing for detection of MTS disease status in 4/6 readers, the mean reader sensitivity and specificity for MTS detection increased only minimally after processing, from 79.6% to 80.7% and from 95.7% to 96.3%, respectively. The CIE image processing algorithm selectively increased the contrast-to-noise ratio of hippocampi affected by MTS, improved reader performance in detecting MTS-related hippocampal signal abnormality and could have high impact on pediatric patients undergoing work-up for seizures.

Sjogren-Larsson syndrome: Another differential diagnosis of multiple sclerosis in imaging of white matter diseases

Sjogren-Larsson syndrome(SLS) is an inherited autosomal recessive neurocutaneous disorder with congenital ichthyosis, spastic diplegia or quadriplegia and mental retardation. MRI finding such as seen in Multiple sclerosis(MS).So this rare syndrome can be another differential diagnosis of MS. Index patient was 34 year-old female who was admitted because of weakness and inability to walk. She had globaldevelopmental delay.Stiffness in lower limbs started in 4 years before,with progressive increase up to the time of presentation.Physical examination showed generalized dryness of skin most prominent on lower limbs with severe pruritus, that is icthyotic lesion. The nail, plams and soles were affected.She had short stature.In neurological examination she revealed mental retardation,spasticity in both lower limbs;brisk deep tendon reflexes and symmetric bilateral extensor plantar respones.Hoffman sign in upper limbs were detected.She had photophobia. EEG showed mild slowing over both hemispheres.MRI of the brian showed diffuse and no symmetrical plaques with high signal intensity on T2 weighted sequence in bilateral deep periventicular white matter and corpus callosum.Some of these lesion were also plumb to ventricular. The hallmark of SLS is demyelination of cerebral white matter and of the corticospinal and vesibulospinal tracts.MRI reveals abnormal high signal intensity on T2 weight and FLAIR sequences especially in periventicular frontal,parietal lobes,corpus callosum and corona radiata.Typically,subcortical white matter U fibers are spared.

Nontraumatic Spinal Cord Compression: MRI Primer for Emergency Department Radiologists.

The occurrence of acute myelopathy in a nontrauma setting constitutes a medical emergency for which spinal MRI is frequently ordered as the first step in the patient's workup. The emergency department radiologist should be familiar with the common differential diagnoses of acute myelopathy and be able to differentiate compressive from noncompressive causes. The degree of spinal cord compression and presence of an intramedullary T2-hyperintense signal suggestive of an acute cord edema are critical findings for subsequent urgent care such as surgical decompression. Importantly, a delay in diagnosis may lead to permanent disability. In the spinal canal, compressive myelopathy can be localized to the epidural, intradural extramedullary, or intramedullary anatomic spaces. Effacement of the epidural fat and the lesion's relation to the thecal sac help to distinguish an epidural lesion from an intradural lesion. Noncompressive myelopathy manifests as an intramedullary T2-hyperintense signal without an underlying mass and has a wide range of vascular, metabolic, inflammatory, infectious, and demyelinating causes with seemingly overlapping imaging appearances. The differential diagnosis can be refined by considering the location of the abnormal signal intensity within the cord, the longitudinal extent of the disease, and the clinical history and laboratory findings. Use of a compartmental spinal MRI approach in patients with suspected nontraumatic spinal cord injury helps to localize the abnormality to an epidural, intradural extramedullary, or intramedullary space, and when combined with clinical and laboratory findings, aids in refining the diagnosis and determining the appropriate surgical or nonsurgical management.Online supplemental material is available for this article.©RSNA, 2019.

Donor Site Evaluation After Osteochondral Autograft Transplantation for Capitellar Osteochondritis Dissecans

Background: Osteochondral autograft transplantation (OAT) for capitellar osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) requires harvesting of tissue from the asymptomatic knee joint. However, donor site morbidity (DSM) in such cases remains unclear. Purpose: To evaluate DSM and postoperative radiographic findings in patients undergoing OAT for advanced capitellar OCD. Study Design: Case series; Level of evidence, 4. Methods: Eighty-six juvenile athletes underwent OAT for advanced capitellar OCD. The 2000 International Knee Documentation Committee subjective score, rate of return to sports, and symptoms in the donor knee were assessed at a mean follow-up of 86 months (range, 28-185 months). Additionally, 49 of the 86 patients were assessed by radiographic and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings of the knee donor site. DSM was defined according to the usual criterion (persistent symptoms for >1 year or the need for subsequent intervention) and a stricter criterion (the presence of any symptoms, such as effusion, patellofemoral complaints, crepitation, unspecified disturbance, stiffness, pain/instability during activities, and osteoarthritic change). The stricter criterion was also used to allocate patients into a DSM group and a no-DSM group. Results: Two and 11 patients were determined to have DSM according to the usual and stricter criteria, respectively. All patients returned to the competitive level of their sports. The mean International Knee Documentation Committee score was 99.0. MRI findings showed abnormal signal intensity in 17 patients (35%) and hypertrophic changes in 11 patients (22%) at the donor harvest sites. The MOCART (magnetic resonance observation of cartilage repair tissue) score was higher in the no-DSM group (mean, 68.2) than in the DSM group (mean, 52.9) (P = .027). Conclusion: OAT for juvenile athletes with advanced capitellar OCD provided good clinical outcomes. The DSM rate was relatively low (2.3%) with the usual criterion but high (12.8%) with the stricter criterion. MRI showed an abnormal signal intensity and hypertrophy in some cases.

Rhabdomyolysis and muscle infarcts associated with intra-operative compression

Rhabdomyolysis and muscle infarcts associated with intra-operative compression

Identification of extremely rare mitochondrial disorders by whole exome sequencing.

Whole exome sequencing (WES) is an effective tool for the genetic diagnosis of mitochondrial disorders due to various nuclear genetic defects. In this study, three patients affected by extremely rare mitochondrial disorders caused by nuclear genetic defects are described. The medical records of each patient were reviewed to obtain clinical symptoms, results of biochemical and imaging studies, and muscle biopsies. WES and massive parallel sequencing of whole mtDNA were performed for each patient. The oxygen consumption rate (OCR) and complex activity I and IV was measured. Patients 1 and 2 had exhibited global developmental delay and seizure since early infancy. Blood lactate, the lactate-to-pyruvate ratio, and urinary excretion of Krebs cycle intermediates were markedly elevated. Patient 1 also was noted for ophthalmoplegia. Patient 2 had left ventricular hypertrophy and ataxia. Patient 3 developed dysarthria, gait disturbance, and right-side weakness at age 29. Brain magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated abnormal signal intensity involving the bilateral thalami, midbrain, or pons. Based on WES, patient 1 had p.Glu415Gly and p.Arg484Trp variants in MTO1. In patient 2, p.Gln111ThrfsTer5 and RNA mis-splicing were identified in TSFM. Patient 3 carried p.Met151Thr and p.Met246Lys variants in AARS2. Skin fibroblasts of three patients exhibited decreased OCRs and complex 1 activity, and mitochondrial DNA was normal. These results demonstrate the utility of WES for identifying the genetic cause of extremely rare mitochondrial disorders, which has implications for genetic counseling.

Imaging features of discospondylitis in cats.

This study describes the imaging features of feline discospondylitis on MRI, comparing them with CT and radiographic findings where available. The medical records of cats diagnosed with discospondylitis, presented to three referring institutions, were reviewed. MRI, CT and radiographic features were assessed by two of the authors independently. Fourteen sites of discospondylitis were retrospectively identified in 13 cats. The L7-S1 intervertebral disc space (IVDS) was affected in 7/14 (50%) cases. Characteristic MRI features included a hyperintense nucleus pulposus signal on T2-weighted (T2W) imaging (n = 10/14 [71%]) and short tau inversion recovery (STIR) imaging (n = 11/13 [85%]), with contrast enhancement in all (n = 11/11); involvement of adjacent vertebral endplates (n = 11/14 [79%]) and hyperintense neighbouring soft tissue on T2W (n = 11/14 [79%]) and STIR (n = 10/13 [77%]), with contrast enhancement in all (n = 11/11); and the presence of spondylosis deformans (n = 10/14 [71%]). Other features included narrowed or collapsed IVDS (n = 8/14 [57%]), contrast enhancement of vertebral bodies (n = 5/11 [46%]), epidural space involvement (n = 5/14 [36%]), compression of the spinal cord or nerve roots (n = 5/14 [36%]), paraspinal abscessation (n = 3/14 [21%]) and meningeal signal intensity abnormalities with contrast enhancement (n = 5/6 [83%]). These latter findings may indicate secondary focal meningitis. Radiographs were available covering five sites (in four cats) and CT covering three sites (in two cats). The most common radiological features were collapse or narrowing of the affected IVDS (80%) and endplate erosion (60%). No changes suggestive of discospondylitis were identifiable on radiography or CT in two sites (one cat), despite being identifiable on MRI. Repeated radiography in one case did not reveal complete radiological resolution following 9 months of treatment. The results of this study indicate consistent MRI features of feline discospondylitis that should be considered in the diagnosis of this condition.

Diagnostic imaging features of Menkes disease

Objective To analyze the imaging features of Menkes disease in children, and in order to identify the diagnostic value and improve the knowledge of it. Methods The imaging findings of 9 Menkes disease patients confirmed by the clinical and laboratory examinations were retrospectively analyzed. All the patients were male aged from 2.0 to 7.0 months with a median age of 3.0 months. The clinical manifestations including seizures, psychomotor retardation, dystonia accompanied with light complexion and curly hair. The laboratory examinations showed low serum copper and ceruloplasmin levels. All the patients were performed with plain MR scan and MR angiography, 7 cases were performed with chest X-ray examinations and 4 cases were performed with bone X-ray examinations and 1 were performed with hand X-ray examinations. Results The plain MR scan showed white matter lesions in 8 cases, abnormality signal intensity of basal ganglia in 4 cases, subdural effusion in 2 cases. 8 cases had cerebral and cerebellar atrophy at different degrees. The MR angiography showed abnormal tortuosity of the main intracranial arteries. The chest X-ray of 5 in 7 cases showed that the front end of bilateral ribs were spherical and enlarged. 4 cases were performed with bone X-ray presenting, 3 out of 4 cases showed the widened metaphysis of tibia, fibula, femoral, humerus ulna and radius with the shape like cup-mouth and the formation of bony spur locally. The X ray examination of 1 case with connecting palm showed symphysodactylia. Conclusion Brain MR, X-ray of chest and bone showed imaging features of Menkes disease. MR angiography finding was the most distinctive feature, which has important value in the diagnosis of Menkes disease. Key words: Menkes disease; Magnetic resonance imaging; Copper

Progressive Site-Directed Therapy for Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer: Localization of the Progressive Site as a Prognostic Factor

Locoregional therapy for oligometastatic prostate cancer has generated great interest. However, its benefit for castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) has not been fully demonstrated. Our objective was to evaluate the treatment outcome of progressive site-directed therapy (PSDT) for oligoprogressive CRPC (OP-CRPC). This study cohort consisted of 101 patients with CRPC who underwent whole-body diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging between 2014 and 2018, when a new line of anticancer therapy was being considered. For OP-CRPC, PSDT with radiation therapy and unchanged continuation of systemic therapy were recommended. Thirty-eight patients received a diagnosis of OP-CRPC, and 23 (61%) underwent PSDT at a median prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level of 7.8 ng/mL. The regional radiation therapy targets were the prostate/pelvic lymph nodes (n = 7), bone (n = 15), or both (n=1). A decrease in PSA levels of at least 50% in response to PSDT (50% PSA decline) was observed in 16 cases (70%); the median time to PSA progression was 8.7 months. Intrapelvic localization of progressive lesions was a significant predictor of time to PSA progression (hazard ratio, 6.6; P = .007) as well as volumes of abnormal signal intensity on whole-body diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (hazard ratio, 0.5; P = .045). A 50% PSA decline was achieved in 16 of the 18 patients with intrapelvic OP-CRPC (89%) and in none of the 5 patients with non-intrapelvic OP-CRPC (P < .001). Intrapelvic OP-CRPC had a significantly longer time to PSA progression than non-intrapelvic OP-CRPC (10.1 vs 4.8 months, P = .0014). PSDT can be an effective treatment option for OP-CRPC. Progressive site localization was an important factor in good PSA response.

PRES Associated with Eclampsia: A Case Report

The occurrence of posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) in patients with eclampsia is a rare condition. PRES is a reversible syndrome characterized by headache, seizure, altered mentation and loss of vision associated with white matter changes on imaging. The lesions in PRES are thought to be due to vasogenic oedema, predominantly in the posterior cerebral hemispheres. This study reports a 32-year-old pregnant woman who presented with headache, dimness of vision, right sided weakness and seizure. The MRI of her brain showed abnormal signal intensity in the white matter of the occipital and parietal lobes. She was treated successfully with pregnancy termination, anti-hypertensives, anticonvulsants, and supportive care. It is concluded that early diagnosis is important to prevent permanent neurologic damage and mortality.&#x0D; Bangladesh J Medicine July 2019; 30(2) : 104-107

Global brain ischemia in a dog with concurrent multiorgan dysfunction syndrome after bite wound trauma

BackgroundBite wounds are one of the most common traumatic injuries in dogs and depending on their severity, location, etc., urgent care including antibiotic therapy may be necessary. Serious complications can result from these injuries, such as multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS), as well as a generalized reduction in cerebral perfusion, e.g. during cardiac arrest, shock, or severe hypotension that may cause global brain ischemia (GBI).Case presentationA 5-year-old spayed female Maltese dog was presented with generalized seizures, ataxia, and obtunded mentation. The dog was injured by severe bite wounds that penetrated its abdomen and had received blood transfusions, antibiotic therapy (including metronidazole and cefazoline) and underwent emergency surgery 4 days before its visit. Based on a clinical examination, intracranial hypoxic damage with elevated intra-cranial pressure and MODS were highly suspected, and GBI was confirmed following magnetic resonance imaging. Increased signal intensity diffusely distributed in the olfactory bulb and frontal, temporal, and parietal grey matter was evident on the T2-weighted and fluid attenuated inversion recovery transverse images, along with corresponding high signal intensity observed on diffusion weighted imaging. During the 10-month follow-up period, the clinical signs gradually improved, but intermittent circling and cognitive dysfunction deficits remained.ConclusionsGBI should be included among the differential diagnoses in case of any peracute non-progressive neurological dysfunction that occurs with episodes of hypotension or hypoxia. The abnormal signal intensity observed on diffusion weighted imaging was a useful indicator for diagnosing this condition. Long-term medical management with antibiotics and anti-convulsant and anti-oxidant therapies were considered to be helpful in managing the GBI concurrent with MODS in this dog.

Platelet-rich plasma combined with allograft to treat osteochondritis dissecans of the knee: a case report

BackgroundOsteochondritis dissecans of the knee is a prevalent pathology in young, active people that is brought about by either traumatic, developmental, or iatrogenic etiologies.Case presentationA 40-year-old Caucasian man reporting pain, swelling, and functional reduction was evaluated and diagnosed with internal condyle osteochondritis dissecans of the knee. Harnessing the trophic, chondroprotective, anti-inflammatory, and immunomodulatory properties of platelet-rich plasma, we carried out a knee open-sky surgical technique in which we combined autologous therapy with osteochondral allograft to treat the focal, large, and deep traumatic-iatrogenic osteochondritis dissecans of the knee. The axial computed tomographic scan taken 1 year after surgery revealed an area of abnormal signal intensity that was reduced on a computed tomographic scan 2 years later. The computed tomographic scan obtained 2 years later and the magnetic resonance imaging scan 3 years later also showed a clear reattachment and incorporation of the graft. Seven years after the surgery, the patient resumed his daily routine without any recurrent symptoms.ConclusionPlatelet-rich plasma application in osteochondral allograft implantation open surgery could enhance the healing process of medial condyle osteochondritis dissecans of the knee.

Assessment of Bone Marrow Status in Different Hematological Diseases Using Diffusion Weighted Image (DWI)– and Apparent Diffusion Coefficient (ADC)–MRI Technique

Assessing the value of diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) in normal bone marrow (BM) tissue as well as in benign and malignant hematological diseases in comparison with BM histopathologic report. A cohort cross-sectional study performed from October 2016 till December 2017 in Al-Imamian Al-Khadimain Medical City. Forty patients were enrolled and segregated equally into two main groups (benign and malignant hematological disorders with another 20 healthy volunteers (control group). Hematology data were recorded for all patients in addition to DWI-MRI and ADC mapping in comparison with bone marrow report for the group of malignant hematological disease in terms of blast cell percentage. Conventional MRI reveals abnormal signal intensity in 85% of the malignant cases with different pattern. While 95% of the benign and 100% of control group had normal signal intensity with P value (P = 0.001). Application of DWI-ADC on three groups of sample reveals a variable range of ADC values which is higher in malignant (225–875 × 10−6 mm2\s) than benign (275–600 × 10−6 mm2\s) and control cases (205–560 × 10−6 mm2\s) with a cut-off value of 550 × 10−6 mm2\s. There was a positive correlation between ADC values and blast % in bone marrow histopathological report with correlation coefficient of 0.75 and P value of 0.05. Both DWI-MRI and ADC are useful in BM assessment. The latter is a quantitative assay for the diffusion and can reflect a functional assessment in correlation with blast cell percentage.

Etiology of 305 cases of refractory hematospermia and therapeutic options by emerging endoscopic technology

To investigate the surgical outcomes of vesiculoscopy on refractory hematospermia and ejaculatory duct obstruction (EDO), the clinical data (including pelvic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examinations and the long-term effects of endoscopic treatment) from 305 patients were analyzed. Four main etiologic groups were found on MRI. We found that 62.0% (189/305) of patients showed abnormal signal intensity in MRI investigations in the seminal vesicle (SV) area. Cystic lesions were observed in 36.7% (112/305) of the patients. The third sign was dilatation or enlargement of unilateral or bilateral SV, which were observed in 32.1% (98/305) of the patients. The fourth sign was stone formation in SV or in an adjacent cyst, which was present in 8.5% (26/305) of the patients. The transurethral endoscopy or seminal vesiculoscopy and the related procedures, including fenestration in prostatic utricle (PU), irrigation, lithotripsy, stone removal, biopsy, electroexcision, fulguration, or transurethral resection/incision of the ejaculatory duct (TURED/TUIED), chosen according to the different situations of individual patients were successfully performed in 296 patients. Fenestrations in PU+ seminal vesiculoscopy were performed in 66.6% (197/296) of cases. Seminal vesiculoscopy via the pathological opening in PU was performed in 10.8% (32/296) of cases. TURED/TUIED + seminal vesiculoscopy was performed in 12.8% (38/296) of cases, and seminal vesiculoscopy by the natural orifices of the ejaculatory duct (ED) was performed in 2.4% (7/296) of cases. Electroexcision and fulguration to the abnormal blood vessels or cavernous hemangioma at posterior urethra were performed in 7.4% (22/296) of cases. Two hundred and seventy-one patients were followed up for 6–72 months. The hematospermia of all the patients disappeared within 2–6 weeks, and 93.0% of the patients showed no further hematospermia during follow-up. No obvious postoperative complications were observed. The transurethral seminal vesiculoscopy technique and related procedures are safe and effective approaches for refractory hematospermia and EDO.

Excessive Sodium Bicarbonate Infusion May Result in Osmotic Demyelination Syndrome During Treatment of Diabetic Ketoacidosis: A Case Report.

IntroductionWe present a case wherein diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) was treated with a large amount of sodium bicarbonate and potassium chloride, resulting in the development of osmotic demyelination syndrome (ODS).Case presentationOur patient was a 29-year-old male with a history of post-surgical repair for ventricular septal defect. Upon arrival, the patient’s Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score was E2M4V3. Laboratory examinations revealed leukocytosis, severe metabolic acidosis, hypokalemia, and hyperglycemia. His consciousness status and hemodynamics improved after resuscitation (GCS: E3M6Ve). However, they declined at the 40th hour of admission and dropped to GCS E2M2Ve. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed multifocal abnormal signal intensity changes in the whole brain stem. The diagnosis of type 1 diabetes mellitus was made during the hospitalization period. The patient exhibited improved consciousness status after 17-day medical care at the ICU.ConclusionsWe recommend that in the case of DKA, the correction of hypokalemia should be prioritized during treatment. Sodium bicarbonate infusion should be reserved for pH < 6.9. In addition, close monitoring of the serum sodium level and prompt actions to lower it if it exceeds the threshold may be necessary.

Meningeal carcinomatosis from bladder cancer: A case report and review of the literature.

A 66-year-old Japanese male patient was referred to Saitama Medical University International Medical Center for treatment of bladder cancer (clinical stage T2 or higher without metastasis), and underwent radical cystectomy with pelvic lymphadenectomy. The histopathological diagnosis was high-grade urothelial carcinoma (pathological stage T2bN2, ly1, v0) and 2 cycles of adjuvant systemic chemotherapy (gemcitabine plus cisplatin) were administered. At 15 months after the operation, mediastinal and lung hilar lymph nodes and multiple bone metastases were identified on computed tomography imaging. After 3 cycles of the previous regimen as salvage systemic chemotherapy, the lymph node metastases had shrunk and the bone metastases were stable; therefore, further chemotherapy was planned. At 26 days after the initiation of the 4th cycle, the patient felt nausea and lower limb weakness. Spinal and brain magnetic resonance imaging with contrast medium revealed diffuse enhancement at the surface of the spinal cord and brain. In addition, abnormal signal intensity in the subarachnoid space was observed on fluid-attenuated inversion recovery imaging; therefore, the patient was diagnosed with meningeal carcinomatosis (MC). Treatment, including whole-brain radiotherapy, was planned for MC; however, the patient's condition rapidly worsened and he succumbed to the disease 14 days after the diagnosis of MC. The definitive diagnosis of MC was confirmed at autopsy.

TRENDS IN ACUTE CORONARY SYNDROME INCIDENCE, INVASIVE MANAGEMENT AND MORTALITY OUTCOMES IN NEW ZEALAND 2006-2016: A NATIONAL ANZACS-QI DATA LINKAGE STUDY

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Abnormal signals in brain DWI may appear in patients with HE. The aim of this study was to compare the clinical condition and various physiologic factors between patients with HE with and without abnormal signal intensity changes on DWI. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively enrolled patients with HE who underwent brain DWI studies from January 2002 to November 2010. A diagnosis of HE was defined as low serum glucose levels ( RESULTS: Nine patients with HE were included, and 3 of them (33%) had abnormal signals on brain DWI. There was a trend toward serum calcium concentrations being lower in patients with normal findings on DWI studies compared with patients with abnormal DWI signals (7.6 ± 1.7 versus 9.4 ± 0.7 mg/dL, P = .07). Serum glucose concentration, duration of hypoglycemia, consciousness levels, other physiologic parameters, and clinical outcome did not reveal any differences between the 2 groups. CONCLUSIONS: One-third of patients with HE had abnormal signals on brain DWI, and patients with low serum calcium levels may be less likely to present with abnormal DWI signals.

High signal-intensity abnormalities in susceptibility-weighted imaging for primary intracerebral hemorrhage

Purpose: To identify the regularity of signal evolution of intracerebral hemorrhage on susceptibility-weighted imaging (SWI) at different stages compared with T1-weighted imaging (T1WI) and T2-weighted imaging (T2WI).Methods: We retrospectively evaluated a series of 365 patients who underwent T1WI, T2WI, and SWI examination simultaneously or sequentially in our hospital from January 2015 to May 2017. Two neuroradiologists assessed the images and discrepancies between their interpretations were resolved by consensus. Statistical analysis was performed using Chi-squared and Kappa tests.Results: Of the 365 patients on SWI sequence, 94 were enrolled. SWI detected the cases at different stages; T1WI detected 89 cases and T2WI detected 91 cases. The signal intensity of intracerebral hemorrhage on SWI was significantly associated with T1WI imaging and T2WI (χ2 = 4.651; p < 0.05; χ2 = 26.396; p < 0.01, respectively), especially at the late subacute stage. There was moderate consistency between the signal intensity of intracerebral hemorrhage on T2WI and SWI (Kappa coefficient = 0.530).Conclusion: Intracerebral hemorrhage has a varied appearance on SWI, and the evolution of signal of intracerebral hemorrhage on SWI sequence is influenced by T1WI and T2WI. Hematoma detection should be closely combined with clinical manifestation.