Aging and Sex Differences in Brain Volume and Cerebral Blood Flow.

How do regional brain volume ratios and cerebral blood flow (CBF, mL/min) change with aging, and are there sex differences? This study aimed to comprehensively evaluate the relationships between regional brain volume ratios and CBF in healthy brains. The study participants were healthy volunteers who underwent three-dimensional T1-weighted MRI, time-of-flight MR angiography, and four-dimensional (4D) flow MRI between 2020 and 2022. The brain was automatically segmented into 21 brain subregions from 3D T1-weighted MRI, and CBF in 16 major intracranial arteries were measured by 4D flow MRI. The relationships between segmented brain volume ratios and CBFs around the circle of Willis were comprehensively investigated in each decade and sex. This study included 129 healthy volunteers (mean age ± SD, 48.2 ± 16.8; range, 22-92 years; 43 males and 86 females). The association was strongest between the cortical gray matter volume ratio and total outflow of the intracranial major arteries distal to the circle of Willis (Pearson's correlation coefficient, r: 0.425). In addition, the mean flow of the total inflow and outflow around the circle of Willis were significantly greater in women than men, and significant left-right differences were observed in CBFs even on the peripheral side of the circle of Willis. Moreover, the correlation was strongest between the left cortical gray matter volume ratio and the combined flows of the left anterior and posterior cerebral arteries distal to the circle of Willis (r: 0.486). There was a trend toward greater total intracranial CBF, especially among women in their 40s and younger, who had a larger cortical gray matter volume. This finding may be one of the reasons for the approximately twofold higher incidence of cerebral aneurysms and subarachnoid hemorrhage, and a threefold higher incidence of migraine headaches.

Achieving good neurological outcome by combining decompressive craniectomy for acute subdural hematoma and transarterial embolization of intraperitoneal injured arteries for multiple severe trauma: a case report.

A 22-year-old woman jumped from the 4th floor of her apartment in an attempt to commit suicide. Whole-body computed tomography showed multiple injuries, including right acute subdural hematoma, left hemopneumothorax, several fractures, intraperitoneal hemorrhage, and spleen injury. Her consciousness deteriorated rapidly, and her right pupil was dilated. Furthermore, she had unstable vital signs including blood pressure of approximately 70/40 mmHg, pulse about 150/minute, respiratory rate 25/minute, and percutaneous oxygen saturation of 90% on 10 L oxygen. Intratracheal intubation and insertion of a thoracostomy tube were performed in the emergency room. Due to concomitant brain herniation and hemorrhagic shock, simultaneous decompressive craniectomy for acute subdural hematoma and transarterial embolization of intraperitoneal injured arteries were performed in our hybrid operating room. Despite rapid blood transfusions, the blood pressure did not increase. After starting embolization of the injured arteries of the spleen, the blood pressure increased, thereby making it possible to remove the acute subdural hematoma, and hemostasis was then achieved. Four hours later, the acute subdural hematoma and intracranial pressure increased again, and re-operation was performed in the normal operating room. Cranioplasty and clavicular fracture reduction were performed 14 days later. She recovered enough to talk and walk, and her consciousness stabilized. Interviews with her and her family by a psychiatrist determined that abnormal behaviors had first appeared 2 months earlier. She was diagnosed with acute and transient psychotic disorders, and treatment was started. The patient was discharged home 1 month later with mild disability of her higher-order brain function.

Intracranial Idiopathic Acute Epidural Hematoma Presenting with a Stroke-like Attack and Rapid Neurological Deterioration: A Case Report.

A 36-year-old woman presented with sudden onset of a right-sided headache that awoke her from sleep. She had no episodes of trauma or abuse. She was initially able to speak, but fell into a coma within an hour. The right pupil was dilated, with slow pupillary reflexes to light on both sides, and she showed left hemiparalysis. Computed tomography scan showed a right acute epidural hematoma, approximately 4 cm in thickness, and there were no findings of trauma such as skin wounds, subcutaneous hematomas, or skull fractures. In the emergency room, decompression of intracranial pressure by one burr hole was performed, and her dilated right pupil improved to normal size. She was then moved to the operating room, and hematoma removal was performed by craniotomy. Her blood pressure trended downward despite rapid blood transfusion and vasopressor therapy. There were no abnormal findings apparent intraoperatively, except for oozing from the whole surface of the dura mater and epidural space. Her consciousness improved postoperatively, and her left hemiparalysis improved within a few days. No causative diseases, risk factors, or vascular abnormalities were found on laboratory and radiological surveys. Two months postoperatively, the bone flap was removed because of infection. Eight months postoperatively, a cranioplasty using artificial skull was performed, and her postoperative course was uneventful. One year after the initial surgery, she has no neurological deficits, and there has been no recurrence of epidural hematoma.

Dural-based Cavernous Malformation at the Temporal Convexity Presenting with Hemorrhage in a Pregnant Woman: Case Report.

Intracranial cavernous malformations (CMs) are benign vascular malformations that arise mostly within the brain parenchyma, but occasionally from the dura mater. Here, we report an extremely rare case of a 29-year-old pregnant woman presenting with hemorrhage in a dural-based CM at the temporal convexity. She presented with headache at 38 weeks of pregnancy. Imaging showed a hemorrhagic mass lesion in the left temporal lobe. Consciousness was clear, with no apparent neurological symptoms or headache. Her baby was delivered by emergency Caesarean section. Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging revealed an enhanced lesion around the hematoma and flow void appearances. Cerebral angiography confirmed the left middle meningeal artery feeding the lesion with apparent contrast medium pooling. Surgical removal of the lesion as a single block was performed. Histological examinations were consistent with CM. The lesion was located outside the brain and attached to the dura mater of the convexity, so the final diagnosis was dural-based CM. The patient was discharged home with her baby without any neurological deficits, and no recurrence has been seen for 2 years. Dural-based CM at the temporal convexity was detected, presenting as headache induced by hemorrhage during pregnancy. The relationship between bleeding of the lesion and pregnancy remains unclear, but female hormones and vascular growth factors during pregnancy can induce morphological changes and angiogenesis in CMs.

Subarachnoid Hemorrhage After Ischemic Stroke Associated with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus and Antiphospholipid Syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease associated with increased risk of stroke. Antiphospholipid syndrome is another autoimmune disease that frequently overlaps with SLE. We report the case of a patient presenting with subarachnoid hemorrhage after ischemic stroke associated with SLE and antiphospholipid syndrome. CASE DESCRIPTION: A 22-year-old man presented with cerebral infarction of the right corona radiata. He had no contributory past or family histories. On imaging at this time, a 4-mm fusiform aneurysm of the right anterior cerebral artery was incidentally detected. Several examinations were performed, but no abnormalities or abnormal lesions were seen on echography or whole-body computed tomography. Blood tests yielded positive results for antinuclear antibody, lupus anticoagulant, and anti-beta-2 glycoprotein І antibody. He presented 70 days later with subarachnoid hemorrhage. Cerebral angiography showed the same fusiform aneurysm without any change in shape and no new aneurysms. The balloon occlusion test was performed without any neurologic symptoms, so the right anterior cerebral artery was trapped using coils. After 6 months, he presented with new optic hyperesthesia and facial butterfly-shaped erythema and fulfilled the criteria for SLE. At 2 years after initial presentation, he showed no recurrence of either aneurysm or ischemic stroke. CONCLUSIONS: The patient's first ischemic stroke was induced by antiphospholipid syndrome and underlying SLE. Fusiform aneurysm may have resulted from focal vasculitis, with activation of SLE leading to aneurysm rupture.