Ecchordosis physaliphora and its variants: proposed new classification based on high-resolution fast MR imaging employing steady-state acquisition.

OBJECTIVES: To propose a new classification for ecchordosis physaliphora (EP) using fast imaging employing steady-state acquisition (FIESTA). METHODS: We evaluated 974 consecutive patients and selected for further study 78 (8.0 %) who manifested an excrescence on the dorsal surface of the clivus (DSC) and/or clivus lesions. Lesions were defined as "classical EP" when they appeared as a hyperintense excrescence (cyst-like component) on DSC. Other lesions were defined as "possible EP". RESULTS: Of the 78 patients, 17 (22 %) were diagnosed with classical EP, the other 61 with possible EP. The 61 patients with possible EP were further classified into "incomplete EP = EP bud" (n = 55, 90.2 %), characterised by a T2 hypointense protrusion of the clivus, and into "EP variant" (n = 6, 9.8 %), characterised by hyperintense lesions within only clivus. FIESTA findings of incomplete EP were similar to those of classical EP except for lack of the hyperintense excrescence on DSC. Most lesions were located at the level of the Dorello canal at the midline of the craniospinal axis. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that the magnetic resonance imaging appearance of EP is diverse. Based on our FIESTA results we propose a new classification for EP, i.e. classical EP, incomplete EP (EP bud) and EP variant. KEY POINTS: • Ecchordosis physaliphora (EP) is a rare benign cystic congenital lesion arising from notochord. • The classical type of EP is frequently associated with a T2 hypointense protrusion. • T2 hypointense protrusions without clivus cysts may represent an incomplete type of EP. • Third type of EP variant only harbours lesions within the clivus.

Chronic fatigue syndrome and the central nervous system.

An increasing amount of neuroimaging evidence supports the hypothesis that chronic fatigue syndrome patients have structural or functional abnormalities within the brain. Moreover, some neurotrophic factors, neurotransmitters and cytokines have also been evaluated in order to elucidate the mechanism of abnormal neuropsychic findings in chronic fatigue syndrome. In this review, we suggest that the focal point of chronic fatigue syndrome research should be transferred to the central nervous system.

A novel adipocytokine, visceral adipose tissue-derived serine protease inhibitor (vaspin), and obesity.

Visceral adipose tissue-derived serine protease inhibitor (vaspin) is an interesting novel adipocytokine with insulin-sensitizing effects. Some studies have suggested that vaspin could play an important role in the development of obesity and metabolic disorders. The induction of vaspin mRNA expression could represent a compensatory mechanism associated with obesity, severe insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes mellitus, however it is unclear whether a correlation exists between human vaspin serum levels and markers of insulin sensitivity and glucose or lipid metabolism. Vaspin serum concentrations have been shown to be lower in lean subjects and competitive sportsmen with long-term physical training, but they are increased with weight loss associated with a physical training programme. In conclusion, there is at present no clear proof of a causal link between vaspin and visceral fat accumulation, or insulin resistance. This article reviews the role of vaspin in obesity-associated diseases and its potential as a new biomarker for obesity and impaired insulin sensitivity.

Signal Change of Acute Cortical and Juxtacortical Microinfarction on Follow-Up MRI.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Although the clinical importance of cortical microinfarcts has become well-recognized recently, the evolution of cortical microinfarcts on MR imaging is not fully understood. The aim of this study was to examine the temporal changes in acute cortical microinfarcts using susceptibility-weighted imaging and conventional MR imaging. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients with acute infarcts located in the cortical and/or juxtacortical region measuring ≤10 mm in axial diameter based on diffusion-weighted imaging who had a follow-up 3T MR imaging were retrospectively included in the study. All lesions did not show hypointensity on initial T2*WI. For cortical and/or juxtacortical microinfarcts detected on initial DWI, 2 neuroradiologists evaluated the follow-up MR imaging (T2WI, FLAIR, T2*WI, and SWI) and assessed lesion signal intensities and locations (cortical microinfarcts or microinfarcts with juxtacortical white matter involvement). RESULTS: On initial DWI, 2 radiologists observed 180 cortical and/or juxtacortical microinfarcts in 35 MR imaging examinations in 25 patients; on follow-up, the neuroradiologists identified 29 cortical microinfarcts (16%) on T2WI, 9 (5%) on FLAIR, 4 (2%) on T2*, and 97 (54%) on SWI. All cortical microinfarcts detected with any follow-up MR imaging showed hyperintensity on T2WI/FLAIR and/or hypointensity on T2*WI and SWI. CONCLUSIONS: SWI revealed conversion (paramagnetic susceptibility changes) of acute cortical microinfarcts, suggesting that a substantial number of cortical microinfarcts may contain hemorrhagic components.

3D digital subtraction angiography of intracranial aneurysms: comparison of flat panel detector with conventional image intensifier TV system using a vascular phantom.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Compared with the image intensifier (I.I.)-TV system, the flat panel detector (FPD) system of direct conversion type has several theoretic advantages, such as higher spatial resolution, wide dynamic range, and no image distortion. The purpose of this study was to compare the image quality of 3D digital subtraction angiography (DSA) in the FPD and conventional I.I.-TV systems using a vascular phantom. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An anthropomorphic vascular phantom was designed to simulate the various intracranial aneurysms with aneurysmal bleb. The tubes of this vascular phantom were filled with 2 concentrations of contrast material (300 and 150 mg I/mL), and we obtained 3D DSA using the FPD and I.I.-TV systems. First, 2 blinded radiologists compared the volume-rendering images for 3D DSA on the FPD and I.I.-TV systems, looking for pseudostenosis artifacts. Then, 2 other radiologists independently evaluated both systems for the depiction of the simulated aneurysm and aneurysmal bleb using a 5-point scale. RESULTS: For the degree of the pseudostenosis artifacts at the M1 segment of the middle cerebral artery at 300 mg I/mL, 3D DSA with FPD system showed mild stenoses, whereas severe stenoses were observed at 3D DSA with I.I.-TV system. At both concentrations, the FPD system was significantly superior to I.I.-TV system regarding the depiction of aneurysm and aneurysmal bleb. CONCLUSION: Compared with the I.I.-TV system, the FPD system could create high-resolution 3D DSA combined with a reduction of the pseudostenosis artifacts.

A cone-beam volume CT using a 3D angiography system with a flat panel detector of direct conversion type: usefulness for superselective intra-arterial chemotherapy for head and neck tumors.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The development of flat panel detectors (FPDs) has made cone-beam CT feasible for practical use in a clinical setting. Our purpose was to assess the usefulness of cone-beam CT using the FPD in conjunction with conventional digital subtraction angiography (DSA) for performing superselective intra-arterial chemotherapy for head and neck tumors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-three consecutive patients (43 feeding arteries) were prospectively examined. All of the patients underwent intra-arterial rotational angiography using an FPD system, and the cone-beam CT was reconstructed from the volume dataset. Two radiologists evaluated the quality of the cone-beam CT and then evaluated whether the additional information provided by the cone-beam CT was useful for the interventional procedures. RESULTS: In 41 (95%) of 43 arteries, the extent of contrast material perfusion was sufficiently visualized on cone-beam CT. In 20 (47%) of 43 arteries, the DSA plus cone-beam CT was superior to the DSA alone regarding the precise understanding of vascular territory of each artery. This information was helpful for predicting the drug delivery for superselective intra-arterial chemotherapy, especially in deeply invasive tumors with multiple feeding arteries. CONCLUSION: In superselective intra-arterial chemotherapy for head and neck tumors, cone-beam CT with FPD provides useful additional information, which allows interventional radiologists to determine the feeders, as well as the dose of antitumor agent for each feeder.

Reduction of radiation dose for cerebral angiography using flat panel detector of direct conversion type: a vascular phantom study.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Compared with image intensifier television (I.I.-TV) system, an angiography system using the flat panel detector (FPD) of direct conversion type has a high spatial resolution, which may improve image quality, reduce patient exposure, or both. Our purpose was to evaluate the detection of simulated aneurysmal blebs under dose reduction with the FPD system in comparison with the I.I.-TV system. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A vascular phantom was designed to simulate various intracranial aneurysms with and without blebs, and this phantom was filled with 3 different concentrations of contrast material (300, 150, and 100 mg I/mL). 2D digital subtraction angiography (DSA) at low-dose mode of FPD system was compared with 2D DSA at a standard-dose mode of FPD system and a conventional mode of I.I.-TV system. Data analysis was based on 171 observations (57 aneurysms [20 with bleb and 37 without bleb] x 3 contrast material concentrations) by each of 7 radiologists, and the detection performances of blebs were compared using a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis. RESULTS: The mean dose measurements with a phantom during 2D DSA were 0.36 mGy/frame with low-dose mode of FPD system, 0.72 mGy/frame with standard-dose mode of FPD system and 0.76 mGy/frame with I.I.-TV system. The mean Az at 100 mg I/mL was significantly higher for low-dose mode of FPD than for conventional-dose mode of I.I.-TV mean Az, 0.85 versus 0.56; P < .01), though differences were not significant with 150 and 300 mg I/mL between both systems. CONCLUSION: The FPD system allows a considerable dose reduction during 2D DSA without loss of the image quality.

Pituitary Macroadenoma and Visual Impairment: Postoperative Outcome Prediction with Contrast-Enhanced FIESTA.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Contrast-enhanced FIESTA can depict anterior optic pathways in patients with large suprasellar tumors. We assessed whether the degree of kink in the optic nerve at the optic canal orifice on contrast-enhanced FIESTA correlates with the postoperative improvement of visual impairment in patients with pituitary macroadenoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-one patients with pituitary macroadenoma who underwent preoperative MR imaging and an operation were evaluated. We measured the optic nerve kinking angle on sagittal oblique contrast-enhanced FIESTA parallel to the optic nerve; the optic nerve kinking angle was defined as the angle between a line parallel to the planum sphenoidale and a line parallel to the intracranial optic nerve at the optic canal orifice. We used logistic regression analyses to determine whether the clinical (sex, age, and duration of symptoms) and imaging (tumor height, chiasmal compression severity, hyperintense optic nerve on T2WI, and optic nerve kinking angle) characteristics were associated with the postoperative improvement (good-versus-little improvement) of visual acuity disturbance and visual field defect. RESULTS: There were 53 impaired sides before the operation: 2 sides with visual acuity disturbance alone, 25 with visual field defect alone, and 26 with both. After the operation, good improvement was found in 17 of the 28 sides with visual acuity disturbance and in 32 of the 51 sides with visual field defects. Only the optic nerve kinking angle was significantly associated with good improvement of the visual acuity disturbance (P = .011) and visual field defect (P = .002). CONCLUSIONS: The degree of the optic nerve kinking angle was an independent predictor of postoperative improvement, indicating that irreversible damage to the optic nerve may be associated with its kinking at the optic canal orifice.

An unusual case of split cord malformation.

We present a variant of a split cord malformation with coexisting segmental spinal dysgenesis. CT myelography showed the left hemicord with a small remnant of subarachnoid space running through an intravertebral cleft in a spine anomaly. The left hemicord had no apparent intradual connection to the upper cord on any radiologic examination, though functional electrical stimulation studies revealed an intact efferent pathway that connected the left hemicord to the main spinal cord.

Traditional Chinese medicine and Kampo: a review from the distant past for the future.

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is a complete system of healing that developed in China about 3000 years ago, and includes herbal medicine, acupuncture, moxibustion and massage, etc. In recent decades the use of TCM has become more popular in China and throughout the world. Traditional Japanese medicine has been used for 1500 years and includes Kampo-yaku (herbal medicine), acupuncture and acupressure. Kampo is now widely practised in Japan and is fully integrated into the modern health-care system. Kampo is based on TCM but has been adapted to Japanese culture. In this paper we review the history and characteristics of TCM and traditional Japanese medicine, i.e. the selection of traditional Chinese herbal medicine treatments based on differential diagnosis, and treatment formulations specific for the 'Sho' (the patient's symptoms at a given moment) of Japanese Kampo--and look at the prospects for these forms of medicine.

Angiotensin-II receptor antagonist alleviates non-alcoholic fatty liver in KKAy obese mice with type 2 diabetes.

We examined the effects of the angiotensin-II receptor antagonist candesartan on non-alcoholic fatty liver (NAFL) and circulating adiponectin concentrations in KKAy obese mice with type 2 diabetes mellitus. The KKAy mice were randomly assigned to receive either candesartan at a once-daily dose of 10 mg/kg (n = 5) or placebo (n = 5). The differences in liver weight, histological evaluation of hepatic lipid infiltration, serum adiponectin concentration and hepatic adiponectin mRNA levels between the two groups were determined on day 7 after treatment was initiated. Candesartan-treated mice demonstrated significantly lower liver weights and reduced lipid droplets in hepatic cells compared with control mice. The circulating adiponectin levels and hepatic expression of adiponectin mRNA were significantly higher in candesartan-treated mice than control mice. These results suggest that candesartan might alleviate NAFL through elevation of circulating adiponectin levels in KKAy obese mice with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Advanced oesophageal carcinoma in an 84-year-old treated with chemoradiotherapy.

We present a case of advanced oesophageal cancer with cardiac invasion in an 84-year-old male presenting with dysphagia and general malaise. Histological analysis of an endoscopic biopsy specimen revealed a poorly differentiated squamous cell carcinoma. Computed tomography indicated a thickened oesophageal wall that was compressing the left atrium, suggesting invasion of the heart, and oesophagography revealed a polypoid lesion 9 cm in length. No distant metastases were seen on computed tomography. The patient was given chemotherapy with 10 mg/m2 cisplatin on days 1 and 4 every week for 5 weeks and concurrent radiotherapy at a dose of 2 Gy five times per week (total dose 52 Gy). After 4 weeks, the mass was no longer visible on oesophagography or endoscopic examination. The patient was free of recurrence and metastases for 4.5 years. In conclusion, chemoradiotherapy may be curative in elderly patients with unresectable oesophageal carcinoma.

Usefulness of quantitative susceptibility mapping for the diagnosis of Parkinson disease.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Quantitative susceptibility mapping allows overcoming several nonlocal restrictions of susceptibility-weighted and phase imaging and enables quantification of magnetic susceptibility. We compared the diagnostic accuracy of quantitative susceptibility mapping and R2* (1/T2*) mapping to discriminate between patients with Parkinson disease and controls. MATERIALS AND METHODS: For 21 patients with Parkinson disease and 21 age- and sex-matched controls, 2 radiologists measured the quantitative susceptibility mapping values and R2* values in 6 brain structures (the thalamus, putamen, caudate nucleus, pallidum, substantia nigra, and red nucleus). RESULTS: The quantitative susceptibility mapping values and R2* values of the substantia nigra were significantly higher in patients with Parkinson disease (P < .01); measurements in other brain regions did not differ significantly between patients and controls. For the discrimination of patients with Parkinson disease from controls, receiver operating characteristic analysis suggested that the optimal cutoff values for the substantia nigra, based on the Youden Index, were >0.210 for quantitative susceptibility mapping and >28.8 for R2*. The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of quantitative susceptibility mapping were 90% (19 of 21), 86% (18 of 21), and 88% (37 of 42), respectively; for R2* mapping, they were 81% (17 of 21), 52% (11 of 21), and 67% (28 of 42). Pair-wise comparisons showed that the areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves were significantly larger for quantitative susceptibility mapping than for R2* mapping (0.91 versus 0.69, P < .05). CONCLUSIONS: Quantitative susceptibility mapping showed higher diagnostic performance than R2* mapping for the discrimination between patients with Parkinson disease and controls.

Cyclin D1 gene amplification in esophageal carcinosarcoma shown by differential polymerase chain reaction.

We studied cyclin D1 gene amplification in four esophageal carcinosarcomas using the differential polymerase chain reaction. Three cases showed amplification in the sarcomatous components, and one of these also showed amplification in the carcinomatous component. No amplification was detected in the other case. We also examined p53 expression in these four tumors by immunostaining. Both components of all four cases showed diffuse overexpression of p53 protein in the nuclei. Our results showed that the cyclin D1 gene is frequently amplified in esophageal carcinosarcoma, especially in the sarcomatous component. Two cases showed amplification only in the sarcomatous component, suggesting that amplification may have a role in the pathogenesis of that component of this malignancy. The diffuse overexpression of p53 observed in both components suggests that such overexpression, which could be the result of somatic mutation, might be an early event in the pathogenesis of esophageal carcinosarcoma.

Cyclin D1, p16 and retinoblastoma gene product expression as a predictor for prognosis in non-small cell lung cancer at stages I and II.

The association of the immunohistochemical expressions of cyclin D1, p16 and the retinoblastoma gene product (pRB) with the prognoses of 106 patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) at stages I and II after a complete resection was investigated. We used antibodies recognizing nuclear and cytoplasmic cyclin D1, p16 and pRB. In 106 tumors, the positive rates of cyclin D1, p16 and pRB were 46, 54 and 48%, respectively. Cyclin D1-positive (cyclin D1(+)) patients had significantly poorer survival prognoses than cyclin D1-negative (cyclin D1(-)) patients (log-rank test, P=0.0002; Wilcoxon test, P=0.0005), whereas p16-positive (p16(+)) patients had significantly better prognoses than p16-negative (p16(-)) patients (log-rank test, P=0.0063; Wilcoxon test, P=0.0044). The survival period was over 65% for patients with cyclin D1(-)/p16(+) (n=34) at 120 months after surgery, whereas patients with cyclin D1(+)/p16(-) patients (n=22) had a 50% survival period at 49 months. The cumulative survival rate of cyclin D1(+)/p16(-) patients was significantly lower than that of cyclin D1(-)/p16(+) patients (log-rank test, P=0.0004; Wilcoxon test, P=0.0002). The pRB did not influence significantly the survival rate. Our results indicate that cyclin D1 and p16, especially a combination of cyclin D1 and p16, are very useful to predict the prognosis of patient with NSCLC after curative resection independent of pathological stages I and II.

Interleukin-6-induced reciprocal expression of SERCA and natriuretic peptides mRNA in cultured rat ventricular myocytes.

We investigated the effect of interleukin-6 (IL-6) expression on sarco/endoplasmic reticulum Ca(2+)-ATPase (SERCA), atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) and B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) mRNA levels in cultured rat neonatal ventricular myocytes. IL-6 plays a key role in regulating cardiac hypertrophy and the development of heart failure, and SERCA, ANP and BNP are all cardiac hormones with regulatory properties. Compared with baseline measurements, treatment with 50 U/ml IL-6 significantly decreased SERCA gene expression, but significantly increased ANP and BNP gene expression in the cardiac myocytes. These results suggest that the clinical overproduction of IL-6 in response to infection, autoimmune disease and cancer might be responsible for cardiac hypertrophy. Cardiac hypertrophy may result from the imbalance of both natriuretic peptides and SERCA transcription levels, caused by elevated IL-6 expression.

Panic attack symptoms in a patient with left temporal lobe epilepsy.

We describe a 56-year-old woman with left temporal lobe epilepsy who developed symptoms of a panic attack. Owing to normal electroencephalography and brain magnetic resonance imaging results, she was initially diagnosed as suffering from panic attacks and treated for anxiety neurosis. The symptoms persisted and she was re-examined in our department. An interictal electroencephalogram showed paroxysmal spike waves in the left mesial temporal lobe region and this was the basis for a diagnosis of left temporal lobe epilepsy. This report suggests that left temporal lobe epilepsy should be considered as the differential diagnosis when patients frequently complain of fear or anxiety.

Effect of the serotonin blocker sarpogrelate on circulating interleukin-18 levels in patients with diabetes and arteriosclerosis obliterans.

We aimed to evaluate the effect of treatment with sarpogrelate, a serotonin 2A receptor antagonist, on circulating interleukin (IL)-18 levels in patients with diabetes and arteriosclerosis obliterans. Patients received sarpogrelate (100 mg 3 times daily) for 2 months. We evaluated the degree of cryaesthesia (a feeling of cold in the foot and toes) as the clinical outcome, and measured circulating IL-18, IL-6 and lipid protein concentrations. An improvement in clinical outcome occurred after initiation of sarpogrelate therapy; a significant decrease in IL-18 levels was observed after 2 months of therapy. Levels of IL-6 and lipid proteins, including triglyceride, total cholesterol and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, were not significantly altered by treatment. Our data suggest that by reducing circulating IL-18 levels, sarpogrelate treatment may contribute to the inhibition of arteriosclerosis obliterans progression in patients with diabetes.

Tumor consistency of pituitary macroadenomas: predictive analysis on the basis of imaging features with contrast-enhanced 3D FIESTA at 3T.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Preoperative evaluation of pituitary macroadenoma tumor consistency is important for neurosurgery. Thus, we aimed to retrospectively assess the role of contrast-enhanced FIESTA in predicting the tumor consistency of pituitary macroadenomas. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-nine patients with pituitary macroadenomas underwent conventional MR imaging sequences and contrast-enhanced FIESTA before surgery. Two neuroradiologists assessed the contrast-enhanced FIESTA, contrast-enhanced T1WI, and T2WI. On the basis of surgical findings, the macroadenomas were classified by the neurosurgeons as either soft or hard. Finally, Fisher exact probability tests and unpaired t tests were used to compare predictions on the basis of the MR imaging findings with the tumor consistency, collagen content, and postoperative tumor size. RESULTS: The 29 pituitary macroadenomas were classified as either solid or mosaic types. Solid type was characterized by a homogeneous pattern of tumor signal intensity without intratumoral hyperintense dots, whereas the mosaic type was characterized by many intratumoral hyperintense dots on each MR image. Statistical analyses revealed a significant correlation between tumor consistency and contrast-enhanced FIESTA findings. Sensitivity and specificity were higher for contrast-enhanced FIESTA (1.00 and 0.88-0.92, respectively) than for contrast-enhanced T1WI (0.80 and 0.25-0.33, respectively) and T2WI (0.60 and 0.38-0.54, respectively). Compared with mosaic-type adenomas, solid-type adenomas tended to have a hard tumor consistency as well as a significantly higher collagen content and lower postoperative tumor size. CONCLUSIONS: Contrast-enhanced FIESTA may provide preoperative information regarding the consistency of macroadenomas that appears to be related to the tumor collagen content.

Brain MR findings in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus with and without antiphospholipid antibody syndrome.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Antiphospholipid syndrome may affect the incidence and pathogenesis of cerebrovascular diseases in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus. We compared the spectrum of MR findings in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus with and without antiphospholipid syndrome. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We identified 256 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (45 with, 211 without antiphospholipid syndrome) who underwent MR studies; in 145 (57%), we detected abnormalities. These were categorized as large territorial, lacunar, localized cortical, and borderzone infarctions and as microembolisms, basal ganglia lesions, callosal lesions, hemorrhages, and white matter hyperintensity on T2-weighted and/or FLAIR images, and as stenotic arterial lesions on MR angiograms. Logistic regression analysis was performed to compare the MR findings in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus with and without antiphospholipid syndrome, with patient age and antiphospholipid syndrome as the covariates. RESULTS: Abnormal MR findings were more common in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus with antiphospholipid syndrome (73% versus 53%). Large territorial (P = .01), lacunar (P = .01), localized cortical (P < .01), borderzone infarcts (P < .01), basal ganglia lesions (P = .03), stenotic arterial lesions (P = .04), and the rate of positive findings on MR imaging (P = .01) were significantly associated with antiphospholipid syndrome. Irrespective of age, significantly more patients with antiphospholipid syndrome manifested lacunar infarcts in the deep white matter (P < .01), localized cortical infarcts in the territory of the MCA (P < .01), bilateral borderzone infarcts (P < .01), and anterior basal ganglia lesions (P = .01). CONCLUSIONS: Abnormal MR findings were more common in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus with than in those without antiphospholipid syndrome. Large territorial infarctions, lacunar infarctions in the deep white matter, localized cortical infarctions in the MCA territory, bilateral borderzone infarctions, anterior basal ganglia lesions, and stenotic arterial lesions are common MR findings in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus with antiphospholipid syndrome.