Evaluation of craniocervical pseudomeningoceles with three-dimensional T2-SPACE sequence at 3T.

BACKGROUND: Pseudomingocele is a postoperative fluid collection adjacent to the dural membrane. The distinction of pseudomeningocele from other postoperative collections is very important. PURPOSE: To show the efficacy of three-dimensional (3D) T2-weighted sampling perfection with application-optimized contrasts using a different flip-angle evolution (SPACE) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) sequence in the diagnosis of pseudomeningocele in which conventional MRI sequences may be insufficient. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 10 patients were included in the study. All of these patients also had 3D T2-SPACE high-resolution volumetric MR image in addition to conventional cervical and cerebral MR sequences. All MR examinations were reviewed by two neuroradiologists. RESULTS: Pseudomeningocele neck was shown in six patients by both conventional sequences and SPACE sequence. In two patients, the neck was only shown in the SPACE sequence. Four pseudomeningocele necks were shown to have flow void with both conventional sequences and SPACE sequence. Flow void could only be demonstrated by SPACE sequence in two patients. CONCLUSION: A T2-SPACE sequence can show the presence of pseudomeningocele neck and flow void even in cases where conventional MRI cannot show, thus contributing to the diagnosis of pseudomeningocele. Therefore, especially in postoperative imaging, the T2-SPACE sequence may be included in routine sequences to make the differential diagnosis correctly.

Tissue damage in herniated brain parenchyma into giant arachnoid granulations: demonstration with high resolution MRI.

BACKGROUND: Brain herniation (BH) into arachnoid granulation has been remarkable in recent years. PURPOSE: To evaluate the damage in herniated parenchyma into the giant arachnoid granulation (GAG) and to investigate the clinical-demographic importance of this damage. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Patients with BH into GAG were retrospectively included in the study. Each of the patients had at least one high-resolution 3D magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) sequence. The arachnoid granulation dimensions, locations, and origin of herniated parenchyma were evaluated by two experienced radiologists. The demographic and symptomatic features of the patients were recorded from the hospital database. RESULTS: A total of 27 patients (21 females, 6 males; age range 6-71 years; mean age 41.3 years) were found to contain BH into GAG. It was most commonly seen in the transverse sinus (67%); the origin was most common in the cerebellar parenchyma (56%). Abnormal signal and morphology were detected in herniated parenchyma in 11 (47%) patients, atrophy in six, and atrophy and gliosis in five. The most common complaints were headache (47%), while other frequent symptoms were vertigo (15%) and blurred vision (11%). There was a statistically significant positive correlation between frequency of damage in herniated brain parenchyma and the maximal size of GAG (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: In patients with BH into GAG, parenchymal damage may be associated with various symptoms, such as headache and vertigo, although they have not been statistically proven. It is important to carefully evaluate hernia tissue, as the risk of tissue damage may increase in larger GAGs.

Intense Soft Tissue Calcification of the Head and Neck Following Tracheostomy.

ABSTRACT: Dystrophic calcification is the accumulation of calcium salts, especially calcium phosphate, which can occur anywhere in the body. Unlike other heterotopic calcifications, it occurs in damaged tissue when there is no calcium imbalance. The most common sites are the heart muscle and valve and it is rarely seen in the head and neck region. It can appear by any cause of soft tissue degeneration such as trauma, infection, inflammation, and neoplasia. It is not symptomatic unless a dystrophic calcification mass is present and is usually detected incidentally. Determination of the etiology plays an important role in the planning of the treatment so that the patient's history, laboratory findings, and imaging methods are very important.

Rare Cause of Blurred Vision: Unilateral Primary Dural Ectasia of the Optic Nerve Sheath.

ABSTRACT: Dural ectasia, also known as meningocele of the optic nerve sheath, is a rare benign pathology. Magnetic resonance imaging has a great role in the diagnosis of this condition, which has nonspecific symptoms such as progressive blurred vision. It is observed as cerebrospinal fluid accumulation within the expanded nerve sheath around the optic nerve. Treatment is planned after differential diagnosis of other pathologies such as mass and inflammation in addition to diagnosis with magnetic resonance imaging. Medical treatment is usually sufficient, and surgical treatment is planned for progressive patients.

Unilateral Vision Loss Due to Isolated Onodi Cell Mucocele.

ABSTRACT: Onodi cell mucocele is a rare, benign, cystic, destructive and expansive lesion. While the sphenoid sinus mucocele is 1% to 2%, onodi cell mucocele is very rare. Because of its direct mass compression effect, its proximity to the orbital apex may cause many symptoms such as loss of vision, eye movements, and exophthalmus. Imaging methods have an important priority in diagnosis. It also plays a crucial role in planning treatment quickly and guiding the surgeon. Surgical excision is performed in the treatment, usually with an endonasal approach.

The effect of copper intrauterine device use duration on uterine and ovarian blood flow parameters: A prospective cross-sectional study.

PURPOSE: This prospective cross-sectional study aimed to compare uterine and ovarian arterial Doppler signals in regularly menstruating patients who had been using copper intrauterine devices (IUD) for different durations. METHODS: Four groups of participants were formed (n = 30 for each) depending on the duration of copper IUD use: less than 1 year (group 1), 1 to 3 years (group 2), and over 3 years (group 3). Women without IUDs formed the control group. All participants were called in on the fifth-eighth days of their menstrual cycle for Doppler blood flow assessment. The pulsatility index (PI) and resistance index (RI) values were recorded in uterine and ovarian arteries. RESULTS: The groups 2 and 3 had significantly higher uterine artery PI and RI values than groups 1 and 4. Furthermore, group 2 had uterine and ovarian artery PI and RI values similar to those of group 3. There was a positive relationship between uterine and ovarian arteries' PI and RI values with the duration of IUD use. CONCLUSIONS: The presence of an IUD for over a year seems to cause changes in the uterine artery PI and RI values assessed by Doppler ultrasonography.

Giant Cephalocele Case Mimicking Cystic Neoplasia in Skull Base.

Petrous apex cephalocel, also called arachnoid cyst or meningocele, is a rare cephalocele caused by protrusion of the posterolateral wall of the Meckel cave to the petrous apex. Increased intracranial pressure is thought to play a role in etiopathogenesis and is generally asymptomatic. Radiologically, they are expansile lesions with the same density or intensity as cerebrospinal fluid and may mimic cystic masses. The diagnosis is made by showing the continuity with Meckel cave on magnetic resonance imaging. No intervention is required in asymptomatic patients; surgical treatment is applied in symptomatics.

Unusual Mimicker of the Carotid Body Tumor: Synovial Sarcoma of the Carotid Space.

Synovial cell sarcomas are malignant tumors originating from pluripotent mesenchymal stem cells, unlike its name. It is a common tumor in the periarticular area, accounting for 8% of all soft tissue sarcomas. Head and neck are among the rarest areas of this tumor. Synovial sarcomas of the head and neck are more aggressive than those seen in other regions and are associated with remarkable mortality and morbidity. Treatment of synovial sarcomas of the head and neck is usually extensive local excision and additional radiation and/or chemotherapy may be performed.

Unusual Cause of Hypopituitarism: Sphenoid Mucocele.

Paranasal sinus mucocele is cystic, expansile, benign masses that contain mucus surrounded by epithelium. It causes significant locally destruction of the sinus wall and present with various symptoms depending on the pressure on neighboring structures. Sphenoid sinus mucocele constitutes 1% to 2% of all paranasal sinus mucoceles. Headache is the most common symptom that leads to correct diagnosis. In addition, the close proximity of the sphenoid sinus to important structures such as the optic nerve, cavernous sinus and the pituitary gland causes various symptoms. Treatment is surgical drainage of mucocele to reduce pressure.

Anomalous triple origin and neck mergers of a vertebral artery.

Accurate knowledge of the variant origin of the vertebral arteries (VAs) is important in vascular surgery and angiographic procedures in the neck. A triple origin of the VA is extremely rare. We report the first adult case of triple origin of the right VA from the right subclavian artery (SA). This report demonstrates magnetic resonance (MR) angiography findings of this unusual anatomic variation .

Nasopharyngeal Synovial Sarcoma; Report of A Rare Case.

Synovial sarcoma is a soft tissue tumor originating from mesenchymal precursor stem cells. It is usually seen in young males and lower extremities. It is only seen in 10% of head and neck region and nasopharynx which is a very unexpected location. We report a rare case treated with radiotherapy and chemotherapy.

Evaluation of anterior and middle cranial fossa intraosseous arachnoid granulations with 3D T2-SPACE sequence.

OBJECTIVES: Arachnoid granulations (AG) can be located anywhere outside the dural sinuses. Their presence is thought to be associated with idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leaks. It was aimed to evaluate the intraosseous AGs located in the middle and anterior cranial fosses in detail with three-dimensional T2-SPACE (Sampling Perfection with Application optimized Contrasts using different flip angle Evolution-Siemens) imaging and to investigate their clinical significance. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty-five intraosseous AG of 46 patients were included in this retrospective study. The highest diameter, bone indentation degree (in the inner tabula, diploe distance, reaching and exceeding the outer tabula), content (CSF/+parenchyma) of each AG were evaluated by 2 experienced radiologists. In addition, the presence of other MRI findings supporting IIH was examined. RESULTS: Additional signs of IIH were detected in 25 patients, and they were statistically significantly more common in the middle cranial fossa. Parenchymal herniation (in four patients) was more common in the young population. CONCLUSIONS: Intraosseous AGs can be evaluated in detail with T2-SPACE imaging. Determining intraosseous AG is very important both as an indicator of IIH and in terms of its content. T2-SPACE imaging is superior to CT and conventional sequences in this regard.

Unexpected Tumor in an Elderly Patient: Nasopharyngeal Angiofibroma.

Although nasopharyngeal angiofibroma is an expected tumor in adolescent males, it is uncommon in the elderly. Because of its high vascularity or bleeding during biopsy, surgical resection can be life threatening. Therefore, nasal angiofibroma should be kept in mind in existing masses especially in elderly patients and support should be obtained from imaging methods.

Bilateral Masticator Space Metastasis of Breast Cancer Mimicking Abscess.

Metastasis to the masticator space and mandible is very rare. The most common origin in women is breast cancer. Cystic metastases may radiologically mimic abscess. Definitive diagnosis can be made histopathologically. The prognosis of these patients is very poor and early diagnosis is important. Therefore, metastasis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of oral lesions.

Cerebellar cavernous angioma associated with developmental venous anomaly presenting as a cerebellopontine angle neoplasm in CT scan.

Association of developmental venous anomaly (DVA) and cavernous malformation (CM) of the posterior fossa is rare. If bleeding occurs, it must be assigned to the CM. Developmental venous anomalies, considered as normal vascular variation, are rarely symptomatic. Indeed, the CMs are true malformations and have a high bleeding potential.

A Case of Sphenoid Mucocele Causing Hypopituitarism.

Mucocele is rarely seen in the sphenoid sinus. It may cause compression of neighboring structures due to significant destruction of the bony structure and its expansile nature. Although headache is the main symptom, it may present with different symptoms. Imaging methods play an important role in the diagnosis and differential diagnosis.

An Unusual Cause of Hearing Loss: Incudal Osteoma.

Osteoma is common in the temporal bone but extremely rare in the middle ear cavity and incus. Computed tomography plays an important role in the diagnosis of this slow growing benign osseous mass. The treatment of this lesion, which usually causes conductive type hearing loss, includes follow-up and surgery according to the patient's condition.

Two Extremely Rare Case of Carcinosarcoma Ex Pleomorphic Adenoma.

Carcinosarcoma ex pleomorphic adenoma (CCPA), also known as true mixed malignant tumor, is an extremely rare high-grade aggressive tumor. The histopathologic examination is the gold standard for diagnosis and radiologic imaging also plays an important role. CCPA should be considered in the differential diagnosis of salivary gland tumors when there are findings suggestive of malignancy such as necrosis and diffusion limitation on imaging.