RESUMEN
BACKGROUND: The apparent absence of a uterus upon imaging women with primary amenorrhea appears to lead to a high risk of misdiagnosis, which will lead to significant mental distress in patients. CASE: Three young females with primary amenorrhea were referred with a diagnosis of Mayer-Rokitansky-Kuster-Hauser syndrome based on radiological findings of an apparently absent uterus. In two patients, the absence of the uterus could be confirmed, but with various diagnoses. The other patient had a normal but unstimulated uterus due to her hypoestrogenic state. SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION: The presented cases illustrate the broad differential diagnoses and the specific pitfalls of primary amenorrhea with an apparently absent uterus upon imaging. A well-established diagnosis was only possible through a thorough correlation of imaging findings with clinical history, biochemical findings and physical examination.
RESUMEN
INTRODUCTION: Little is known about changes in carotid blood flow after perinatal arterial ischemic stroke (PAIS). The aim of this study was to assess the blood flow in the internal carotid arteries (ICAs) after unilateral PAIS. METHODS: The carotid flow (ml/min) was measured noninvasively by means of two-dimensional phase-contrast magnetic resonance angiography (2D PC-MRA) in 25 full-term infants who had unilateral PAIS within 10 d after birth. In 17 infants a second 2D PC-MRA was carried out at the age of 3 mo. Asymmetry of carotid blood flow was calculated at both time points, and the circle of Willis (CoW) was assessed with a three-dimensional (3D) time-of-flight MRA. RESULTS: On the early magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), a significant increase in ipsilateral blood flow was observed (7.7%, 95% confidence interval (CI) 3.0-14.9%), which persisted after correcting for CoW configuration. At 3 mo, this asymmetry was no longer observed. No relationship was found between the asymmetry in blood flow and either stroke size or postnatal age at scan. DISCUSSION: A higher blood flow in the ipsilateral ICA was observed during the acute phase after unilateral PAIS, and this disappeared after 3 mo. Further research into the role of hyperperfusion after PAIS may suggest new approaches to neuroprotection.