Thrombosis of the deep cerebral venous system in the absence of superficial sinus thrombosis is a very rare disease. The clinical and radiological findings can be diagnostically challenging due to the subtle appearances on computed tomography (CT) scan. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examination is a preferred imaging modality to complement the CT findings for an accurate diagnosis of venous sinus thrombosis. We present a case of this unusual condition which present as unilateral thalamic lesion on CT scan and the role of contrast enhanced MRI with fast spoiled gradient echo (FSPGR) sequence and 3D reconstruction which led to the diagnosis of thrombosis in the deep cerebral venous system.
Thrombosis

Aged ; Brain Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Central Nervous System Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Fatal Outcome ; Female ; Humans ; Lymphoma ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Meningeal Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; secondary

Objective: To delineate and differentiate between late subacute hemorrhage and intracranial lipomas in clinically available conventional and advanced MR sequences. Methods: Two cases of late subacute hemorrhage and two cases of intracranial lipoma were reviewed with CT scans and 3.0T scanner MRI. The sequences evaluated in MRI were T1-weighted (T1W) fast spin echo (FSE), T2-weighted (T2W) FSE, gradient echo T2*-weighted (GRE T2*W) images, diffusion weighted (DWI), apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) and multivoxel spectroscopy. Results: Late subacute hemorrhage and intracranial lipoma have similar imaging features on T1W, T2W FSE with blooming artefact at the margins on GRE T2*W. However on GRE T2*W sequence, the central area of lipoma demonstrates low signal; while hemorrhage demonstrates high signal. In DWI, late subacute hemorrhage shows hyperintensity; while in lipoma there is loss of signal. Conclusion: Awareness of the potential pitfalls in standard sequence are important, as these entities appear to have similar T1W/ T2W characteristic with blooming artefact on T2*W. Knowing the distinctive central signal intensity pattern on GRE T2W* and DWI is therefore essential to differentiate between these lesions as there are differences to their clinical management.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Nipah virus infection is known to cause late-onset and relapsed encephalitis, in addition to an acute encephalitic illness. This is a report of a 35 years old woman, who had exposure to the Nipah virus infection during the 1999 Malaysian outbreak, was positive for Nipah IgG by immunofl uorescence, and had multiple small hyperintense lesions in brain MRI typically seen in acute Nipah encephalitis patients, indicating asymptomatic Nipah virus infection. She subsequently developed acute encephalitis after 11 years, manifesting as diplopia, internuclear opthalmoplegia and epileptic seizures with pleocytosis in cerebrospinal fl uid examination. She had another episode of relapsed encephalitis a year later, with seizures, memory impairment, chorea and new lesions in MRI brain. This patient is unusual in the long incubation of 11 years before manifesting with late-onset Nipah encephalitis.

Objectives: To investigate the accuracy of multidetector computed tomography venography (MDCTV) and magnetic resonance venography (MRV) of differing fi eld strength in diagnosing cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST). To assess the visualization rate of the cerebral veins and dural sinuses between these imaging modalities. Methods: A retrospective review of 27 patients with clinical suspicion of CVST who underwent both MDCTV and corresponding MRI/MRV brain scans at 0.35T, 1.5T or 3.0T fi eld-strength were performed. Results were compared with the defi nitive fi nal diagnosis. In the nonthrombotic group of patients, a descriptive study of the anatomical visualization of cerebral veins and dural sinuses was also undertaken. Results: Ten of the 27 patients had a fi nal diagnosis of CVST. The Neuroradiologists’ consensus reading identifi ed these 10 cases of CVST in both the MDCTV and MRV scans with a sensitivity rate of 100%. There was one false positive in MDCTV and three false-positives in the MRV group (1.5T) with positive predictive values of 90.9% and 76.9%, respectively. MDCTV and MRV demonstrated a specifi city of 94.1% and 82.4%, respectively in diagnosing CVST. No false negative images were seen demonstrating a negative predictive value of 100% in both modalities. There was no statistical difference in the anatomical visualization rate of the cerebral veins or the dural sinuses among the various strengths of MRI. However, statistically signifi cant (p<0.05) fewer visualised vessels in MRV compared to MDCTV, for the SSS, ISS, straight sinus, ICV and VOG. Conclusion: MDCTV is equal to MRV of various strength in its sensitivity for CVST diagnosis. MDCTV also provides better anatomical visualization of the dural sinuses and cerebral veins.

Aged, 80 and over ; Breast Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Fatal Outcome ; Female ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Osteosarcoma ; diagnosis

Lymphocytic mastitis, or diabetic mastopathy, is an unusual finding in early-onset and long-standing diabetes. It can presents as a non-tender or tender palpable breast mass. Mammogram and ultrasound frequently demonstrate findings suspicious of malignancy, thus biopsy and histological confirmation is usually required. We reviewed two cases of lymphocytic mastitis with characteristics findings on mammogram, ultrasound, and histopathology. Diagnoses were confirmed with excision biopsy.
Breast Neoplasms ; Diabetes Mellitus

INTRODUCTIONWe compared the effectiveness of different types of non-commercial neutral oral contrast agents for bowel distension and mural visualisation in computed tomographic (CT) enterography.

METHODS90 consecutive patients from a group of 108 were randomly assigned to receive water (n = 30), 3.8% milk (n = 30) or 0.1% gastrografin (n = 30) as oral contrast agent. The results were independently reviewed by two radiologists who were blinded to the contrast agents used. The degree of bowel distension was qualitatively scored on a four-point scale. The discrimination of bowel loops, mural visualisation and visualisation of mucosal folds were evaluated on a 'yes' or 'no' basis. Side effects of the various agents were also recorded.

RESULTS3.8% milk was significantly superior to water for bowel distension (jejunum, ileum and terminal ileum), discrimination of bowel loops (jejunum and ileum), mural visualisation and visualisation of mucosal folds (ileum and terminal ileum). It was also significantly superior to 0.1% gastrografin for bowel distension, discrimination of bowel loops, mural visualisation and visualisation of mucosal folds (jejunum, ileum and terminal ileum). However, 10% of patients who received 3.8% milk reported immediate post-test diarrhoea. No side effects were documented for patients who received water and 0.1% gastrografin.

CONCLUSION3.8% milk is an effective and superior neutral oral contrast agent for the assessment of the jejunum, ileum and terminal ileum in CT enterography. However, further studies are needed to explore other suitable oral contrast agents for CT enterography in lactose- or cow's milk-intolerant patients.

Administration, Oral ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Animals ; Contrast Media ; pharmacology ; Diatrizoate Meglumine ; pharmacology ; Female ; Humans ; Intestines ; diagnostic imaging ; drug effects ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Milk ; Multidetector Computed Tomography ; instrumentation ; methods ; Water

Primary angiitis of the central nervous system (PACNS) is a rare vasculitis restricted to the central nervous system without systemic involvement. Delay in diagnosis and treatment is common due to its non-specific symptoms and lack of non-invasive diagnostic tests. Myelopathy can occur in PACNS, during the clinical course of the illness, with or without cerebral symptoms. We describe here a 51 year-old ethnic Chinese woman who presented initially with paraparesis without cerebral symptoms. The diagnosis of PACNS was eventually made from brain biopsy when she subsequently developed cerebral involvement. Despite aggressive treatment, the patient developed progressive neurological deterioration and died. This patient demonstrates the rare occurrence of myelopathy as the sole initial presentation of PACNS.
Central Nervous System ; Spinal Cord Diseases

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the commonest primary cerebral malignancy consisting of 12- 20% of intracranial brain tumours.1 We report here a patient with GBM with very unusual marked and widespread leptomeningeal GBM.