Clinical utility of CT myelography renal collecting system density in the evaluation of spinal CSF leak or CSF-venous connection in patients with spontaneous intracranial hypotension.

Introduction: Identifying spontaneous CSF leaks can be difficult on CT myelography (CTM) in patients with suspected spontaneous intracranial hypotension (SIH). The current study compared renal collecting system (RCS) density during CTM in patients with suspected SIH relative to non-SIH controls and evaluated the overall utility as an indirect sign of spontaneous CSF leak in patients with SIH.

Methods: All CTM performed over an 8-year period (n = 392) were retrospectively reviewed and included cases (n = 295) were divided into groups consisting of SIH patients with (n = 35) or without (n = 77) confirmed CSF leak on CTM and non-SIH controls (n = 183).

Prevalence of Spinal Meningeal Diverticula in Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease.

Background And Purpose: Patients with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) develop cysts in the kidneys, liver, spleen, pancreas, prostate, and arachnoid spaces. In addition, spinal meningeal diverticula have been reported. To determine whether spinal meningeal diverticula are associated with ADPKD, we compared their prevalence in subjects with ADPKD with a control cohort without ADPKD.

Innovations in the Treatment of Spinal Cerebrospinal Fluid Leaks.

Spontaneous spinal cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leaks are uncommon but can be neurologically debilitating. When initial treatments fail, definitive repair or closure of the leak is indicated. Depending upon the type of leak present, innovative strategies for their treatment have been developed.

Cerebrospinal Fluid Leaks: Challenges in Localizing Spontaneous Spinal Leak Sites and Minimally Invasive Treatment.

The confirmation of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leaks in the setting of spontaneous intracranial hypotension (SIH) by imaging involves a growing toolset of multimodal advanced spinal and skull base imaging techniques, for which exists a unique set of challenges for each CSF leak type. Furthermore, the repertoire of minimally invasive CSF leak treatment beyond nontargeted epidural blood patch administration has grown widely, with varied practices across institutions. This review describes current diagnostic imaging and treatment modalities as they apply to the challenges of CSF leak localization and management.

Cranial and Spinal Cerebrospinal Fluid Leaks: Foundations of Identification and Management.

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leaks may occur at the skull base or along the spinal column and can cause a variety of debilitating neurological symptoms for patients. Recognizing the potential presence of a CSF leak and then identifying its source are necessary for accurate diagnosis and definitive treatment. A standardized workflow can be followed for successful leak localization, which often requires several diagnostic studies, and for definitive leak treatment, which can range from minimally invasive, needle-based approaches to a variety of surgical corrections.

Lumbar Puncture Complications: A Review of Current Literature.

Purpose Of Review: This paper reviews the complications of lumbar puncture with a focus on post-dural puncture headache including pathophysiology, risk factors, prevention, and treatment.

Recent Findings: Recent research has focused on understanding the multifactorial mechanisms of post-dural puncture headache and improving prevention and treatment strategies. Small caliber, pencil-point type needles are encouraged to minimize the risk of post-dural puncture headaches, especially in populations that are at higher risk for complication.

Imaging assessment of spine infection.

This article comprehensively reviews current imaging concepts in spinal infection with primary focus on infectious spondylodiscitis (IS) as well as the less common entity of facet joint septic arthritis (FSA). This review encompasses the multimodality imaging appearances (radiographs, CT, MRI, and nuclear imaging) of spinal infection-both at initial presentation and during treatment-to aid the radiologist in guiding diagnosis and successful management. We discuss the pathophysiology of spinal infection in various patient populations (including the non-instrumented and postoperative spine) as well as the role of imaging-guided biopsy.

Progressive superficial siderosis from Chronic CSF leak as a long-term complication of cervical anterior corpectomy: A case report and review of the literature.

Background: Superficial siderosis of the central nervous system (SSCNS) is a rare progressive neurological disorder resulting from chronic subarachnoid hemorrhage and subsequent subpial hemosiderin deposition. A prolonged cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak is a known cause of SSCNS. We present a novel case where progressive SSCNS resulted from a chronic CSF leak related to an anterior cervical corpectomy.

CSF-Venous Fistula.

Purpose Of Review: To provide an update on recent developments in the understanding, diagnosis, and treatment of CSF-venous fistula (CVF).

Recent Finding: CVF is a recently recognized cause of spontaneous intracranial hypotension (SIH), an important secondary headache, in which an aberrant connection is formed between the spinal subarachnoid space and an adjacent spinal epidural vein permitting unregulated loss of CSF into the circulatory system. CVFs often occur without a concurrent epidural fluid collection; therefore, CVF should be considered as a potential etiology for patients with SIH symptomatology but without an identifiable CSF leak.

Diffusion Weighted/Tensor Imaging, Functional MRI and Perfusion Weighted Imaging in Glioblastoma-Foundations and Future.

In this article, we review the basics of diffusion tensor imaging and functional MRI, their current utility in preoperative neurosurgical mapping, and their limitations. We also discuss potential future applications, including implementation of resting state functional MRI. We then discuss perfusion and diffusion-weighted imaging and their application in advanced neuro-oncologic practice.

CT-Guided Fine-Needle Aspiration Biopsy of Pulmonary Nodules 8 mm or Less Has a Higher Diagnostic Accuracy than Positron Emission Tomography-CT.

Purpose: To compare diagnostic accuracy of CT-guided fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNA-B) with positron emission tomography (PET)-CT for pulmonary nodules ≤ 8 mm.

Materials And Methods: A retrospective review of all CT-guided lung FNA-Bs performed between 2011 and 2014 at a single institution was undertaken to evaluate patients who had FNA-B and PET-CT imaging of nodules of ≤ 8 mm. Patients without surgical pathology or 2-year follow-up CT scans were excluded.

Long term follow up of kidney donors with asymptomatic renal stones.

Patients with asymptomatic kidney stones have a high rate of progression to becoming symptomatic kidney stones when followed for several years. Small kidney stones are often found incidentally on imaging when evaluating patients for kidney donation, and there is a concern that after nephrectomy, the donor may become symptomatic and incur damage to the remaining kidney. We reviewed kidney donors at our institution with asymptomatic stones and surveyed them several years after donation to see if the stones became clinically active.

Improving Care and Education Through a Radiology Resident-driven Clinical Consultation Service.

Rationale And Objective: As health care moves toward bundled payment systems and merit-based incentive models, increasing awareness of the value of the radiologist is essential. A resident-driven clinical imaging rounds (CIR) program initiated at our institution allows radiologists to actively and directly participate in the team-based medical model. A retrospective review of survey data evaluated the qualitative and quantitative effects of CIR on clinical management, communication, and education of referring providers and radiology residents.

Herpes Simplex Virus Hepatitis in an Immunocompetent Host Resembling Hepatic Pyogenic Abscesses.

Herpes simplex virus (HSV) hepatitis represents a rare complication of HSV infection, which can progress to acute liver failure and, in some cases, death. We describe an immunocompetent 67-year-old male who presented with one week of fever and abdominal pain. Computed tomography (CT) scan and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the abdomen showed multiple bilobar hepatic lesions, some with rim enhancement, compatible with liver abscesses.

Central venous occlusion mimics carotid cavernous fistula: a case report and review of the literature.

A patient presented with signs and symptoms of a left carotid cavernous fistula (CCF). Computed tomography angiography confirmed filling of the cavernous sinus in the arterial phase. Cerebral digital subtraction angiography demonstrated no evidence of CCF.