Ventriculus Terminalis in Adults: Unusual Magnetic Resonance Imaging Features and Review of the Literature.
10.3348/kjr.2012.13.5.557
- Author:
Sang Hyun SUH
1
;
Tae Sub CHUNG
;
Seung Koo LEE
;
Yong Eun CHO
;
Keun Su KIM
Author Information
1. Department of Radiology, Gangnam Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul 135-720, Korea. tschung@yuhs.ac
- Publication Type:Original Article ; Review
- Keywords:
Spine;
Ventriculus terminalis;
Adult;
Magnetic resonance imaging
- MeSH:
Adult;
Cardiac-Gated Imaging Techniques;
Contrast Media/diagnostic use;
Cysts/*diagnosis/physiopathology;
Diagnosis, Differential;
Female;
Gadolinium DTPA/diagnostic use;
Humans;
Magnetic Resonance Imaging/*methods;
Male;
Retrospective Studies;
Spinal Cord Diseases/*diagnosis/physiopathology
- From:Korean Journal of Radiology
2012;13(5):557-563
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
OBJECTIVE: The ventriculus terminalis (VT) in adults is a rare pathology. We report various MR imaging features of the adult VT. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ten patients were included in this retrospective review.. All patients had undergone magnetic resonance (MR imaging with a surface coil that used two different 1.5T MR systems. All patients had undergone initial and follow-up MR imaging with contrast enhancement using gadopentate dimeglumine. Three patients underwent additional MR imaging using the echocardiogram-gated spatial modulation of magnetization (SPAMM) technique. If a shift in tagging band during the systolic phase was less than half of the band space, it was defined as a "non-pulsatile fluid". Two neuroradiologists independently reviewed these images, while clinical symptoms and outcomes were statistically analyzed between the treated and non-treated group. RESULTS: All cases presented an intramedullary cystic lesion in the conus medullaris and showed the same signal intensity as CSF. Three VTs had intracystic septation and cord edema, which were pathologically confirmed after surgery; two of these were associated with kyphotic deformity and spinal arteriovenous malformation. SPAMM-MRI of 3 patients demonstrated non-pulsatile fluid motion within the VT. In the treated group, clinical symptoms improved better than the non-treated group. CONCLUSION: The adult VT shows some unusual imaging features, including septation, cord edema, and coexistence of a spinal AVM, as well as the typical findings. Surgical maneuvers may be considered as a treatment option in adult VT with progressive neurological symptoms.
