A comprehensive evaluation of imaging features in pediatric spinal gliomas and their value in predicting tumor grade and histology.

PURPOSE: Pediatric spinal cord gliomas (PSGs) are rare in children and few reports detail their imaging features. We tested the association of tumoral grade with imaging features and proposed a novel approach to categorize post-contrast enhancement patterns in PSGs. METHODS: This single-center, retrospective study included patients <21 years of age with preoperative spinal MRI and confirmed pathological diagnosis of PSG from 2000-2022. Tumors were classified using the 5th edition of the WHO CNS Tumors Classification. Two radiologists reviewed multiple imaging features, and classified enhancement patterns using a novel approach. Fisher's exact test determined associations between imaging and histological features. RESULTS: Forty-one PSGs were reviewed. Thirty-four were intramedullary, and seven were extramedullary. Pilocytic astrocytoma was the most common tumor (39.02%). Pain and weakness were the most prevalent symptoms. Seven patients (17.07%) died. Cyst, syringomyelia, and leptomeningeal enhancement were associated with tumor grade. Widening of the spinal canal was observed only in low-grade astrocytomas. There was a significant association between tumor grade and contrast enhancement pattern. Specifically, low-grade PSGs were more likely to exhibit type 1A enhancement (mass-like, with well-defined enhancing margins) and less likely to exhibit type 1B enhancement (mass-like, with ill-defined enhancing margins). CONCLUSION: PSGs display overlapping imaging features, making grade differentiation challenging based solely on imaging. The correlation between tumor grade and contrast enhancement patterns suggests a potential diagnostic avenue, requiring further validation with larger, multicenter studies. Furthermore, Low-grade PSGs display cysts and syringomyelia more frequently, and leptomeningeal enhancement is less common.

Imaging findings of children with PTEN-related hamartoma tumor syndrome: a 20-year multicentric pediatric cohort.

BACKGROUND: PTEN-related hamartoma tumor syndrome results from a mutation in the PTEN gene located at 10q23.31. This syndrome represents a spectrum of different phenotypes of variable expressions, now recognized as part of the same condition. Patients with this mutation have an increased risk of developing a wide range of findings, including malignancies. Although widely described in adults, there are no large series describing the imaging findings in patients before adulthood. Knowledge of the findings seen in children and adolescents with PTEN-related hamartoma tumor syndrome can help guide further management and improve surveillance recommendations. OBJECTIVE: To describe the spectrum of imaging abnormalities in pediatric patients with PTEN-related hamartoma tumor syndrome. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed a retrospective, cross-sectional, multicenter study conducted between January 2000 and October 2021 in three tertiary pediatric institutions evaluating the imaging findings in children and adolescents (≤ 18 years) with confirmed diagnoses of a PTEN mutation. For each patient, the imaging findings, histopathology reports, and at least a 2-year follow-up of clinical outcomes for non-operative cases were documented. RESULTS: The cohort included 78 children (37 girls), with a mean age at diagnosis of 7.5 years (range 0 days to 18 years). Benign brain findings included enlarged Virchow-Robin perivascular spaces, white matter changes, developmental venous anomalies, and cerebellar hamartomas. Benign thyroid findings were common, but 5/45 (11.1%) with thyroid abnormalities had a malignant nodule. Soft tissue adipocytic tumors, GI/GU polyps, other soft tissue abnormalities, along with vascular anomalies in various anatomic locations were common. CONCLUSION: Brain abnormalities, benign non-vascular soft tissue abnormalities, and vascular anomalies are commonly seen in children and adolescents with PTEN-related hamartoma tumor syndrome. However, malignancies involving the thyroid gland are not uncommon. Familiarity with the phenotype of PTEN-related hamartoma tumor syndrome in the pediatric population can improve diagnosis and prompt appropriate clinical surveillance of abnormal findings that warrant further management.

Intravenous administration of ultrasound contrast to critically ill pediatric patients.

BACKGROUND: The off-label use of contrast-enhanced ultrasound has been increasingly used for pediatric patients. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this retrospective study is to report any observed clinical changes associated with the intravenous (IV) administration of ultrasound contrast to critically ill neonates, infants, children, and adolescents. MATERIALS AND METHODS: All critically ill patients who had 1 or more contrast-enhanced ultrasound scans while being closely monitored in the neonatal, pediatric, or pediatric cardiac intensive care units were identified. Subjective and objective data concerning cardiopulmonary, neurological, and hemodynamic monitoring were extracted from the patient's electronic medical records. Vital signs and laboratory values before, during, and after administration of ultrasound contrast were obtained. Statistical analyses were performed using JMP Pro, version 15. Results were accepted as statistically significant for P-value<0.05. RESULTS: Forty-seven contrast-enhanced ultrasound scans were performed on 38 critically ill patients, 2 days to 17 years old, 19 of which were female (50%), and 19 had history of prematurity (50%). At the time of the contrast-enhanced ultrasound scans, 15 patients had cardiac shunts or a patent ductus arteriosus, 25 had respiratory failure requiring invasive mechanical oxygenation and ventilation, 19 were hemodynamically unstable requiring continual vasoactive infusions, and 8 were receiving inhaled nitric oxide. In all cases, no significant respiratory, neurologic, cardiac, perfusion, or vital sign changes associated with IV ultrasound contrast were identified. CONCLUSION: This study did not retrospectively identify any adverse clinical effects associated with the IV administration of ultrasound contrast to critically ill neonates, infants, children, and adolescents.

Microvascular imaging findings in infants with bacterial meningitis: a case series.

Bacterial meningitis is a severe and life-threatening disease that rapidly progresses in neonates and infants; prompt diagnosis and appropriate treatment are lifesaving. Magnetic resonance imaging remains the primary imaging technique for diagnosing meningitis; however, due to its limited availability and cost, ultrasound is often used for initial screening. Microvascular imaging ultrasound (MVI) is an emerging technique that offers insight into the brain microvasculature beyond conventional ultrasound. Here we present three patients with confirmed bacterial meningitis and associated cerebral microvascular findings on brain MVI to instigate further validation of cerebral microvascular imaging markers of bacterial meningitis for early detection and intervention.

Evolution of cerebrovascular imaging and associated clinical findings in children with Alagille syndrome.

PURPOSE: Alagille syndrome (ALGS) is a multisystem autosomal dominant disorder with highly variable expression. Intracranial arterial and venous anomalies have a reported prevalence of 30-40% and can increase the risk of stroke by 16%. Few reports document the frequency and evolution of cerebrovascular abnormalities (CVAs) in children with ALGS. We aimed to define the spectrum, frequency, and evolution of CVAs in a series of children with ALGS using magnetic resonance angiography (MRA). METHODS: We conducted a single-center, retrospective study in a large tertiary pediatric hospital. CVAs were grouped into 4 categories: 1) Stenosis or narrowing; 2) Aneurysms and ectasias; 3) Tortuosity; and 4) Vascular anomalies and anatomical variants. RESULTS: Thirty-two children met the inclusion criteria. The median age at initial diagnosis was 6 (3.8-10.3) years. Thirteen (40%) had follow-up MRI at a mean of 55 (31.5-66) months. Eighteen (56%) had CVAs; the most frequent fell into group 1 (n = 12, 37.5%). CVAs were stable over time, except for one patient with Moyamoya arteriopathy (MMA). One patient developed a transient ischemic attack secondary to an embolic event. Three (9.3%) had microhemorrhages at the initial diagnosis secondary to Tetralogy of Fallot. Another patient had recurrent subdural hematomas of unknown cause. CONCLUSION: CVAs were stable except in the presence of MMA. Vascular strokes, which are reported in older patients with ALGS, were not a common feature in children under 16 years of age, either at presentation or over the 31.5-66 month follow-up period.

Expanding the Imaging Spectrum of Polymorphous Low-Grade Neuroepithelial Tumor of the Young in Children.

Polymorphous low-grade neuroepithelial tumors of the young (PLNTY) are rare brain tumors first described in 2017 and recently included in the 2021 5th World Health Organization Classification of Tumors of the Central Nervous System. They typically affect children and young adults. Few pediatric cases have been reported in the literature. The most common imaging features described, include location within the temporal lobe, involvement of the cortical/subcortical region, coarse calcifications, and well-defined margins with solid and cystic morphology, with slight-or-no enhancement. However, there is limited information on imaging features in children. We present the imaging spectrum of neuroimaging features in a series of pediatric patients with a histologically and molecularly proved PLNTY diagnosis. Coarse calcifications are uncommon in children compared with the adult literature, and they may develop with time. The transmantle-like sign can be observed, and adjacent cortical dysplasia may be seen. Seizure recurrence may occur despite gross total resection of the tumor.

Frequency of Cerebellar Abnormalities Associated With the Differing Magnetic Resonance Imaging Patterns of Term Hypoxic-Ischemic Injury in Children.

BACKGROUND: We aimed to determine the frequency of cerebellar injury using delayed magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in children with cerebral palsy, diagnosed with term hypoxic-ischemic injury (HII), and to characterize this for the different MRI patterns of HII. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed delayed MRI scans in children with cerebral palsy, of whom 1175 had term HII. The pattern of HII was classified into basal ganglia-thalamus (BGT) pattern, watershed (WS) pattern, combined BGT/WS, and multicystic HII. Cerebellar location (hemisphere versus vermis) and the MRI characteristics were documented overall and for each of the different patterns of HII, as well as the association with thalamic injury. RESULTS: Cerebellar injury was found in 252 of 1175 (21.4%) (median age 6 years [interquartile range: 3 to 9 years]). Of these, 49% (124 of 252) were associated with a BGT pattern, 13% (32 of 252) with a WS pattern, 28% (72 of 252) with a combined BGT/WS pattern, and 10% (24 of 252) with a multicystic pattern. The vermis was abnormal in 83% (209 of 252), and the hemispheres were abnormal in 34% (86 of 252) (with 17% [43 of 252] showing both vermis and hemispheric abnormality). CONCLUSIONS: Over a fifth of patients with cerebral palsy due to HII had a cerebellar abnormality on delayed MRI, most commonly involving the vermis (83%), and as part of a BGT pattern of injury in just under half of these likely reflecting the association of cerebellar vermis injury with profound insults.

Distinguishing multicystic from focal encephalomalacia on delayed MRI in children with term hypoxic ischemic injury.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: To define cystic patterns resulting from term hypoxic ischemic injury (HII) on delayed Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and determine associated HII patterns and lesions that reflect the severity of injury, from a database of African children with cerebral palsy. METHODS: Retrospective review of 1175 children with cerebral palsy due to term HII diagnosed on late MRI, identifying those with cystic changes. These were classified as multicystic or (multi-) focal-cystic, and were evaluated for associated injuries-thalami, basal ganglia, hippocampi, cerebellum, and presence of ulegyria. RESULTS: Three hundred and eighty-eight of 1175 (33%) children had cystic encephalomalacia. Two hundred and seven of 388 (53.3%) had focal-cystic and 181/388 (46.6%) had multicystic injury. The focal-cystic group comprised 87.9% (182/207) with thalamic injury, 25.6% (53/207) with basal ganglia injury, and 15% (31/207) with cerebellar involvement. Basal-ganglia-thalamus (BGT) pattern was present in 43.9% (91/207) and ulegyria in 69.6% (144/207). In the multicystic group, 88.9% (161/181) had thalamic injury, 30.9% (56/181) had basal ganglia injury, and 21% (38/181) had cerebellar involvement. BGT pattern was observed in 29.8% (54/181) and ulegyria in 28.7%. (52/181). Significant associations (p<.05) were found between multicystic injury and caudate/globus pallidus involvement, and between focal-cystic pattern of injury and ulegyria. CONCLUSIONS: Cystic encephalomalacia was seen in almost one-third of patients with term HII imaged with delayed MRI, with a similar prevalence of focal-cystic and multicystic injury. Multicystic injury was associated with caudate and globus pallidi involvement, typical of the BGT pattern of HII, whereas the focal-cystic pattern was associated with ulegyria, typical of watershed injury.

Watershed infarction in COVID-19: The necessity of neuroimaging in patients with subtle neurological symptoms.

Background: Cerebrovascular diseases comprise a significant portion of neurological disorders related to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). We evaluated the clinical and imaging characteristics of a cohort of COVID-19 patients with stroke and also identified patients with watershed infarcts. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, seventy-three COVID-19 patients with ischemic stroke were included between October 2020 and January 2021. Patients were evaluated based on the following clinical and imaging features: severity of COVID-19 (critical/ non-critical), stroke type, presence/absence of clinical suspicion of stroke, medical risk factors, Fazekas scale, atherothrombosis, small vessel disease, cardiac pathology, other causes, and dissection (ASCOD) criteria classification, and presence or absence of watershed infarction. Clinical outcomes were assessed based on Modified Rankin Scale (MRS) and mortality. Results: Most cases of ischemic stroke were due to undetermined etiology (52.1%) and cardioembolism (32.9%). In terms of imaging pattern, 17 (23.0%) patients had watershed infarction. Watershed infarction was associated with the clinically non-suspicious category [odds ratio (OR) = 4.67, P = 0.007] and death after discharge (OR = 7.1, P = 0.003). Patients with watershed infarction had a higher odds of having high Fazekas score (OR = 5.17, P = 0.007) which was also shown by the logistic regression model (adjusted OR = 6.87, P = 0.030). Thirty-one (42%) patients were clinically non-suspected for ischemic stroke. Critical COVID-19 was more common among patients with watershed infarct and clinically non-suspicious patients (P = 0.020 and P = 0.005, respectively). Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) were more prone to having stroke with watershed pattern (P = 0.020). Conclusion: Watershed infarct is one of the most common patterns of ischemic stroke in patients with COVID-19, for which clinicians should maintain a high index of suspicion in patients with critical COVID-19 without obvious clinical symptoms of stroke.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging-Based Distribution and Reversibility of Lesions in Pediatric Vigabatrin-Related Brain Toxicity.

BACKGROUND: We aimed to systematically characterize the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings in vigabatrin-related neurotoxicity in children and determine the reversibility of lesions based on follow-up images. METHODS: We evaluated children with a history of refractory seizures who had a brain MRI while on vigabatrin therapy. We included available brain MRI studies before vigabatrin therapy initiation, during vigabatrin treatment, and after vigabatrin was discontinued. A pediatric neuroradiologist systematically assessed images on T2/fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) and diffusion-weighted imaging /apparent diffusion coefficient sequences to identify hyperintense lesions and/or restricted diffusion. The frequency of abnormal signal at each location was determined, as well as the reversibility of these after vigabatrin discontinuation. RESULTS: MRIs of 43 patients were reviewed: 13 before vigabatrin initiation, 18 during treatment, and 12 after vigabatrin discontinuation. In the MRIs acquired during vigabatrin treatment, most lesions on T2/FLAIR occurred in the globus pallidi, thalami, and midbrain. Correspondingly, the most common locations for restricted diffusion were the globus pallidi, thalami, and subthalamic nuclei. On MRI after vigabatrin discontinuation, complete resolution of lesions on T2/FLAIR in all patients was seen in the midbrain, dentate nuclei, subthalamic nuclei, and hypothalami. Complete resolution of restricted diffusion was observed in the globus pallidi, midbrain, dentate nuclei, hippocampi, anterior commissure, and hypothalami. CONCLUSION: Globus pallidi and thalami are the most commonly affected structures in vigabatrin-related toxicity, and most vigabatrin-related neuroimaging findings are reversible.

Application of the Intracranial Arterial Pulsatility Index for Determination of Prognosis after Lacunar Infarct.

Background: We aimed to investigate the usefulness of intracranial arterial pulsatility index to assess the prognosis of lacunar infarcts. Materials and Methods: Forty-nine patients with confirmed acute lacunar infarct were enrolled in the study. A transcranial color-coded sonography was performed to assess the pulsatility index of bilateral middle cerebral, posterior cerebral, vertebral, and proximal internal carotid arteries. Patients' clinical status was assessed using a modified Rankin scale. Spearman correlation was used for reporting the relation between quantitative data. Statistical significance was defined as a two-tail p-value of less than 0.05. Results: The mean age ± standard deviation was 64.1 ± 9.07 years old, and 57.1% of the patients were male. Upon discharge, only 8.2% of the patients were ranked as 0 on the modified Rankin scale; however, after a 6-month follow-up period, this number increased to 49%. There were no significant differences between the left and right pulsatility index measurements in any of the assessed arteries. Patients with vertebral artery pulsatility indexes >1 on their primary assessment had significantly worse outcomes during the first, third, and sixth months follow-up (all r > 0.3, p-values < 0.01). Pulsatility indexes from other arteries did not predict the prognosis. Conclusion: Sonography-assisted assessment of the vertebral artery blood flow during the early stage of lacunar infarct provides a reliable reference for prognosis estimation.

Re-Evaluating Risk Factors, Incidence, and Outcome of Aneurysmal and Non-Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage.

OBJECTIVE: Subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) is one of the world's most life-threatening types of stroke. SAH can be classified into two main categories, aneurysmal (aSAH) and non-aneurysmal SAH (naSAH). In the present study, we aimed to prospectively evaluate SAH and its subcategories incidences, risk factors, complications, and outcomes in central Iran. METHODS: All SAH patients diagnosed between 2016 and 2020 were included in Isfahan SAH Registry. Demographic, clinical characteristics, incidence rates (based on age categories), and laboratory/imaging findings were collected and compared between aSAH and naSAH subgroups. Complications during hospital stay and outcomes were also analyzed. Binary logistic regression analysis was performed to investigate the predictors of aSAH versus naSAH. Kaplan-Meier curves and Cox regression were used to evaluate the survival probability. RESULTS: A total of 461 SAH patients were included through Isfahan SAH Registry. The SAH annual incidence rate was 3.11 per 100,000 person-years. aSAH had higher incidence rate than naSAH (2.08/100,000 vs. 0.9/100,000 person-years, respectively). In-hospital mortality was 18.2%. Hypertension (P = 0.003) and smoking (P = 0.03) were significantly associated with aSAH, whereas diabetes mellitus (P < 0.001) was more associated with naSAH. After Cox regression analysis, there were higher hazard ratios for reduced in-hospital survival in conditions including altered mental status, Glasgow Coma Scale ≤13, rebleeding, and seizures. CONCLUSIONS: This study provided an updated estimation of SAH and its subgroups incidences in central Iran. Risk factors for aSAH are comparable to the ones reported in the literature. It is noteworthy that diabetes mellitus was associated with a higher incidence of naSAH in our cohort.

Evaluation of the Cerebrospinal Fluid Flow Dynamics with Microvascular Imaging Ultrasound in Infants.

PURPOSE: Microvascular imaging ultrasound (MVI) can detect slow blood flow in small-caliber cerebral vessels. This technology may help assess flow in other intracranial structures, such as the ventricular system. In this study, we describe the use of MVI for characterizing intraventricular cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) flow dynamics in infants. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We included infants with brain ultrasound that had MVI B-Flow cine clips in the sagittal plane. Two blinded reviewers examined the images, dictated a diagnostic impression, and identified the third ventricle, cerebral aqueduct, fourth ventricle, and CSF flow direction. A third reviewer evaluated the discrepancies. We evaluated the association of visualization of CSF flow as detectable with MVI, with the diagnostic impressions. We also assessed the inter-rater reliability (IRR) for detecting CSF flow. RESULTS: We evaluated 101 infants, mean age 40 ± 53 days. Based on brain MVI B-Flow, a total of 49 patients had normal brain US scans, 40 had hydrocephalus, 26 had intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH), and 14 had hydrocephalus+IVH. Using spatially moving MVI signal in the third ventricle, cerebral aqueduct, and fourth ventricle as the criteria for CSF flow, CSF flow was identified in 10.9% (n = 11), 15.8% (n = 16), and 16.8% (n = 17) of cases, respectively. Flow direction was detected in 19.8% (n = 20) of cases; 70% (n = 14) was caudocranial, 15% (n = 3) was craniocaudal, and 15% (n = 3) bidirectional, with IRR = 0.662, p < 0.001. Visualization of CSF flow was significantly associated with the presence of IVH alone (OR 9.7 [3.3-29.0], p < 0.001) and IVH+hydrocephalus (OR 12.4 [3.5-440], p < 0.001), but not with hydrocephalus alone (p = 0.116). CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates that MVI can detect CSF flow dynamics in infants with a history of post-hemorrhagic hydrocephalus with a high IRR.

A concise guide to transtemporal contrast-enhanced ultrasound in children.

Brain contrast-enhanced ultrasound offers insights into the brain beyond the anatomic information offered by conventional grayscale ultrasound. In infants, the open fontanelles serve as acoustic windows. In children, whose fontanelles are closed, the temporal bone serves as the ideal acoustic window due to its relatively smaller thickness than the other skull bones. Diagnosis of common neurologic diseases such as stroke, hemorrhage, and hydrocephalus has been performed using the technique. Transtemporal ultrasound and contrast-enhanced ultrasound, however, are rarely used in children due to the prevalent notion that the limited acoustic penetrance degrades diagnostic quality. This review seeks to provide guidelines for the use of transtemporal brain contrast-enhanced ultrasound in children.

Cerebral Blood Flow of the Neonatal Brain after Hypoxic-Ischemic Injury.

OBJECTIVE: Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) in infants can have long-term adverse neurodevelopmental effects and markedly reduce quality of life. Both the initial hypoperfusion and the subsequent rapid reperfusion can cause deleterious effects in brain tissue. Cerebral blood flow (CBF) assessment in newborns with HIE can help detect abnormalities in brain perfusion to guide therapy and prognosticate patient outcomes. STUDY DESIGN: The review will provide an overview of the pathophysiological implications of CBF derangements in neonatal HIE, current and emerging techniques for CBF quantification, and the potential to utilize CBF as a physiologic target in managing neonates with acute HIE. CONCLUSION: The alterations of CBF in infants during hypoxia-ischemia have been studied by using different neuroimaging techniques, including nitrous oxide and xenon clearance, transcranial Doppler ultrasonography, contrast-enhanced ultrasound, arterial spin labeling MRI, 18F-FDG positron emission tomography, near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS), functional NIRS, and diffuse correlation spectroscopy. Consensus is lacking regarding the clinical significance of CBF estimations detected by these different modalities. Heterogeneity in the imaging modality used, regional versus global estimations of CBF, time for the scan, and variables impacting brain perfusion and cohort clinical characteristics should be considered when translating the findings described in the literature to routine practice and implementation of therapeutic interventions. KEY POINTS: · Hypoxic-ischemic injury in infants can result in adverse long-term neurologic sequelae.. · Cerebral blood flow is a useful biomarker in neonatal hypoxic-ischemic injury.. · Imaging modality, variables affecting cerebral blood flow, and patient characteristics affect cerebral blood flow assessment..

Distribution of IntraThalamic Injury According to Nuclei and Vascular Territories in Children With Term Hypoxic-Ischemic Injury.

BACKGROUND: Term hypoxic-ischemic injury (HII) on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is described as the basal ganglia thalamus [BGT], watershed [WS], or combined [BGT/WS] groups. We aimed to determine differences between HII groups in intrathalamic distribution. METHODS: Delayed MRIs of children with HII and thalamic injury were reviewed. Custom tools were placed over T2-weighted and/or fluid-attenuated inversion recovery axial images to determine distribution of intrathalamic injury: (1) six subjective (whole/near-whole, central, anterior, posterior, lateral, medial); (2) four nuclear (anterior [AN], ventrolateral [VLN], medial [MN], and pulvinar [PN]); and (3) three arterial (thalamoperforating arteries [TPA], thalamogeniculate arteries [TGA], and posterior choroidal arteries [PCA]) locations. We compared the frequency of injury of the aforementioned intrathalamic locations between HII groups. RESULTS: The 128 children (mean age at MRI 7.35 ± 3.6 years) comprised 41% (n = 53) BGT, 26% (n = 33) WS, and 33% (n = 42) BGT/WS. The VLN was the most frequent injured nuclear region (66%, n = 85), and the TGA (93%, n = 128) was the most frequent arterial region involved. VLN injury occurred more frequently in the BGT group (P < 0.001), PN in the WS group (P < 0.001), and AN (P < 0.001), MN (P < 0.001), PN (P = 0.001), and all nuclei together (P < 0.001) in the BGT/WS group. The combination of all vascular territories was significantly associated with BGT/WS (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: There are significant differences in intrathalamic nuclear and arterial injuries between the different types of HII.

Ultrasound-Estimated Bladder Weight Correlates With Videourodynamic Studies in Neurogenic Bladder Dysfunction.

PURPOSE: This retrospective study was designed to evaluate which lower urinary tract ultrasound parameter(s) could predict the results of invasive urodynamic testing which are the current reference standard in the evaluation of bladder dysfunction in children with spina bifida. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty eight children with spina bifida undergoing video urodynamic evaluation and a renal bladder ultrasound as their standard of care were evaluated. Quantitative and qualitative ultrasound parameters were then correlated with the videourodynamic study results which served as the reference standard. RESULTS: For bladders with ending storage pressures above 15 cm H2 O, there were increases in these ultrasound measured parameters: 1) bladder mass (P = .00019), 2) bladder/body mass ratio (P = .0059), and 3) wall thickness (P = .01). We defined the storage cost as the final storage pressure divided by the percentage of expected bladder capacity attained. These data were analyzed to compute receiver operating curves with assuming end storage pressures cutoff points of 15, 20, 30, and 40 cm H2 O. The optimal area under the curve was found for a bladder weight of 65 g and a pressure cutoff of 30 cm H2 O with a sensitivity of 75% with a specificity of 84%. CONCLUSION: Bladder weight is independent of luminal volume, can be normalized to body weight, and may serve as a clinically valuable tool for noninvasive screening to define a subset of patients with neurogenic bladder with a higher likelihood of having abnormal videourodynamic results.

Transtemporal brain contrast-enhanced ultrasound in children: preliminary experience in patients without neurological disorders.

AIM: To evaluate the use of transtemporal brain contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) to assess cerebral blood perfusion in a cohort of children without neurological disorders. METHODS: We included pediatric patients who were undergoing a clinically-indicated CEUS study. Brain scans were performed with a Siemens Sequoia scanner and a 4V1 transducer, that was placed on the left transtemporal bone. Brain scans were performed simultaneously with the images of the clinically-indicated organ of interest. Qualitative and quantitative analysis was performed to evaluate the hemispherical blood flow at the level of the midbrain during the wash-in and wash-out phases of the time-intensity curve. Clinical charts were reviewed to evaluate post-CEUS adverse events. RESULTS: Five patients were evaluated (mean age 5.8 ± 5.1 years). Qualitatively, more avid enhancement in the midbrain than the cortex was observed. Structures depicted ranged between the centrum semiovale at the level of the lateral ventricles and the midbrain. A quantitative analysis conducted on four patients demonstrated less avid perfusion on the contralateral (i.e. right) side, with a mean left/right ratio ranging between 1.51 and 4.07. In general, there was a steep positive wash-in slope starting at approximately 10 s after contrast injection, reaching a peak intensity around 15-26 s on the left side, and 17-29 s on the right side. No adverse events were reported. CONCLUSION: Transtemporal brain CEUS is feasible and safe in the pediatric population and allows qualitative and quantitative assessment of cerebral perfusion.

State-of-the-art imaging for lymphatic evaluation in children.

The lymphatic system has been poorly understood and its importance neglected for decades. Growing understanding of lymphatic flow pathophysiology through peripheral and central lymphatic flow imaging has improved diagnosis and treatment options in children with lymphatic diseases. Flow dynamics can now be visualized by different means including dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance lymphangiography (DCMRL), the current standard technique to depict central lymphatics. Novel imaging modalities including intranodal, intrahepatic and intramesenteric DCMRL are quickly evolving and have shown important advances in the understanding and guidance of interventional procedures in children with intestinal lymphatic leaks. Lymphatic imaging is gaining importance in the radiologic and clinical fields and new techniques are emerging to overcome its limitations.

Sonothrombolysis: State-of-the-Art and Potential Applications in Children.

In recent years, advances in ultrasound therapeutics have been implemented into treatment algorithms for the adult population; however, the use of therapeutic ultrasound in the pediatric population still needs to be further elucidated. In order to better characterize the utilization and practicality of sonothrombolysis in the juvenile population, the authors conducted a literature review of current pediatric research in therapeutic ultrasound. The PubMed database was used to search for all clinical and preclinical studies detailing the use and applications of sonothrombolysis, with a focus on the pediatric population. As illustrated by various review articles, case studies, and original research, sonothrombolysis demonstrates efficacy and safety in clot dissolution in vitro and in animal studies, particularly when combined with microbubbles, with potential applications in conditions such as deep venous thrombosis, peripheral vascular disease, ischemic stroke, myocardial infarction, and pulmonary embolism. Although there is limited literature on the use of therapeutic ultrasound in children, mainly due to the lower prevalence of thrombotic events, sonothrombolysis shows potential as a noninvasive thrombolytic treatment. However, more pediatric sonothrombolysis research needs to be conducted to quantify the safety and ethical considerations specific to this vulnerable population.