Paraspinal muscle asymmetry in Parkinson's disease.

Lateral postural deviation in Parkinson's disease (PD) is not uncommon but has never been radiographically queried to evaluate for specific muscle anatomy. Ten subjects (9 female) were identified with paraspinal asymmetry on examination and MRI. Relative atrophy was seen diffusely in all paraspinal muscles (psoas, interspinalis, quadratus, multifidus, longissimus and ileocostalis).

An image analysis pipeline for the semi-automated analysis of clinical fMRI images based on freely available software.

The technique of functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) has evolved in the last 15 years from a research concept into a clinically relevant medical procedure. In this study, an efficient, semi-automated and cost-effective solution for the analysis of fMRI images acquired in a clinical setting is presented relying heavily on open source software. The core of the pipeline is the software Analysis of Functional NeuroImages (AFNI, National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)) combined with K-PACS and ImageJ.

Wall shear stress variations in basilar tip aneurysms investigated with computational fluid dynamics.

Hemodynamics are thought to play an important role in the creation, thrombosis, recanalization, regrowth and re-bleeding of cerebral aneurysms treated by endovascular means. However, their exact role and interaction is unclear and warrants further study. Towards a systematic classification of the hemodynamics in intracranial aneurysms, we investigated the dependence of the values of the magnitude of the wall shear stresses in the vicinity of the aneurysm on varying inflow conditions in three basilar tip aneurysms.

T cell vaccination in multiple sclerosis: results of a preliminary study.

Myelin basic protein (MBP)-reactive T cells are potentially involved in the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis (MS), and can be depleted by subcutaneous inoculations with irradiated autologous MBP-reactive T cells (T cell vaccination). This preliminary open label study was undertaken to evaluate whether depletion of MBP-reactive T cells would be clinically beneficial to patients with MS. Fifty-four patients with relapsing-remitting (RR) MS (n=28) or secondary progressive (SP) MS (n=26) were immunized with irradiated autologous MBP-reactive T cells and monitored for changes in rate of relapse, expanded disability scale score (EDSS) and MRI lesion activity over a period of 24 months.

Aspiration biopsy findings in amyloid tumor of the cervical vertebra. A case report.

Background: The differential diagnosis of destructive lytic lesions of the spine includes amyloid tumors. The diagnosis of amyloid tumor with fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNA) is challenging. Previous reports of FNA of osseous amyloid tumors have detailed the cytologic appearance of amyloid along with lymphocytes, plasma cells and histiocytes, occasionally multinucleate or forming granulomatous lesions.

Does APO epsilon4 correlate with MRI changes in Alzheimer's disease?

Objective: To assess the relation between APO E genotype and MRI white matter changes in Alzheimer's disease. The APO epsilon4 allele is correlated with amyloid angiopathy and other neuropathologies in Alzheimer's disease and could be associated with white matter changes. If so, there should be a dose effect.

MRI appearances of an ectopic pituitary adenoma: case report and review of the literature.

MR images of an ectopic pituitary adenoma have been published in only a single case, a suprasellar mass. We present a patient with Cushing's disease in whom MRI revealed a pituitary adenoma within the sphenoid sinus. Radiologic characteristics of ectopic pituitary adenomas are reviewed, with emphasis on MRI, which demonstrates a soft tissue mass, isointense with gray matter on T1-weighted images, which enhances in a heterogeneous manner.

Synovial cysts of the lumbar spine: CT evaluation.

Seven cases of surgically proven intraspinal synovial cysts are reported. Computed tomographic (CT) scans demonstrated a series of low-density masses adjacent to the facet joints; in three cases, a dense rim indicated a calcified wall on the cyst; in one, the wall was partially calcified; and in three the mass appeared to be filled with gas. In all of these cases, there was severe degenerative facet disease at the same level as the synovial cyst.

Thoracic chordoma with unusual radiographic features.

A case of chordoma involving the thoracic spine (T12) is reported. The plain film findings included lytic obstruction and partial collapse of a single vertebral body. Noncontrast CT and CT following Metrizamide myelography revealed vertebral body destruction with paravertebral and intraspinal soft tissue masses.

CT features of early Listeria monocytogenes cerebritis.

Listeria monocytogenes is a relatively uncommon pathogen affecting infants or adults with predisposing conditions, such as cirrhosis, diabetes mellitus, autoimmune disease, renal transplants, and solid and lymphoreticular malignancies. Cerebral parenchymal involvement is rare and consists of focal cerebritis, which may progress to abscess formation. This article presents three cases of early Listeria monocytogenes cerebritis, two of which demonstrated ill-defined superficial areas of low attenuation with curvilinear gyral enhancement and one of which demonstrated a deep, low-attenuation lesion with faint surrounding enhancement.

CT diagnosis of delayed cerebral air embolism following intraaortic balloon pump catheter insertion.

Air embolism to the brain occurred several days after insertion of an intraaortic balloon pump. CT demonstrated diffuse hemispheric edema along with two small collections of air in the cerebral hemispheres. Early diagnosis of air embolism to the brain allows early institution of proper therapy in this life-threatening condition.

Balloon occlusion of a recurrent carotid-cavernous fistula previously treated by carotid ligations.

A carotid-cavernous fistula recurred 16 years after a Hamby procedure. The recurrence was manifested by subarachnoid hemorrhage originating from dilated draining pial veins. The fistula was closed with a balloon catheter introduced through a patent remnant of the cervical carotid artery.

Ependymoma of filum terminale: metrizamide-enhanced CT evaluation.

Two cases of surgically proven myxopapillary ependymomas of filum terminale are reported. In both, myelography and metrizamide-enhanced computed tomographic (CT) scans were performed. An intramedullary tumor in the lower thoracic spine, soft-tissue masses in the neural foramina and enlarged bony spinal canal in the lower thoracic and upper lumbar spine were noted in one case and, in the other, an intradural extramedullary tumor at T12-L1 level.

Statistical assessment of perceptual CT scan ratings in patients with Alzheimer type dementia.

Three neuroradiologists perceptually evaluated CT of 24 patients with Alzheimer type dementia and 22 normal control subjects and made a dichotomous judgment for each case (i.e., normal control or Alzheimer type dementia).

Thoracic spinal metastasis from unexpected cerebellar medulloblastoma: the value of MRI.

A 28-year-old male was found on CT metrizamide myelography to have an intradural extramedullary tumor at the T8-T9 level. This was seen to compress the spinal cord, and on surgery it was proven to be medulloblastoma. Cranial CT scans disclosed only mild hydrocephalus and minimal anterior displacement of the inferior fourth ventricle on the right.

Computed tomography of aneurysmal bone cyst of the L1 vertebral body.

A 31-year-old woman with an aneurysmal bone cyst of the L1 vertebral body proved by biopsy and studied by plain lumbar spine roentgenography, radionuclide studies, myelography, and CT is presented. The unusual location of involvement of the vertebral body alone and the difficulty in differential diagnosis between aneurysmal bone cyst and benign giant cell tumor are discussed.

Computed tomography of spontaneous acute cervical epidural hematoma.

Cervical spinal epidural hematoma is a rare cause of acute neurologic syndromes including paralysis of various types. Although devastating, it can be successfully treated surgically if recognized early. We report two cases of spontaneous cervical epidural hematoma diagnosed by computed tomography, the first with a plain scan and the second with a scan after intrathecal injection of metrizamide.