Mineralizing Lenticulostriate Vasculopathy: An Emerging Risk Factor for Basal Ganglia Stroke After Minor Head Trauma in Young Children.

Mineralizing lenticulostriate vasculopathy is a well-recognized risk factor for basal ganglia stroke after minor head trauma in infants and young children; it is diagnosed on head computed tomography by the presence of basal ganglia calcification, seen as punctate hyperdensities on axial and linear hyperdensities on reconstructed coronal and sagittal images. In children with anterior fontanel window, its presence is suggested by branching hyperechogenic stripes in the basal ganglia region on cranial ultrasound. Brain magnetic resonance imaging, including susceptibility-weighted sequences and brain magnetic resonance angiography, fail to detect calcification or vascular abnormalities. Although its etiology remains unknown, mineralizing lenticulostriate vasculopathy is considered to represent end-stage pathology of lenticulostriate vasculopathy, a neonatal radiographic condition detected during routine neonatal cranial ultrasonographic examination and represents nonspecific finding associated with a multitude of etiologies. The significance of mineralizing lenticulostriate vasculopathy lies in the fact that it has emerged as one of the most common risk factors for basal ganglia stroke in Indian children, accounting for one-fourth to one-half of all causes of stroke in some studies. The outcome of stroke in children with mineralizing lenticulostriate vasculopathy appears to be favorable with the majority achieving complete or nearly complete recovery of their motor functions. Stroke recurrence following repeat head trauma is seen in a small proportion of children despite aspirin treatment.

Placental pathology associated with lenticulostriate vasculopathy (LSV) in preterm infants.

OBJECTIVE: Our aim was to examine the frequency and type of placental abnormalities in neonates with LSV. STUDY DESIGN: We prospectively reviewed cranial ultrasounds (cUS) from neonates born at ≤32 weeks of gestation at Parkland Hospital between 2012 and 2014. Our cohort included neonates with LSV and gestational age and sex matched controls with normal cUS. We retrieved placental pathology reports retrospectively and compared placental abnormalities in both groups. RESULTS: We reviewed 1351 cUS from a total of 407 neonates. Placental pathology evaluations were complete for 64/65 (98%) neonates with LSV and 68/70 (97%) matched controls. There were no significant differences for any type of placental abnormities between LSV and control groups. However, infants with highest stage LSV were more likely to have large for gestational age (LGA) placentas (p = 0.01). CONCLUSION: The association between LSV and LGA placenta may indicate a shared vascular response to an adverse prenatal environment.

A rare cause of stroke in young children: minor head trauma associated with mineralising lenticulostriate angiopathy in three patients.

Acute basal ganglia infarct following minor head trauma in association with mineralisation of lenticulostriate arteries is an increasingly recognised entity in childhood stroke. Three cases with a classical history and phenotypical features of mineralising angiopathy are described. Case 1 was a 2-year-old girl who presented with acute onset hemiparesis with a same-side upper motor neuron (UMN)-type facial palsy following minor head trauma. Case 2 was a 14-month-old boy who presented with a left side hemiparesis and a left UMN-type facial nerve palsy following a minor fall. Case 3 was an 8-month-old boy who, following a fall from his cot, had a sudden-onset hemiparesis on the right side and deviation of the angle of the mouth to the left. In brain computed tomography, all three cases demonstrated characteristic basal ganglia calcification of the mineralising angiopathy. Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain demonstrated features supportive of acute infarcts in the lentiform nucleus, caudate nucleus and putamen. Two of the patients had iron deficiency anaemia with haemoglobin of 7.0 g/dL and 7.8 g/dL, respectively. On follow-up, Case 1 had mild residual weakness and the other two made a complete recovery. None of the patients had a recurrence of stroke. Basal ganglia stroke with mineralising angiopathy should be considered in toddlers presenting with sudden-onset focal neurological deficits preceded by minor head trauma.Abbreviations: ADC: apparent diffusion coefficient; CT: computed tomography; DWI: diffusion-weighted imaging; Hb: haemoglobin; IDA: iron deficiency anaemia; MRI: magnetic resonance imaging; SLV: sonographic lenticulostriate vasculopathy; SWI: susceptibility weighted imaging; UMN: upper motor neuron.

Successful Mechanical Thrombectomy for Subocclusive Thrombus at the Origin of Lenticulostriate Artery.

Optimal treatment of patients with intracranial subocclusive thrombus remains unclear. Such a rare case successfully managed with endovascular mechanical thrombectomy is presented. A 71-year-old man experienced a sudden onset of dysarthria and motor deficits. At the time of admission his National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score was 4. DWI demonstrated incomplete infarction within the left lenticulostriate artery (LSA) territory, MRA showed partial flow defect in the distal left M1 segment and non-visualization of the LSA, and ECG revealed atrial fibrillation, thus ischemic stroke caused by cardiogenic embolism was diagnosed. Tissue plasminogen activator was administered, but symptoms progressed and NIHSS score increased up to 8. Diagnostic angiogrpahy confirmed presence of the subocclusive thrombus within the distal left M1 segment and complete occlusion of LSA at its origin. Since conservative therapy was ineffective, mechanical thrombectomy utilizing ADAPT (a direct aspiration first-pass thrombectomy) technique was performed resulting in compete recanalization of the LSA accompanied by the prompt regress of neurological symptoms. Eventally, the patient demonstrated nearly full recovery (modified Rankin Scale score 1). Thus, mechanical thrombectomy should be considered as a reasonable option in cases of acute cerebral stroke caused by subocclusive thrombus and progressive neurological deficits despite standard conservative therapy. J. Med. Invest. 67 : 372-374, August, 2020.

Diagnostic and therapeutic challenge in intracerebral hemorrhage due to aneurysm of distal lenticulostriate artery.

OBJECTIVE: To present an atypical case of deep intracerebral hemorrhage caused by the rupture of an aneurysm of the distal lenticulostriate artery. A 42-year-old woman presenting with right-sided mild hemiparesis was diagnosed with an acute left-sided hemorrhage within the basal nuclei. Cerebral angiography revealed a microaneurysm of the distal portion of the left lenticulostriate artery. Conservative treatment under close neurological surveillance was recommended. After a few days of hospital stay, the patient's neurological symptoms improved, and she was discharged. The patient has remained asymptomatic for more than 6 months. Aneurysms of the distal lenticulostriate artery are extremely rare.

OBJETIVO: Presentar un caso atípico de hemorragia intracerebral profunda causada por la ruptura de un aneurisma de la arteria lenticuloestriada distal; se revisa la bibliografía y se analizan la fisiopatología y el tratamiento. Se presentó a la sala de emergencias una mujer de 42 años con hemiparesia leve del hemicuerpo derecho. Se la diagnosticó con una hemorragia aguda en los núcleos de la base izquierdos. La panangiografía cerebral reveló un microaneurisma de la porción distal de la arteria lenticuloestriada izquierda. Se recomendó tratamiento conservador bajo estrecha vigilancia neurológica. Después de unos cuantos días de hospitalización, los síntomas neurológicos de la paciente mejoraron y la paciente recibió el alta. La paciente ha permanecido asintomática durante más de seis meses. Los aneurismas de la arteria lenticuloestriada distal son extremadamente raros.

Lenticulostriate Artery Aneurysm: 2-Dimensional Operative Video.

Saccular aneurysms that arise from the origin of or along a lenticulostriate artery are rarely observed. In general, occlusion of the lenticulostriate artery is discouraged because of the risk of a capsular infarction. This patient was a woman with moyamoya disease who demonstrated a fusiform aneurysm of a lenticulostriate artery. Image guidance was critical to correctly identify the location of the aneurysm. The lenticulostriate artery was occluded by a surgical clip to obliterate the aneurysm and consequently the flow through the artery. However, the patient tolerated the procedure well and did not experience an ischemic stroke from the vessel occlusion. The patient gave informed consent for surgery and video recording. Institutional review board approval was deemed unnecessary. Used with permission from Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, Arizona.

Mineralizing angiopathy presenting with recurrence of basal ganglia stroke following minor head trauma.

Basal ganglia stroke secondary to mineralizing angiopathy of lenticulostriate arteries is a well-recognized clinical entity following minor head trauma in children. Recurrences are uncommon, and the majority of these recurrences occur within a few months of initial insult. We report a 2-year-old boy who developed recurrence of basal ganglia stroke after a latency of 18 months from the time of first unrecognized insult at 6 months of age. The case brings forth the need to recognize the condition of basal ganglia stroke secondary to mineralizing angiopathy considering the risk of recurrence to occur as far as 18 months after the first stroke.

Post-thrombolysis rupture of small lenticulostriate aneurysms: A report of 2 consecutive cases.

The 2018 American Heart Association/American Stroke Association (AHA/ASA) guidelines stated that the administration of intravenous recombinant tissue-type plasminogen activator (rTPA) for acute ischaemic stroke is probably safe for patients with small (i.e. <10 mm) unruptured intracranial aneurysms. We present 2 cases of small (2 and 5 mm) lenticulostriate artery (LSA) aneurysms which ruptured immediately following rtPA infusion. The ensuing acute intracranial haemorrhages resulted in the death of one patient and severe functional impairment for the other. Given the limited literature available, the natural history of LSA aneurysms is largely unknown. This report suggests that LSA aneurysms, regardless of size, be considered separately from other conventional aneurysms as "high-risk" lesions and a contraindication to thrombolysis.

Lenticulostriate vasculopathy in preterm infants: a new classification, clinical associations and neurodevelopmental outcome.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the inter-rater reliability for the diagnosis of LSV on cranial ultrasound (cUS), determine the risk factors associated with LSV and its progression, and examine neurodevelopmental outcome. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective case-control study of neonates ≤32wks of gestation assessed for LSV by serial cUS (n = 1351) between 2012 and 2014 and their neurodevelopment at 18-36mon-corrected age compared to controls. RESULTS: Agreement for LSV on cUS improved from Κappa 0.4-0.7 after establishing definitive criteria and guidelines. BPD was the only variable associated with the occurrence and the progression of LSV. Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection occurred in one neonate (1.5%). Neurodevelopmental outcome of neonates with LSV did not differ from controls. CONCLUSIONS: Establishment of well-defined stages of LSV improves the reliability of the diagnosis and allows identification of neonates with progression of LSV. Although LSV was associated with BPD, it was not associated with congenital CMV infection.

Quantitative assessment of symptomatic intracranial atherosclerosis and lenticulostriate arteries in recent stroke patients using whole-brain high-resolution cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging.

BACKGROUND: It has been shown that intracranial atherosclerotic stenosis (ICAS) has heterogeneous features in terms of plaque instability and vascular remodeling. Therefore, quantitative information on the changes of intracranial atherosclerosis and lenticulostriate arteries (LSAs) may potentially improve understanding of the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying stroke and may guide the treatment and work-up strategies. Our present study aimed to use a novel whole-brain high-resolution cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging (WB-HRCMR) to assess both ICAS plaques and LSAs in recent stroke patients. METHODS: Twenty-nine symptomatic and 23 asymptomatic ICAS patients were enrolled in this study from Jan 2015 through Sep 2017 and all patients underwent WB-HRCMR. Intracranial atherosclerotic plaque burden, plaque enhancement volume, plaque enhancement index, as well as the number and length of LSAs were evaluated in two groups. Enhancement index was calculated as follows: ([Signal intensity (SI)plaque/SInormal wall on post-contrast imaging] - [SIplaque/SInormal wall on matched pre-contrast imaging])/(SIplaque / SInormal wall on matched pre-contrast imaging). Logistic regression analysis was used to investigate the independent high risk plaque and LSAs features associated with stroke. RESULTS: Symptomatic ICAS patients exhibited larger enhancement plaque volume (20.70 ± 3.07 mm3 vs. 6.71 ± 1.87 mm3 P = 0.001) and higher enhancement index (0.44 ± 0.08 vs. 0.09 ± 0.06 P = 0.001) compared with the asymptomatic ICAS. The average length of LSAs in symptomatic ICAS (20.95 ± 0.87 mm) was shorter than in asymptomatic ICAS (24.04 ± 0.95 mm) (P = 0.02). Regression analysis showed that the enhancement index (100.43, 95% CI - 4.02-2510.96; P = 0.005) and the average length of LSAs (0.80, 95% CI - 0.65-0.99; P = 0.036) were independent factors for predicting of stroke. CONCLUSION: WB-HRCMR enabled the comprehensive quantitative evaluation of intracranial atherosclerotic lesions and perforating arteries. Symptomatic ICAS had distinct plaque characteristics and shorter LSA length compared with asymptomatic ICAS.

Infantile Basal Ganglia Stroke after Mild Head Trauma Associated with Mineralizing Angiopathy of Lenticulostriate Arteries: An Under Recognized Entity.

Basal ganglia infarction in young children, mostly after mild head trauma, has been repeatedly reported. The pathogenesis and the risk factors are not fully understood. Lenticulostriate vasculopathy, usually referred to as basal ganglia calcification, is discussed as one of them. We describe five young (7-13 months old on presentation) male children who suffered from hemiparesis due to ischemic stroke of the basal ganglia, four of them after minor head trauma. All of them had calcification in the basal ganglia visible on computed tomography or cranial ultrasound but not on magnetic resonance imaging. Follow-up care was remarkable for recurrent infarction in three patients. One patient had a second symptomatic stroke on the contralateral side, and two patients showed new asymptomatic infarctions in the contralateral basal ganglia on imaging. In view of the scant literature, this clinic-radiologic entity seems under recognized. We review the published cases and hypothesize that male sex and iron deficiency anemia are risk factors for basal ganglia stroke after minor trauma in the context of basal ganglia calcification in infants. We suggest to perform appropriate targeted neuroimaging in case of infantile basal ganglia stroke, and to consider prophylactic medical treatment, although its value in this context is not proven.

Hyperechogenicity of lenticulostriate vessels: A poor prognosis or a normal variant? A seven year retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: Lenticulostriate vasculopathy (LSV) is a hyperechogenicity of the lenticulostriate branches of the basal ganglia and/or thalamus' middle cerebral arteries and is frequently seen in neonatology. Our study primarily describes the perinatal data and long-term follow-up of newborns with lenticulostriate vessel hyperechoic degeneration. Secondly, it describes the cerebral imaging data as a function of perinatal factors and neurodevelopmental follow-up of these newborns. METHODS: This retrospective study assesses the outcome of newborns with LSV hyperechogenicity on cerebral ultrasound (two grades). These children were born between January 2008 and September 2015 and were treated in a large level III neonatal intensive care unit. Thirty-four term-equivalent age children underwent MRIs using a standardized protocol of T2, T1 3D, diffusion and spectro-MRI sequences. The MRIs retrospectively measured the white matter and basal ganglia apparent diffusion coefficients (ADC). RESULTS: Fifty-eight neonates, ranging from 25 to 42 weeks gestational age (GA), were diagnosed with LSV. There was a significantly increased high-grade LSV when accompanied by fetal heart rate abnormalities (p = 0.03) and the neonate's need for respiratory support at birth (P = 0.002). The mean ADC score was substantially superior in the high-grade versus the low-grade LSVs (p = 0.023). There were no noteworthy outcome differences between a high and low grade LSV. The mean ADC for basal ganglions was appreciably higher in children with a severe prognoses (death or developmental disorder) as compared to children with no abnormalities (p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: From the results of our study, it appears that a low-grade LSV could be considered as a normal variant. There are no unifying diagnostic criteria for LSV on cerebral ultrasound. With a cerebral MRI, the use of ADC values of basal ganglia may well underscore the importance of such data in predicting long-term outcomes.

The Utility of Collaterals as a Biomarker in Pediatric Unilateral Intracranial Arteriopathy.

BACKGROUND: Intracranial arteriopathies are frequent causes of pediatric stroke and important risk factors for stroke recurrence. Without tissue diagnosis, vascular imaging is relied upon to identify the underlying etiology and prognosis. We hypothesized that children with unilateral intracranial arteriopathy with lenticulostriate collaterals would demonstrate distinct vascular outcomes compared with children without collaterals. METHODS: We retrospectively identified children with unilateral intracranial arteriopathy from two institutions. Two blinded raters from each institution reviewed magnetic resonance or digital subtraction angiography at baseline and ≥12 months. Patients were grouped according to presence or absence of lenticulostriate collaterals. Clinical features and vascular imaging outcomes were compared using univariate analysis and multivariate logistic regression. RESULTS: Forty-four children were included: 22 males, median age 8.2 years (range two to 16.9 years), and further stratified into the collateral group (n = 20) and non-collateral group (n = 24), with median follow-up of 25.5 months and 23 months, respectively. Both groups demonstrated similar rates of progression on vascular imaging at ≥12 months, 50% in the collateral group versus 37.5% in the non-collateral group (P > 0.05). The collateral group was associated with asymptomatic clinical presentation, normal brain MRI, border zone infarcts, and either vascular stabilization or new contralateral disease. The non-collateral group demonstrated either vascular improvement or discordant progression (combination of improved and progressive lesions). Using a multivariate model, collaterals continued to be an independent predictor of vascular outcome. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that lenticulostriate collaterals in children with unilateral intracranial arteriopathy may serve as a useful neuroimaging biomarker that helps to stratify patients with distinct clinical features and patterns of vascular evolution.

Características de la enfermedad cerebrovascular extracraneal en el municipio de arroyo naranjo / Characteristics of the extra-cranial cerebrovascular disease in Arroyo Naranjo municipality

Introducción: La enfermedad cerebrovascular extracraneal en Cuba está subdiagnosticada, de ahí que se desconoce su prevalencia en población general.Objetivo: Determinar las características de la enfermedad cerebrovascular extracraneal en el municipio de Arroyo Naranjo.Métodos: Se realizó estudio descriptivo en las 26 personas diagnosticadas con enfermedad carotidea de una muestra de 200 individuos obtenida por método aleatorio simple de los 208 554 residentes del municipio Arroyo Naranjo. La enfermedad se confirmó por eco-doppler carotideo. Las variables fueron: edad, sexo, porcentaje de estenosis, localización, tipo de placa, factores de riesgo y grosor íntima-media carotideo.Resultados: La prevalencia de la enfermedad fue de 12,5 x 100 000 habitantes, mayor en las mujeres (10,1) y en los mayores de 60 años (9,1). Se confirmó el diagnóstico en el 80,8 por ciento de las personas y más del 45 por ciento mostró estenosis no significativa en ambas carótidas. Predominaron las placas heterogénea (46,2 por ciento) localizadas fundamentalmente en: bifurcación carotidea y bulbo. El tabaquismo (80,8 por ciento), la hipertensión arterial (73,1 por ciento), y la enfermedad arterial periférica (65,1 por ciento) fueron los factores de riesgo más frecuentes; el 69,2 por ciento presentaba más de tres factores. Más del 75 por ciento de los mayores de 60 años, independiente del sexo, tenían valores patológicos del grosor íntima-media carotideo.Conclusiones: La prevalencia de enfermedad cerebrovascular extracraneal en el municipio es elevada. Alta incidencia de factores de riesgo. El diagnóstico precoz de dicha enfermedad en un alto porcentaje permitió remitir a sus áreas de salud a aquellas personas que requerían de un tratamiento oportuno(AU)

Introduction: Extracranial cerebrovascular disease is a problem of health internationally, in Cuba it is sub-diagnostician without knowing its prevalence in the general population.Objective: To determine the characteristics of the extracranial cerebrovascular disease in the Arroyo Naranjo municipality.Methods: a descriptive study was conducted in 26 people diagnosed with carotid disease of a sample of 200 people obtained by a simple random method of the 208 554 residents of the municipality of Arroyo Naranjo. The disease was confirmed by carotid doppler ultrasound. The variables were: age, sex, percent stenosis, location, type of plate, risk factors and thickness intima-media carotid.Results: The prevalence of the disease was 12,5 x 100 000 inhabitants, higher in women (10,1) and older adults (9,1). The diagnosis was confirmed in 80,8 percent of people, where more than 45 percent showed a non-significant stenosis in both carotid. The types of plates were the heterogeneous (46,2 percent) and the echogenic (38,6 percent), located in: carotid bifurcation, bulb, and internal carotid. Smoking (80,8 percent), hypertension (73,1 percent), and peripheral arterial disease (65,1 percent) were the most frequent risk factors, noting that 69,2 percent had more than three factors. More of the 75 percent of those older than 60 years, independent of sex, showed pathological values of the thickness intima-media carotid.Conclusions: The prevalence of the extracranial cerebrovascular disease in the municipality is high; and too the incidence of the risk factors. Early diagnosis of the disease in a high percentage allowed referring to their areas of health to those persons requiring prompt treatment(AU)

Características de la enfermedad cerebrovascular extracraneal en el municipio de arroyo naranjo / Characteristics of the extra-cranial cerebrovascular disease in Arroyo Naranjo municipality

Introducción: La enfermedad cerebrovascular extracraneal en Cuba está subdiagnosticada, de ahí que se desconoce su prevalencia en población general. Objetivo: Determinar las características de la enfermedad cerebrovascular extracraneal en el municipio de Arroyo Naranjo. Métodos: Se realizó estudio descriptivo en las 26 personas diagnosticadas con enfermedad carotidea de una muestra de 200 individuos obtenida por método aleatorio simple de los 208 554 residentes del municipio Arroyo Naranjo. La enfermedad se confirmó por eco-doppler carotideo. Las variables fueron: edad, sexo, porcentaje de estenosis, localización, tipo de placa, factores de riesgo y grosor íntima-media carotideo. Resultados: La prevalencia de la enfermedad fue de 12,5 x 100 000 habitantes, mayor en las mujeres (10,1) y en los mayores de 60 años (9,1). Se confirmó el diagnóstico en el 80,8 por ciento de las personas y más del 45 por ciento mostró estenosis no significativa en ambas carótidas. Predominaron las placas heterogénea (46,2 por ciento) localizadas fundamentalmente en: bifurcación carotidea y bulbo. El tabaquismo (80,8 por ciento), la hipertensión arterial (73,1 por ciento), y la enfermedad arterial periférica (65,1 por ciento) fueron los factores de riesgo más frecuentes; el 69,2 por ciento presentaba más de tres factores. Más del 75 por ciento de los mayores de 60 años, independiente del sexo, tenían valores patológicos del grosor íntima-media carotideo. Conclusiones: La prevalencia de enfermedad cerebrovascular extracraneal en el municipio es elevada. Alta incidencia de factores de riesgo. El diagnóstico precoz de dicha enfermedad en un alto porcentaje permitió remitir a sus áreas de salud a aquellas personas que requerían de un tratamiento oportuno(AU)

Introduction: Extracranial cerebrovascular disease is a problem of health internationally, in Cuba it is sub-diagnostician without knowing its prevalence in the general population. Objective: To determine the characteristics of the extracranial cerebrovascular disease in the Arroyo Naranjo municipality. Methods: a descriptive study was conducted in 26 people diagnosed with carotid disease of a sample of 200 people obtained by a simple random method of the 208 554 residents of the municipality of Arroyo Naranjo. The disease was confirmed by carotid doppler ultrasound. The variables were: age, sex, percent stenosis, location, type of plate, risk factors and thickness intima-media carotid. Results: The prevalence of the disease was 12,5 x 100 000 inhabitants, higher in women (10,1) and older adults (9,1). The diagnosis was confirmed in 80,8 percent of people, where more than 45 percent showed a non-significant stenosis in both carotid. The types of plates were the heterogeneous (46,2 percent) and the echogenic (38,6 percent), located in: carotid bifurcation, bulb, and internal carotid. Smoking (80,8 percent), hypertension (73,1 percent), and peripheral arterial disease (65,1 percent) were the most frequent risk factors, noting that 69,2 percent had more than three factors. More of the 75 percent of those older than 60 years, independent of sex, showed pathological values of the thickness intima-media carotid. Conclusions: The prevalence of the extracranial cerebrovascular disease in the municipality is high; and too the incidence of the risk factors. Early diagnosis of the disease in a high percentage allowed referring to their areas of health to those persons requiring prompt treatment(AU)

Successful Resection of a Growing Distal Medial Lenticulostriate Artery Pseudoaneurysm Presenting with Isolated Intraventricular Hemorrhage.

INTRODUCTION: Distal medial lenticulostriate artery (LSA) aneurysms associated with isolated intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) are extremely rare. We report a very rare case of the isolated IVH due to the rupture of the distal medial LSA pseudoaneurysm that was not visible at the initial angiography but later emerged and grew. CASE REPORT: A 61-year-old woman with a history of hypertension had sudden onset of severe headache and mild consciousness disturbance. The computed tomography scan revealed the IVH, but the initial angiographies showed no evidence of aneurysm. The follow-up magnetic resonance imaging revealed that an intraventricular mass, arising from the right distal medial LSA, emerged and grew into the right anterior horn. Considering the risk of rebleeding, we resected the mass lesion via the transsulcal transventricular approach. The postoperative imaging showed complete obliteration of the mass lesion. Histopathological analysis indicated the pseudoaneurysm. The patient was discharged without any neurological deficit. CONCLUSIONS: The careful and repetitive follow-up imaging should be done in the cases with isolated IVH even if the initial image evaluations are unrevealing. The transsulcal transventricular approach can be the most minimally invasive surgical option for intraventricular lesion.

Hyperdopaminergism in lenticulostriate stroke-related restless legs syndrome: an imaging study.

OBJECTIVE: The pathophysiology of restless legs syndrome (RLS) involves a dopaminergic dysregulation that remains poorly understood, with controversial data from the literature. Stroke-related RLS is a rare condition that involves primarily the basal ganglia, the paramedian pons, and the thalamus. Given these elements, we studied dopaminergic metabolism in patients with RLS secondary to lenticulostriate infarction using structural and nuclear imaging in the striatum ipsilateral to the infarction area, as compared to the contralateral side. We hypothesized that dopaminergic metabolism would be impaired in the striatum ipsilateral to stroke. METHODS: In this observational case-control study, we aimed to prospectively include patients with RLS secondary to lenticulo-striate infarction, for analyses of dopamine dysfunction ipsilateral to stroke as compared to the contralateral striatum and to a control population. Four patients fulfilled inclusion criteria with either de novo RLS or major exacerbation of RLS existing prior to stroke, and all four patients were included. Structural imaging was performed using brain magnetic resonance imaging, and the stroke-induced metabolic modifications were assessed by 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG) positron emission tomography (PET). Dopamine reuptake via DAT was explored using 123I-FP-CIT SPECT. PET with 18F-FDOPA was used to evaluate the functional integrity of the presynaptic dopaminergic synthesis. RESULTS: The only structure damaged in all patients was the body of the caudate nucleus, right-sided for three and left-sided for one, as illustrated by magnetic resonance imaging. 18F-FDG PET showed a hypometabolism in the infarcted area, the ipsilateral thalamus, and the contralateral cerebellum. All patients displayed, in the ipsilateral putamen, increased dopaminergic tone. CONCLUSION: The present findings suggest that increased dopaminergic tone in the striatum may participate in the pathogenesis of RLS. These observations should encourage further research on RLS symptomatic with well-defined lesions as a promising way to further improve our understanding of its pathophysiology.