Follow-up Brain Magnetic Resonance Imaging Research Articles

Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy associated with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder: A rare case report

IntroductionChronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy (CIDP) is a rare disease that targets the myelin sheath, while neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) with anti-aquaporin-4 antibodies (AQP4-Ab) affects astrocytes. We report a unique case of CIDP associated with NMOSD. Case presentationA 49-year-old woman presented to the emergency department with recurrent episodes of vertigo and blurred vision. Brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with contrast eight months before admission showed Dawson’s finger, and follow-up brain MRI showed a new hyperintense lesion. Visual evoked potential showed bilateral pre-chiasma lesions, and somatosensory evoked potential indicated lesions between the medulla and cerebral cortex. The patient tested positive for AQP4-Ab, and had ascending lower motor neuron weakness for the past 10 weeks. Electromyography revealed multiple demyelinating lesions suggestive of CIDP. The patient was intravenously administered corticosteroids, methotrexate, and azathioprine, resulting in clinical improvement. ConclusionCIDP associated with NMOSD is a rare occurrence. In our patient, a combination of corticosteroids and immunosuppressants was effective. The mechanism of combined demyelination of the central and peripheral nervous systems is still not fully understood, and further immunological and pathological studies are needed.

Abstract TP221: Progression of Intracranial Artery Stenosis and Cerebral Small Vessel Disease and Associations Between the Two Entities: A Prospective Community-Based Cohort Study

Background: Both intracranial artery stenosis (ICAS) and cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD) can cause heavy socioeconomic burdens. However, their longitudinal changes remain controversial. To investigate the risk factors for ICAS and CSVD progression and their associations in a community population. Methods: This longitudinal analysis included 756 participants who underwent both baseline and follow-up brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and magnetic resonance angiography from Shunyi cohort. The follow-up duration was 5.58±0.49 years. Incident ICAS was defined as new stenosis occurring in at least one artery or increased severity of the original artery stenosis. CSVD markers included lacunes, cerebral microbleeds (CMB), and white matter hyperintensities (WMH). Results: Of the 756 participants (aged 53.7±8.0 years, 34.9% men), 8.5% had incident ICAS. Body mass index (BMI) and diabetes mellitus are independent risk factors for ICAS. Hypertension is an independent risk factor for incident lacunes and CMB, whereas WMH progression is primarily affected by BMI. Higher LDL cholesterol level independently protects against WMH progression. Baseline ICAS burden predicted an increased risk of incident lacunes (odds ratio [OR] = 2.17, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.10-4.29, p = 0.025) after adjusting for age, sex, follow-up time, vascular risk factors, and baseline lacunes burden. Incident ICAS was also significantly associated with incident lacunes (OR = 3.29, 95% CI = 1.61-6.72, p = 0.001). No significant correlation was identified between ICAS and CMB or WMH. Conclusions: Patients with ICAS and CSVD progression had different modifiable risk factor profiles. The disparate association between ICAS and progressions of different MRI markers of CSVD imply vital differences of their underline mechanism.

Psychometric evaluation of the 5-item Medication Adherence Report Scale questionnaire in persons with multiple sclerosis.

The 5-item Medication Adherence Report Scale (MARS-5) is a reliable and valid questionnaire for evaluating adherence in patients with asthma, hypertension, and diabetes. Validity has not been determined in multiple sclerosis (MS). We aimed to establish criterion validity and reliability of the MARS-5 in persons with MS (PwMS). Our prospective study included PwMS on dimethyl fumarate (DMF). PwMS self-completed the MARS-5 on the same day before baseline and follow-up brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) 3 and 9 months after treatment initiation and were graded as highly and medium adherent upon the 24-cut-off score, established by receiver operator curve analysis. Health outcomes were represented by relapse occurrence from the 1st DMF dispense till follow-up brain MRI and radiological progression (new T2 MRI lesions and quantitative analysis) between baseline and follow-up MRI. Criterion validity was established by association with the Proportion of Days Covered (PDC), new T2 MRI lesions, and Beliefs in Medicines questionnaire (BMQ). The reliability evaluation included internal consistency and the test-retest method. We included 40 PwMS (age 37.6 ± 9.9 years, 75% women), 34 were treatment-naive. No relapses were seen during the follow-up period but quantitative MRI analysis showed new T2 lesions in 6 PwMS. The mean (SD) MARS-5 score was 23.1 (2.5), with 24 PwMS graded as highly adherent. The higher MARS-5 score was associated with higher PDC (b = 0.027, P<0.001, 95% CI: (0.0134-0.0403)) and lower medication concerns (b = -1.25, P<0.001, 95% CI: (-1.93-(-0,579)). Lower adherence was associated with increased number (P = 0.00148) and total volume of new T2 MRI lesions (P = 0.00149). The questionnaire showed acceptable internal consistency (Cronbach α = 0.72) and moderate test-retest reliability (r = 0.62, P < 0.0001, 95% CI: 0.33-0.79). The MARS-5 was found to be valid and reliable for estimating medication adherence and predicting medication concerns in persons with MS.

Low-Energy Transcranial Navigation-Guided Focused Ultrasound for Neuropathic Pain: An Exploratory Study.

Neuromodulation using high-energy focused ultrasound (FUS) has recently been developed for various neurological disorders, including tremors, epilepsy, and neuropathic pain. We investigated the safety and efficacy of low-energy FUS for patients with chronic neuropathic pain. We conducted a prospective single-arm trial with 3-month follow-up using new transcranial, navigation-guided, focused ultrasound (tcNgFUS) technology to stimulate the anterior cingulate cortex. Eleven patients underwent FUS with a frequency of 250 kHz and spatial-peak temporal-average intensity of 0.72 W/cm2. A clinical survey based on the visual analog scale of pain and a brief pain inventory (BPI) was performed during the study period. The average age was 60.55 ± 13.18 years-old with a male-to-female ratio of 6:5. The median current pain decreased from 10.0 to 7.0 (p = 0.021), median average pain decreased from 8.5 to 6.0 (p = 0.027), and median maximum pain decreased from 10.0 to 8.0 (p = 0.008) at 4 weeks after treatment. Additionally, the sum of daily life interference based on BPI was improved from 59.00 ± 11.66 to 51.91 ± 9.18 (p = 0.021). There were no side effects such as burns, headaches, or seizures, and no significant changes in follow-up brain magnetic resonance imaging. Low-energy tcNgFUS could be a safe and noninvasive neuromodulation technique for the treatment of chronic neuropathic pain.

Brain Magnetic Resonance Imaging Abnormalities in Acute Flaccid Myelitis

BackgroundAcute flaccid myelitis (AFM) presents with acute onset of flaccid paralysis with involvement of the gray matter on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the spinal cord. Studies have reported brain MRI abnormalities, but the characteristics have not been fully defined. In this multicenter study, we assessed the acute features and evolution of brain MRI abnormalities in AFM. MethodsWe reviewed brain MRIs of patients with AFM who presented to four referral hospitals between 2012 and 2018. Cases met established criteria for AFM. We analyzed the initial and follow-up brain MRIs. Areas were divided into supratentorial, infratentorial, and subdivisions within those regions. ResultsA total of 66 patients were included. Brain MRI abnormalities were present in 34 (52%). Infratentorial abnormalities were more common, occurring in 33 (97%) cases with the dorsal pons being the most frequently affected area (88%). Abnormalities were also present in the medulla (74%), cerebellum (41%), and midbrain (38%). Nine subjects (26%) exhibited both supratentorial and infratentorial abnormalities, whereas isolated supratentorial changes were present in only one (3%). Contrast-enhancing abnormalities were encountered in 9% of cases and meningeal involvement in 6%. On follow-up, most abnormalities, 20 of 24 (83%), were stable, improving, or had resolved. ConclusionsBrain MRI abnormalities occur in about half of the cases of AFM and commonly resolve with time. Dorsal pontine involvement is a characteristic MRI feature, whereas isolated supratentorial abnormalities are rare. Clinicians should consider that brain imaging abnormalities do not exclude a diagnosis of AFM in patients with typical presentations.

Shigella-associated mild encephalitis with reversible splenial lesion in Hospital Center Delafontaine, Saint-Denis, France: a case report

BackgroundMild encephalitis with reversible splenial lesion of the corpus callosum (MERS) is a clinical/radiological syndrome characterized by hyperintense signal changes in the splenium of the corpus callosum visible on diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) in the brain Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) associated with various neurological symptoms. Progression is usually favorable with disappearance of the MRI brain lesion and regression of clinical symptoms over a few days to a few weeks. The exact pathophysiology remains unclear. MERS can be associated with various pathogens.Case presentationWe report here a paediatric case of MERS associated with Shigella flexneri infection. A five-year-old boy with no relevant past medical history presented with symptoms such as headache, fever, profuse diarrhea and hallucinations.A brain Magnetic Resonance Imaging performed on Day 2 of the symptoms revealed hyperintense signal changes of the splenium of the corpus callosum in T2 FLAIR sequence. This infection had a favorable outcome after antibiotic therapy. No further recurrence of symptoms was observed and a follow-up clinical examination eight weeks later was normal. A follow-up brain Magnetic Resonance Imaging three months after discharge was also normal and the hyperintense signal changes of the splenium of the corpus callosum had disappeared completely.ConclusionsMERS is a clinical/radiological syndrome with a generally good prognosis.We believe that this is the first description of a case of Shigella-associated MERS.It is useful to know about this condition to help distinguish it from acute disseminated encephalomyelitis.

Posterior Reversible Encephalopathy (PRES) as a Presentation Form of Classical Polyarteritis Nodosa (PAN)

A 21-year-old woman with unremarkable past health presented with an intense headache and visual disturbance, followed by a secondary generalized tonic-clonic focal seizure. She had a history of arthritis, livedo reticularis, myalgia, elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and nonspecific constitutional manifestations (fever and weight loss). Examination revealed new-onset severe hypertension. Complete immunological studies were negative. Electroencephalogram showed abnormalities compatible with secondarily generalized tonic–clonic focal occipital seizures. Brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed high signal intensity on T2 in occipital lobes, cerebellum, and brainstem and renal imaging multiple hypoenhancing parenchymal images (renal infarction). Follow-up brain MRI at 3 months showed marked improvement. A diagnosis of polyarteritis nodosa with posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome was made.

Differing clinical features between Japanese siblings with cerebrotendinous xanthomatosis with a novel compound heterozygous CYP27A1 mutation: a case report

BackgroundCerebrotendinous xanthomatosis (CTX) is an autosomal-recessive lipid storage disorder caused by mutations in the CYP27A1 gene encoding the key enzyme in the bile acid synthesis, sterol 27-hydroxylase. Here, we report two Japanese CTX siblings with a novel compound heterozygous CYP27A1 mutation, showing different clinical phenotypes and responses to chenodeoxycholic acid (CDCA) therapy.Case presentationThe proband, a 32-year-old man, who had chronic diarrhea, bilateral cataracts, and xanthomas, demonstrated progressive neurological manifestations including ataxia, and spastic paraplegia during a 5-year follow-up period despite normalization of serum cholestanol after initiation of CDCA treatment. He also exhibited cognitive decline although improvement had been observed at the beginning of treatment. Follow-up brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed pronounced progressive atrophy in the cerebellum, in addition to expanding hyperintense lesions in the dentate nuclei, posterior limb of the internal capsule, cerebral peduncles, and inferior olives on T2-weighted images. In contrast, the two-year-younger sister of the proband presented with chronic diarrhea, cataracts, xanthomas, and intellectual disability but no other neurological symptoms at the time of diagnosis. CDCA treatment lead to improvement of cognitive function and there were no characteristic CTX-related MRI features during the follow-up period. The siblings shared a paternally inherited c.1420C > T mutation (p.Arg474Trp) and a maternally inherited novel c.1176_1177delGA mutation, predicting p.(Glu392Asp*20).ConclusionsOur cases suggest that early diagnosis and subsequent initiation of CDCA treatment are crucial before the appearance of characteristic MRI findings and severe neurological manifestations related to CTX. Further studies are required to elucidate mechanisms responsible for the clinical diversity of CTX and prognostic factors for long-term outcomes following initiation of CDCA treatment.

Comparison of Dabigatran Versus Warfarin Treatment for Prevention of New Cerebral Lesions in Valvular Atrial Fibrillation

Warfarin is the standard anticoagulation therapy for valvular atrial fibrillation (AF); however, new oral anticoagulants have emerged as an alternative. We compared the efficacy and safety of dabigatran with conventional treatment in AF associated with left-sided valvular heart disease (VHD), including mitral stenosis (MS). Patients with AF and left-sided VHD were randomly assigned to receive dabigatran or conventional treatment. The primary end point was the occurrence of clinical stroke or a new brain lesion (silent brain infarct and microbleed) on 1-year follow-up brain magnetic resonance imaging. Patients in the dabigatran group were switched from warfarin (n=52), antiplatelets alone (n=5), or no therapy (n=2) to dabigatran. In the conventional group, 53 used warfarin (including 42 MS patients), and 7 used antiplatelets. No death or clinical stroke event occurred in either group during follow-up. Silent brain infarct and microbleed occurred in 20 and 2 patients in the dabigatran group and 20 and 4 patients in the conventional treatment group. The incidence rate of the primary end point did not significantly differ between groups (34% vs 40%, relative risk 0.87, 95% confidence interval 0.59 to 1.29, p=0.491). The primary end point rate was similar between groups in 82 patients (40 in the dabigatran group and 42 in the conventional group) with MS (32% vs 34%, relative risk 0.93, 95% confidence interval: 0.57 to 1.50, p=0.759). In conclusion, primary end point rates after treatment with dabigatran were similar to conventional treatment in patients with significant VHD and AF. New oral anticoagulants could be a reasonable alternative to warfarin in patients with AF and VHD, which should be confirmed in future large-scale studies.

High Social Risk Influence Progression of White Matter Hyperintensities of Presumed Vascular Origin: A Prospective Study in Community-Dwelling Older Adults.

Information on cerebrovascular consequences of high social risk, as determined by the social determinants of health, is limited. We sought to evaluate the impact of high social risk on the progression of white matter hyperintensities (WMHs) of presumed vascular origin. Following a longitudinal prospective study design, participants of the Atahualpa Project Cohort received baseline social risk determinations by means of social determinants of health components included in the Gijon's Social-Familial Evaluation Scale together with clinical interviews and brain magnetic resonance imagings. Those who also received follow-up brain magnetic resonance imaging at the end of the study were included. We used Poisson regression models adjusted for demographics, education levels and traditional cardiovascular risk factors to assess the incidence rate ratio of WMH progression according to the Gijon's Social-Familial Evaluation Scale score. The study included 263 individuals aged ≥60 years (mean age, 65.7±6.2 years; 57% women). The Gijon's Social-Familial Evaluation Scale mean score was 8.9±2.2 points. Follow-up magnetic resonance imagings revealed WMH progression in 103 (39%) individuals after a mean follow-up of 6.5 years (SD±1.4 years). Poisson regression models showed increased WMH progression rate among individuals in the third tertile of the Gijon's Social-Familial Evaluation Scale score compared with those in the first tertile (incidence rate ratio, 1.65 [95% CI, 1.05-2.61]; P=0.032). Separate Poisson regression models using individual social determinants of health components showed that poor social relationships (incidence rate ratio, 1.39 [95% CI, 1.10-1.77]; P=0.006) and deficient support networks (incidence rate ratio, 1.79 [95% CI, 1.19-2.69]; P=0.005) were independently associated with WMH progression, whereas family situation, economic status, and housing did not. Poor social relationships and deficient support networks were significantly associated with WMH progression in community-dwelling older adults living in a rural setting. Our findings may help planning cost-effective preventive policies to reduce progression of cerebral small vessel disease among vulnerable populations.

Adipose tissue distribution from body MRI is associated with cross-sectional and longitudinal brain age in adults

There is an intimate body-brain connection in ageing, and obesity is a key risk factor for poor cardiometabolic health and neurodegenerative conditions. Although research has demonstrated deleterious effects of obesity on brain structure and function, the majority of studies have used conventional measures such as waist-to-hip ratio, waist circumference, and body mass index. While sensitive to gross features of body composition, such global anthropometric features fail to describe regional differences in body fat distribution and composition. The sample consisted of baseline brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) acquired from 790 healthy participants aged 18–94 years (mean ± standard deviation (SD) at baseline: 46.8 ± 16.3), and follow-up brain MRI collected from 272 of those individuals (two time-points with 19.7 months interval, on average (min = 9.8, max = 35.6). Of the 790 included participants, cross-sectional body MRI data was available from a subgroup of 286 participants, with age range 19–86 (mean = 57.6, SD = 15.6). Adopting a mixed cross-sectional and longitudinal design, we investigated cross-sectional body magnetic resonance imaging measures of adipose tissue distribution in relation to longitudinal brain structure using MRI-based morphometry (T1) and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). We estimated tissue-specific brain age at two time points and performed Bayesian multilevel modelling to investigate the associations between adipose measures at follow-up and brain age gap (BAG) – the difference between actual age and the prediction of the brain’s biological age – at baseline and follow-up. We also tested for interactions between BAG and both time and age on each adipose measure. The results showed credible associations between T1-based BAG and liver fat, muscle fat infiltration (MFI), and weight-to-muscle ratio (WMR), indicating older-appearing brains in people with higher measures of adipose tissue. Longitudinal evidence supported interaction effects between time and MFI and WMR on T1-based BAG, indicating accelerated ageing over the course of the study period in people with higher measures of adipose tissue. The results show that specific measures of fat distribution are associated with brain ageing and that different compartments of adipose tissue may be differentially linked with increased brain ageing, with potential to identify key processes involved in age-related transdiagnostic disease processes.

White Matter Hyperintensities as a Risk Factor for Ischemic Stroke in Patients With Systemic Lupus Erythematosus.

Objective: The occurrence of ischemic stroke in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) can cause extended periods of reduced daily activities. However, the risk factors for ischemic stroke in SLE patients are not fully elucidated. Herein, we examined the effect of white matter hyperintensities (WMH) on the occurrence of ischemic stroke in SLE patients.Methods: We analyzed the relationship between WMH burden and ischemic stroke using follow-up brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data of 79 patients with SLE. Of these patients, 16 developed stroke during the observation period. WMH on MRI were classified into periventricular hyperintensities and deep white matter hyperintensities (DWMH), while the lesion extent was graded using the Fazekas scale.Results: Kaplan–Meier curves showed that ischemic stroke events were significantly associated with age at initial brain MRI of ≥40 years (p = 0.015) and history of anti-phospholipid syndrome (p = 0.030). Additionally, ischemic stroke events were significantly associated with a one grade deterioration of periventricular hyperintensities (p = 0.003) and a one grade deterioration of DWMH (p = 0.002). Multivariate analysis using the logistic regression model showed that a one grade deterioration of DWMH was an independent risk factor for ischemic stroke (hazard ratio, 6.0; 95% confidence interval, 1.3–27.4).Conclusions: Although several factors affect the occurrence of ischemic stroke, SLE patients show increased risk of ischemic stroke via development of DWMH. An observation of DWMH deterioration on follow-up brain MRI may be useful for assessing the risk of ischemic stroke in SLE patients.

ML-3 A Case of Primary Central Nervous System Anaplastic Lymphoma Kinase Positive Anaplastic Large cell Lymphoma at Neurohypophysis and Pineal Gland

The majority of primary central nerve system (CNS) lymphomas (PCNSL) are diffuse large B-cell lymphomas. Anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL) that is a type of T-cell tumor is very rare in the PCNSL. ALCLs are divided into two entities: anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK)-positive and ALK-negative. We report a case of a 26-year-old woman who presented with a one month historyof headache and nausea. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain revealed pituitary and pineal gland mass diagnosed as ALK-positive ALCL by endoscopic brain biopsy. She underwent chemotherapy following methotrexate (MTX) and cyclophosphamide + doxorubicin + vincristine + prednisolone (CHOP). The follow-up contrast-enhanced brain MRI showed no recurrent lesion after chemotherapy. In previous reports, most of the lesions were in cerebral hemisphere, dura mater and spinal cord. Many of these patients were given primary diagnoses of meningitis. To our knowledge, there is no case report of initial diagnosis of germinoma due to lesions in Neurohypophysis and pineal gland as in this case.

Value of screening and follow-up brain MRI scans in patients with metastatic melanoma.

BackgroundNovel treatments make long‐term survival possible for subsets of patients with melanoma brain metastases. Brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) may aid in early detection of brain metastases and inform treatment decisions. This study aimed to determine the impact of screening MRI scans in patients with metastatic melanoma and follow‐up MRI scans in patients with melanoma brain metastases.MethodsThis retrospective cohort study included patients diagnosed with metastatic melanoma or melanoma brain metastases between June 2015 and January 2018. The impact of screening MRI scans was evaluated in the first 2 years after metastatic melanoma diagnosis. The impact of follow‐up MRI scans was examined in the first year after brain metastases diagnosis. The number of MRI scans, scan indications, scan outcomes, and changes in treatment strategy were analyzed.ResultsIn total, 116 patients had no brain metastases at the time of the metastatic melanoma diagnosis. Twenty‐eight of these patients (24%) were subsequently diagnosed with brain metastases. Screening MRI scans detected the brain metastases in 11/28 patients (39%), of which 8 were asymptomatic at diagnosis. In the 96 patients with melanoma brain metastases, treatment strategy changed after 75/168 follow‐up MRI scans (45%). In patients treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors, the number of treatment changes after follow‐up MRI scans was lower when patients had been treated longer.Conclusion(s)Screening MRI scans aid in early detection of melanoma brain metastases, and follow‐up MRI scans inform treatment strategy. In patients with brain metastases responding to immune checkpoint inhibitors, treatment changes were less frequently observed after follow‐up MRI scans. These results can inform the development of brain imaging protocols for patients with immune checkpoint inhibitor sensitive tumors.

Long-term cognitive outcomes in term newborns with watershed injury caused by neonatal encephalopathy

BackgroundWe previously reported that increasing severity of watershed (WS) injury in neonatal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is associated with worse language outcomes in early childhood. In the present study, we investigated the relationship between neonatal injury patterns and cognitive profile in adolescents with neonatal encephalopathy.MethodsTerm neonates with encephalopathy were prospectively enrolled and imaged using brain MRI from 1999 to 2008. Neonatal brain injury was scored according to the degree of injury in WS and basal ganglia/thalamus (BG/T) areas. The children underwent a neurocognitive assessment and follow-up brain MRI at the age of 10–16 years. The relationship between neonatal brain injury patterns and adolescent cognitive outcomes was assessed.ResultsIn a cohort of 16 children, neonatal MRI showed WS injury in 7, BG/T injury in 2, and normal imaging in 7. Children with WS injury had lower estimated overall cognitive ability than those with normal imaging. Increasing WS injury score was associated with decreasing estimated overall cognitive ability, Perceptual Reasoning Index, and digit span score.ConclusionsChildren with the WS injury are at an increased risk of having problems in long-term intellectual ability. These cognitive outcomes may underlie early language difficulties seen in children with neonatal WS injury.ImpactAdolescents with a history of neonatal encephalopathy and watershed pattern of injury on neonatal brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) had lower overall cognitive ability, perceptual reasoning skills, and auditory working memory than those with normal neonatal imaging.Children with post-neonatal epilepsy and cerebral palsy had the worst cognitive outcomes.Watershed pattern of injury confers high long-term differences in intellectual ability.

Aggravation of Enlarged Perivascular Spaces in the Centrum Semiovale of Patients with Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage

This study aimed to investigate whether enlarged perivascular spaces (ePVS) within the basal ganglia (BG) or centrum semiovale (CSO) aggravate in patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH). We retrospectively evaluated 139patients who had undergone brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) within 1month of aSAH occurrence from January 2007 to November 2018. Follow-up brain MRI of 99patients were available. We scored ePVS in the BG and CSO on ascore of 0-4 (0 = no ePVS, 4 ≥ 40ePVS) on initial and follow-up T2-weighted MRI. Aggravation of ePVS was defined as an ePVS score increase of ≥ 1 on follow-up MRI compared to the initial score. We compared the characteristics between patients with and without aggravation of ePVS and investigated associated variables using logistic regression. Aggravation of ePVS in the CSO and BG was noted in 31 (31.3%) and 6 (6.1%) patients, respectively. After adjusting for age, sex, and the MRI follow-up period, aggravation of ePVS in the CSO was independently associated with ahigh Fisher grade (p = 0.007) and high burden of initial ePVS in the CSO (p = 0.049). Aggravation of ePVS, particularly those in the CSO, had occurred in the long-term follow-up of aSAH patients. This was independently associated with ahigh burden of aSAH. The amount of subarachnoid blood might have aggravated the drainage of interstitial fluid through glymphatic dysfunction.

A brief report on incidence, radiographic feature and prognostic significance of brain MRI changes after anti-PD-1/PD-L1 therapy in advanced non-small cell lung cancer.

Neurologic immune-related adverse events (nirAEs) are uncommon but potentially lethal complications of immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) treatment. However, the incidence, radiographic features and prognostic significance of brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) changes after ICI treatment remain largely unknown. Consecutive patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) at three participating institutions receiving anti-PD-1/PD-L1 therapy from June 2017 to September 2020 were screened, and those who received brain MRI within 6weeks before ICI initiation and at least one follow-up brain MRI after ICI treatment were included. Serial brain MRI images were independently reviewed by two experienced radiologists. With a median follow-up of 13.2months, 27 (20.0%) of the 135 enrolled patients developed certain kind of brain MRI aberration. The 1-, 2- and 3-year cumulative incidence of brain MRI aberration was 17.1%, 36.3% and 52.2%, respectively. Brain MRI aberration indicative of stroke, mimicking typical white matter lesions and presenting as T2-hyperintensity suggestive of CNS vasculitis or encephalitis, was documented in 11, 9 and 4 patients, respectively. Patients with brain MRI aberration had higher clinical benefit rate (p = 0.030), longer progression-free survival (p = 0.015) and a tendency of improved overall survival (p = 0.054). Brain MRI aberrations developed after ICI treatment are not uncommon, and their manifestations vary a lot. Patients developing brain MRI aberrations tended to have better prognosis, which needed to be further investigated.

Are radiation-induced cavernomas clinically relevant findings? Results from long-term follow-up with brain magnetic resonance imaging of childhood cancer survivors.

IntroductionRadiation-induced cavernomas (RIC) after cranial radiotherapy have an unknown risk of hemorrhage. Zabramski magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) classification is touted as being able to indicate non-radiation-induced cavernomas hemorrhage risk. The aim of our study was to assess the hemorrhage risk of RIC during long-term follow-up of childhood cancer survivors based on brain MRI examinations.Patients and methodsWe analyzed retrospectively long-term follow-up data of 36 childhood cancer survivors after initial diagnosis with acute leukemia (n = 18) or brain tumor (n = 18), all treated with cranial radiotherapy. Detected RIC in long-term follow-up brain MRI (1.5 or 3 Tesla) were classified following the Zabramski MRI classification and were categorized into “high” (Zabramski type I, II or V) or “low” (type III or IV) risk of hemorrhage.Results18 patients (50%) showed RIC with a significant relation to the original tumor entity (p = 0.023) and the cumulative radiation dose to the brain (p = 0.016): all 9 childhood cancer survivors diagnosed with medulloblastoma developed RIC. We classified RIC in only 3/36 childhood cancer survivors (8%) (1 patient with acute lymphoblastic leukemia [Zabramski type II] and 2 patients with medulloblastoma [type I and type II]) as high risk for hemorrhage, the remaining RIC were classified as Zabramski type IV with low risk for hemorrhage. None of the childhood cancer survivors with RIC showed symptomatic hemorrhages.ConclusionsRIC are common late effects in childhood cancer survivors treated with cranial radiotherapy affecting half of these patients. However, only a few RIC (occurring in 8% of all reviewed childhood cancer survivors) were classified as high risk for hemorrhage and none of the childhood cancer survivors with RIC developed symptomatic hemorrhages. Thus, we conclude that RIC are low-risk findings in brain MRI and the course is mainly benign.

28-Year-Old Man With Recurrent Vertigo, Syncope, and Progressive Memory Impairment

28-Year-Old Man With Recurrent Vertigo, Syncope, and Progressive Memory Impairment

Cerebral hemispheres – cerebellum – kidney interaction in patients with acute cerebral ischemia

The nervous system, in particular the autonomic one, is well known to constantly regulate the internal functioning of the body, adapting it to changeable external and internal environmental parameters. In particular, there is a close multiple-vector correlation between the nervous system and the kidneys. The aim of this study was to specify the mechanisms, clinical and paraclinical characteristics of the concomitant lesions of the nervous system and the kidneys in patients with acute stroke. This paper presents the case report of 215 patients, aged 70 ± 8.44, who suffered from ischemic stroke. Among them, we examined 144 women and 71 men. The patients underwent a comprehensive examination, including a detailed clinical and neurological check-up (evaluating the patients’ condition severity with the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) and the Barthel index on admission and on the 21st day of the disease), laboratory analysis (electrolyte balance, nitrogen metabolism (on admission and on the 21st day of the disease) and instrumental examination (CT scan of the brain, the follow-up brain magnetic resonance imaging). The statistical methods were used to analyze the data. In the 1st day of the disease, all the surveyed patients with right hemispheric carotid stroke and the overwhelming majority of the patients with left hemispheric carotid stroke and ischemic stroke in the vertebrobasilar system had cerebral renal syndrome, represented by renal concentration-filtration dysfunction, accompanied by the reduced glomerular filtration rate. A reliable relationship was found between the renal concentration and filtration function and the right hemispheric ischemic focus in patients with ischemic stroke, the characteristics are to be specified.