Endovascular therapy using flow diversion for giant internal carotid artery pseudoaneurysm arising in the setting of an invasive pituitary macroadenoma.

This report illustrates the unusual occurrence of a pseudoaneurysm arising in the setting of a skull base mass and describes the first reported use of endovascular flow diversion therapy in such a setting. A 63-year-old man with occasional headaches during the preceding month presented with the acute onset of severe left retroorbital headache and oculomotor nerve palsy. Computed tomography (CT) and CT angiogram revealed a destructive skull base mass with an associated giant probable pseudoaneurysm of the cavernous segment of the left internal carotid artery. The patient underwent endoscopic transsphenoidal biopsy with a subsequent diagnosis of prolactinoma. Endovascular therapy utilizing two Pipeline™ flow diversion embolization devices was performed with subsequent resolution of the patient's headache and improvement in his cranial nerve deficits/cavernous sinus syndrome.

Bilateral cavernous sinus and superior ophthalmic vein thrombosis in the setting of facial cellulitis.

Cavernous sinus thrombosis is a rare, potentially fatal cause of cerebral venous thrombosis. Infectious causes typically arise from the mid face, orbit, or sinonasal region. We present a case of bilateral cavernous sinus and superior ophthalmic thrombosis secondary to an extreme case of facial cellulitis.

Rabies encephalomyelitis: clinical, neuroradiological, and pathological findings in 4 transplant recipients.

BACKGROUND: Three patients received solid organ transplants from a common donor and were subsequently discharged from the hospital following an uneventful hospital course. Within 30 days, all 3 organ recipients returned to the hospital with varying symptoms that progressed to rapid neurological deterioration, coma, and death. OBJECTIVE: To describe the clinical, neuroradiological, and pathological findings of rabies virus infection in organ transplant recipients infected from a common donor. DESIGN: Case series involving a common donor and 3 organ recipients ascertained through review of clinical course and autopsy findings. A fourth case was determined by review of pending autopsy cases in which death occurred within the same time interval. Portions of postmortem central nervous system and organ tissues were frozen and formalin-fixed. Fluids and tissues were also collected for cultures, serology, and molecular studies. Postmortem fluids and tissues and antemortem fluids and tissues from all 4 transplant recipients and serum and banked lymphocyte or spleen cells from the donors were sent to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for further evaluation. SETTING: Transplant unit of an urban teaching hospital. RESULTS: Antemortem cerebrospinal fluid analysis for 3 of the 4 recipients was consistent with a viral etiology. Neuroimaging and electroencephalogram studies were suggestive of an infectious encephalitis or a toxic encephalopathy. Initial laboratory testing did not demonstrate an infectious etiology. Postmortem histologic analysis, immunohistochemistry, electron microscopy, and direct fluorescence antibody testing revealed rabies virus infection. Serological testing done postmortem confirmed rabies virus infection in the common donor. CONCLUSIONS: These cases demonstrate a risk for transmitting rabies virus infection through solid organ and tissue transplantation, and this diagnosis should be considered in any rapidly progressing neurological disease.

Disseminated aspergillosis following infliximab therapy in an immunosuppressed patient with Crohn's disease and chronic hepatitis C: a case study and review of the literature.

A 55-year-old white woman with a greater than 25-year history of Crohn's disease developed disseminated aspergillosis following combination therapy with Methylprednisolone, azathioprine, and infliximab. The patient was hospitalized 11 days after initiation of infliximab for respiratory symptoms and developed respiratory failure, coma, and died. Postmortem examination revealed disseminated Aspergillus fumigatus involving multiple organs. This case demonstrates that combined treatment with infliximab, methylprednisone, and azathioprine may induce severe immunosuppression and depressed cellular immunity, leading to severe opportunistic infections. Given the increasing use of antitumor necrosis factor agents, physicians should be aware of the risk of opportunistic infections and be vigilant about diagnosing and aggressively treating these infections to reduce the risk of disseminated disease.

Intracranial germinoma.

Pineal region tumors make up less than 1% of all intracranial neoplasms, with the majority being of germ cell origin. We describe the diagnostic evaluation and treatment of a patient presenting with neurological deficits who was found to have a germinoma of the pineal gland.

Solitary supratentorial Listeria monocytogenes brain abscess in an immunocompromised patient.

We describe an 81-year-old man receiving azacitidine monotherapy for myelodysplastic syndrome who was improving from Listeria monocytogenes bacteremia after receiving antibiotic therapy during an earlier hospital admission. Shortly after discharge he developed new-onset seizure activity, with brain imaging on subsequent admissions demonstrating a posterior right frontal lobe mass. Specimen cultures after resection of the mass revealed this to be a cerebral abscess related to L. monocytogenes. Brain abscesses related to this organism are rare.

Advances in diagnostic imaging for pathologic conditions of the jaws.

Advances in dental and maxillofacial imaging are delineated along with the advantages and disadvantages of each imaging modality. The imaging modalities that are included are intraoral radiography, panoramic radiography, cone-beam computed tomography, multidetector computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, nuclear medicine, and ultrasound.

Spinal cord ependymoma presenting with neurological deficits in the setting of trauma.

Ependymomas represent 4% of all primary central nervous system neoplasms in adults, with 30% occurring in the spinal cord. We describe a young man with neurological deficits following a motor vehicle accident who was found to have an intramedullary cervicothoracic ependymoma.

Ganglioglioma and migraine headache.

Mixed neuronal/glial neoplasms represent a minority of intracranial neoplasms, typically associated with a more favorable prognosis than the more common higher-grade glial neoplasms. We describe a young man with headache, confusion, and slurred speech who was found to have a ganglioglioma.

Basilar artery thrombosis in the setting of antiphospholipid syndrome.

Antiphospholipid syndrome is an autoimmune disorder characterized by arterial or venous thrombosis, recurrent first-trimester pregnancy loss, and multiple additional clinical manifestations. We describe a man with severe atherosclerotic basilar artery stenosis and superimposed in situ thrombus who was found to have antiphospholipid syndrome.

Kummell disease.

Kummell disease, or avascular necrosis of a vertebral body, presents as vertebral osteonecrosis typically affecting a thoracic vertebra with compression deformity, intravertebral vacuum cleft, and exaggerated kyphosis weeks to months after a minor traumatic injury. This rare disease is increasing in prevalence secondary to an aging population and the associated rise in osteoporosis. Treatment with vertebroplasty or surgical decompression and fusion is often required. We present a classic case of Kummell disease to illustrate the salient features of the condition, with associated imaging findings on computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging.

Fourth ventricular subependymoma presenting as worsening headache.

Subependymomas are rare, slow-growing benign neoplasms. Although most are asymptomatic, they can present with symptoms related to increased intracranial pressure and hydrocephalus. We describe a 47-year-old man with worsening headaches who was found to have a subependymoma, with a focus on the imaging findings, differential diagnoses, pathology, and treatment.

Impact of sham-controlled vertebroplasty trials on referral patterns at two academic medical centers.

Debate persists regarding the merit of vertebroplasty following publication of blinded vertebroplasty trials in 2009, one of which was the Investigational Vertebroplasty Efficacy and Safety Trial (INVEST). This study was performed to determine whether referring physicians at two academic medical centers were aware of the trial results and to assess if this awareness prompted a change in their treatment of osteoporotic fractures. E-mail surveys were distributed to physicians within the Mayo Clinic and Baylor Health Care System (BHCS). Of 1390 surveys sent, 194 (14%) were returned. Results showed that 92 of 158 respondents (58%) reported familiarity with INVEST; 66 of 92 (72%) agreed that INVEST changed their understanding of vertebroplasty efficacy; and 64 of 92 (70%) agreed that INVEST diminished their enthusiasm to refer patients for vertebroplasty. However, 105 of 159 respondents (66%) felt vertebroplasty was an effective procedure in appropriate patients. Mayo physicians were more likely than BHCS physicians to be aware of INVEST (73% vs 67%, P < .0001), respond that INVEST changed their understanding of the appropriate treatment for osteoporotic compression fractures (79% vs 57%, P = 0.026), view vertebroplasty less favorably (45% vs 21%, P = 0.005), and treat osteoporotic compression fractures with medical therapy/pain management alone (73% vs 48%, P = 0.003). INVEST changed referring physicians' understanding of the role of vertebroplasty and diminished their willingness to refer osteoporotic compression fracture patients; the impact varied by location.

Endolymphatic sac tumor and otalgia.

Otalgia is a common complaint seen by general practitioners, but its etiology is vast. Rarely, otalgia could be secondary to a neoplasm. We describe a case of otalgia and ear discharge in which the imaging revealed a rare neoplasm, an endolymphatic sac tumor, which contributed to the patient's symptoms. The primary diagnosis was made via characteristic imaging features that were later confirmed by histology.

Fatal toxic leukoencephalopathy secondary to overdose of a new psychoactive designer drug 2C-E ("Europa").

We present a case of a fatal toxic leukoencephalopathy following ingestion of a new psychoactive designer drug known as 2C-E or "Europa." Recreational drugs, particularly hallucinogenic substances, appear to be growing in popularity, with increasing amounts of information available via the Internet to entice potential users. In addition, some newer "designer" psychoactive substances are available for purchase online without adverse legal consequences, therefore adding to their popularity. We describe magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings to include selective diffuse toxic injury of the cerebral white matter with sparing of the cortex and most of the deep gray nuclei. To our knowledge, this is the first reported description of cerebral findings on MRI that are likely related to a lethal ingestion of 2C-E.

Bowhunter's syndrome diagnosed with provocative digital subtraction cerebral angiography.

Bowhunter's syndrome, also known as rotational occlusion of the vertebral artery, involves posterior circulation ischemia resulting from dynamic compromise of the dominant vertebral artery. This case highlights the importance of provocative digital subtraction angiography in making the diagnosis. A 41-year-old man presented for outpatient neurological evaluation for "lightheadedness" of several years' duration provoked by leftward head rotation. The only abnormality identified on initial magnetic resonance angiography was atresia of the nondominant left vertebral artery. Conventional digital subtraction angiography (DSA) followed by provocative DSA revealed development of a dynamic stenosis of the right vertebral artery involving the extraforaminal segment just superior to the C1 vertebra. Noncontrast computed tomography of the cervical spine confirmed ossification of the posterior right atlanto-occipital membrane leading to a near complete bony arcuate foramen. Following neurosurgical decompression, the patient demonstrated complete resolution of all neurologic symptoms. Bowhunter's syndrome is a unique clinical entity that must be considered in the evaluation of patients with symptoms of posterior circulation ischemia. Provocative DSA remains the preferred modality for definitive diagnosis.

Dementia caused by dural arteriovenous fistulas reversed following endovascular therapy.

We describe two patients who presented with dementia as the primary neurological manifestation of their dural arteriovenous fistula (dAVF). Although dementia is not the most common presentation for a dAVF, these cases show that obliterating the fistula can eliminate this dreadful manifestation. This awareness may facilitate the diagnosis of dementia in cases caused by dAVF and allow for a minimally invasive treatment that restores cognitive function back to baseline.

Ruptured intracranial dermoid cyst.

Rupture of an intracranial dermoid cyst is a rare event with considerable associated morbidity and potential mortality. We present a case of intracranial rupture of a dermoid cystic tumor with consequent dissemination of subarachnoid fat droplets resulting in acute aseptic chemical meningitis. Radiographic findings, operative treatment, and pathologic features are described.