ABSTRACT
Brain complications from chronic alcoholism (Wernicke encephalopathy, central pontine myelinolysis, Marchiafava-Bignami disease, Korsakoff's syndrome, hepatic encephalopathy, cerebellar atrophy, hemorrhagic and ischemic brain lesions) may be diagnosed by MR imaging.
Subject(s)
Alcohol-Induced Disorders, Nervous System/diagnosis , Brain Diseases/diagnosis , Magnetic Resonance Imaging , Brain/pathology , Comorbidity , Humans , Sensitivity and Specificity , Smoking/adverse effectsABSTRACT
Two cases of superficial siderosis of the brain and spinal cord with cochleovestibular and cerebellar symptoms are diagnosed on brain and spinal MRI scans. Low signal intensity lines are noted on the surface of the brainstem, cerebellum, spinal cord and within the interhemispheric and sylvian fissures. In one case, no brain or vascular malformation is identified; in the second case, two cavernous angiomas are noted on the MRI study. 3D CISS may visualize thickening of the cochleovestibular nerve.
Subject(s)
Brain Diseases/pathology , Magnetic Resonance Imaging , Siderosis/pathology , Spinal Cord Diseases/pathology , Female , Humans , Male , Middle AgedABSTRACT
Patients with epidermoid cyst of the fourth ventricle usually present with headaches and/or disequilibrium. These cysts are characterized by a focal lesion that is nearly isodense to CSF at CT and nearly isointense to CSF on T1W and T2W MR images. MRI using FLAIR and diffusion weighted images as well as 3D CISS acquisitions is useful to better characterize the lesions and their relation with the vermis, foramen magnum and CP angle cisterns. DWI images are useful for postsurgical evaluation of residual tumor. Extension of the cyst into the CP angle cisterns usually precludes complete surgical resection.
Subject(s)
Brain Diseases/diagnosis , Epidermal Cyst/diagnosis , Fourth Ventricle , Adult , Biopsy , Brain Diseases/cerebrospinal fluid , Brain Diseases/complications , Brain Diseases/surgery , Cerebral Ventriculography , Chemoembolization, Therapeutic , Deglutition Disorders/etiology , Epidermal Cyst/cerebrospinal fluid , Epidermal Cyst/complications , Epidermal Cyst/surgery , Headache/etiology , Humans , Magnetic Resonance Imaging , Male , Middle Aged , Postural Balance , Sensation Disorders/etiology , Tomography, X-Ray Computed , Vertigo/etiology , Voice Disorders/etiologyABSTRACT
Wernicke encephalopathy (Wernicke-Korsakoff encephalopathy) is related to thiamine deficiency. We report the MRI findings in four patients with visualization of bilateral and symmetrical hyperintense foci on T2W and FLAIR images involving the periaqueductal gray matter, the mamillary bodies and around the third ventricle. Diffusion weighted images obtained in two patients demonstrated mild hypersignal in the same areas. Contrast enhancement within the mamillary bodies was noted in one patient. Follow-up MRI obtained in three patients showed rapid regression of signal abnormalities without correlation with good clinical outcome.