Diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging of an intramedullary epidermoid cyst with dorsal dermal sinus tract in a toddler.

We report the use of diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging to diagnose and manage a rare case of a symptomatic thoracic intramedullary congenital epidermoid cyst with associated dermal sinus in a girl. Congenital intramedullary epidermoid cysts with associated dermal sinuses are very rare occurrences and seldom present symptomatically in very young children. We present a case of a 32-month old with a draining dimpled skin lesion.

Bilateral and independent Broca areas confirmed by Wada test and functional magnetic resonance imaging.

Accurate preoperative evaluation of language dominance is critical when evaluating potential patients for temporal lobe epilepsy surgery. Although most people have left-sided language dominance, a minority of patients have been described with either bilateral or right hemispheric dominance. We present a patient with right temporal lobe epilepsy who presented with bilateral and functionally independent Broca areas, as confirmed by Wada testing and functional magnetic resonance imaging.

Spontaneous dissection of the internal carotid artery during magnetic resonance imaging.

Spontaneous dissection of the internal carotid artery is an increasingly recognized condition that is readily identifiable with magnetic resonance imaging and -angiography. Early recognition of this entity is essential for optimizing medical management and avoiding potential cerebral infarction. We present a case of dissection of the internal carotid artery that occurred during magnetic resonance imaging and describe the immediate imaging characteristics.

Transient blindness due to posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome following ephedra overdose.

Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES), also known as reversible posterior leukoencephalopathy syndrome (RPLS), is most often associated with hypertensive emergencies and is characterized by seizures, mental status changes and visual disturbances. We report a case of a previously healthy young man who developed multiorgan failure and transient cortical blindness following ingestion of a performance-enhancing ephedra-based supplement. Neuroimaging findings confirmed the clinical suspicion of PRES.