Vascular Myelopathies.

There are many vascular disorders that can affect the spinal cord, and their prevalence and etiology are highly influenced by age, sex, and risk factors. This article reviews the embryology and anatomy of the spinal cord, as well as several vascular conditions, describing their clinical and imaging presentation, emphasizing the different imaging modalities' contributions to increasing specificity and better defining the most appropriate therapy strategy for improving the patient's prognosis.

"Bunch of acai berries sign": a new radiological sign in patients with CNS involvement in Chagas disease.

Chagas disease is an infection caused by Trypanosoma cruzi, a parasite endemic in Latin America. Acute involvement of the CNS by Chagas has been considered rare, but presumed reactivation of chronic disease in immunosuppressed patients has been the subject of recent reports. Our objective is to describe the clinical and imaging characteristics of four patients with Chagas disease and CNS involvement, and the patients had to have available MRI and a diagnosis confirmed by biopsy. The imaging findings were similar, highlighting the presence of focal cerebral lesions with hypointensity on T2-WI, and these lesions assume a "bunch of acai berries appearance", a fruit involved in the transmission of T. cruzi. The post Gd T1-WI shows punctate enhancement. Knowledge of this pattern may be crucial to recognize this disease in immunocompromised patients from endemic areas.

Imaging features of neurosyphilis.

Syphilis is an infectious disease caused by the spirochete Treponema pallidum, subspecies pallidum. Although its incidence has declined after the widespread availability of penicillin, it has recently re-emerged, especially in men who have sex with men and in people living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The neurological manifestations of syphilis, generally known as neurosyphilis, may appear at any time during the infection, including the initial years after the primary infection. Neurosyphilis can be asymptomatic, only with cerebrospinal fluid abnormalities, or symptomatic, characterized by several different clinical syndromes, such as meningitis, gumma, meningovascular, brain parenchyma involvement, meningomyelitis, tabes dorsalis, and peripheral nervous system involvement. However, these syndromes may simulate several other diseases, making the diagnosis often a challenge. In addition, syphilis can also be vertically transmitted from mother to child during pregnancy, leading to neurological manifestations. Neuroimaging is essential to demonstrate abnormal brain or spinal cord findings in patients with neurosyphilis, aiding in the diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up of these patients. This article aims to review the imaging features of neurosyphilis, including the early and late stages of the infection.

Skeletal involvement in Gaucher disease: extent of bone disease, splenic volume, and quality of life.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the correlations among the extent of bone involvement, splenic volume, and quality of life in patients with Gaucher disease. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a descriptive, prospective cross-sectional study of 18 patients with Gaucher disease who underwent 3-T magnetic resonance imaging of both femurs and the lumbar spine. Semiquantitative analyses were performed on the basis of the bone marrow burden (BMB) score. We looked for linear relationships among the variables splenic volume, quality of life score, and BMB score. RESULTS: We identified a linear relationship between the BMB scores and splenic volume. The quality of life score showed no statistically significant relationship with splenic volume or the BMB score. CONCLUSION: The linear relationship between the BMB score and the splenic volume indicates that the extent of bone disease is greater in individuals with splenomegaly. No correlation was found between the BMB and quality of life scores, illustrating the insidious and silent progression of Gaucher disease.

OBJETIVO: Investigar a correlação entre a extensão do envolvimento ósseo, o volume esplênico e a qualidade de vida em pacientes com doença de Gaucher. MATERIAIS E MÉTODOS: Estudo descritivo, prospectivo e transversal de 18 pacientes com doença de Gaucher submetidos a ressonância magnética de 3-T de ambos os fêmures e da coluna lombar. Análise semiquantitativa foi feita utilizando o escore bone marrow burden (BMB). Correlação linear foi estudada para as variáveis volume esplênico, qualidade de vida e escore BMB. RESULTADOS: Uma correlação linear entre os escores BMB e volume esplênico foi demonstrada. Em relação ao índice de qualidade de vida, não foi observada correlação estatisticamente significante nem com o volume esplênico e nem com o escore BMB. CONCLUSÃO: Nosso estudo demonstrou uma correlação linear entre o escore BMB e o volume esplênico, correspondendo a maior extensão de doença óssea em indivíduos com maior esplenomegalia. Nenhuma correlação foi encontrada entre o escore BMB e a qualidade de vida, indicando a natureza insidiosa e a progressão silenciosa da doença de Gaucher.

Skeletal involvement in Gaucher disease: extent of bone disease, splenic volume, and quality of life / Envolvimento ósseo na doença de Gaucher: extensão do acometimento ósseo, volume esplênico e qualidade de vida

Abstract Objective: To investigate the correlations among the extent of bone involvement, splenic volume, and quality of life in patients with Gaucher disease. Materials and Methods: This was a descriptive, prospective cross-sectional study of 18 patients with Gaucher disease who underwent 3-T magnetic resonance imaging of both femurs and the lumbar spine. Semiquantitative analyses were performed on the basis of the bone marrow burden (BMB) score. We looked for linear relationships among the variables splenic volume, quality of life score, and BMB score. Results: We identified a linear relationship between the BMB scores and splenic volume. The quality of life score showed no statistically significant relationship with splenic volume or the BMB score. Conclusion: The linear relationship between the BMB score and the splenic volume indicates that the extent of bone disease is greater in individuals with splenomegaly. No correlation was found between the BMB and quality of life scores, illustrating the insidious and silent progression of Gaucher disease.

Resumo Objetivo: Investigar a correlação entre a extensão do envolvimento ósseo, o volume esplênico e a qualidade de vida em pacientes com doença de Gaucher. Materiais e Métodos: Estudo descritivo, prospectivo e transversal de 18 pacientes com doença de Gaucher submetidos a ressonância magnética de 3-T de ambos os fêmures e da coluna lombar. Análise semiquantitativa foi feita utilizando o escore bone marrow burden (BMB). Correlação linear foi estudada para as variáveis volume esplênico, qualidade de vida e escore BMB. Resultados: Uma correlação linear entre os escores BMB e volume esplênico foi demonstrada. Em relação ao índice de qualidade de vida, não foi observada correlação estatisticamente significante nem com o volume esplênico e nem com o escore BMB. Conclusão: Nosso estudo demonstrou uma correlação linear entre o escore BMB e o volume esplênico, correspondendo a maior extensão de doença óssea em indivíduos com maior esplenomegalia. Nenhuma correlação foi encontrada entre o escore BMB e a qualidade de vida, indicando a natureza insidiosa e a progressão silenciosa da doença de Gaucher.

Imaging paracoccidioidomycosis: A pictorial review from head to toe.

Paracoccidioidomycosis is an infectious disease characterized primarily by pulmonary involvement and potential dissemination to other organs, mainly mucosa and skin; however, it can affect any organ in the body. Although difficult to diagnose purely based on imaging, imaging is important for diagnosis, follow-up, and assessment of disease-related complications. We provide a comprehensive review of the most notable imaging findings of paracoccidioidomycosis.