Primary Spinal Epidural Abscesses Not Associated With Pyogenic Infectious Spondylodiscitis: A New Pathogenetic Hypothesis.

Spinal epidural abscess (SEA) incidence is rising. However, most series do not differentiate between SEAs associated with pyogenic infectious spondylodiscitis (PS) and SEAs limited to the epidural space. We retrospectively reviewed the records and radiological images of all patients admitted to our institutions with a diagnosis of SEA not associated with PS between January 2013 and December 2018.

Minimally symptomatic posterior reversible encephalopathy in Guillain-Barré syndrome.

Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) is a rare occurrence in patients with Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS). Two patients with neuroradiological evidence of PRES without central nervous system (CNS) symptoms were recently reported. We present the case of a GBS patient with minimal CNS symptoms and magnetic resonance imaging findings consistent with PRES.

Reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome possibly induced by etoricoxib.

Etoricoxib is a newer cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 inhibitor anti-inflammatory drug with a favorable safety profile. However, several randomized trials have provided evidence of an increased risk for acute myocardial infarction associated with the use of COX-2 inhibitors. Fewer data are available concerning the risk for ischemic stroke associated with COX-2 inhibitors.

Brain white matter impairment in congenital adrenal hyperplasia.

Background: Congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) is an inherited recessive disorder of adrenal steroidogenesis. Past reports suggested that brain white matter could be involved in CAH.

Objective: To detect the presence, and possible changes over time, of brain white matter abnormalities in patients with CAH.

Long-term follow-up of an adolescent who had bilateral striatal necrosis secondary to Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection.

We describe the long-term follow-up of a patient with bilateral striatal necrosis associated with Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection occurred in adolescence. In the literature there are no longitudinal studies of such a rare condition. Our patient, 4 years after the onset of an acute and reversible akinetic-rigid syndrome, showed a severe obsessive-compulsive disorder, cognitive decline, and a neuropsychological profile characterized by signs of deficient executive functioning.

Muscle MRI in adult-onset acid maltase deficiency.

We report the spectrum of muscle involvement on magnetic resonance imaging in 11 patients with a molecularly confirmed diagnosis of adult-onset acid maltase deficiency at different clinical stages. Muscle magnetic resonance imaging showed a selective progressive pattern of muscle involvement with a constant involvement of the adductor magnus and semimembranosus at the early stage of the disease and a later fatty infiltration of the long head of the biceps femoris, semitendinosus and of the anterior thigh muscles. In the advanced phases a selective sparing of sartorius, rectus, and gracilis muscles and peripheral portions of the vastus lateralis was also evident.

Quantitative MR evaluation of body composition in patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

The aim of this study was to propose a quantitative MR protocol with very short acquisition time and good reliability in volume construction, for the evaluation of body composition in patients affected by Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). This MR protocol was compared with common anthropometric evaluations of the same patients. Nine boys affected by DMD, ranging in age from 6 to 12 years, were selected to undergo MR examination.