Epilepsy is, in some occassions, manifested as one of the symptoms complex of central nervous system diseases, as well as systemic diseases such as metabolic disorders. In 1976, Bachman reported that 33% of epileptic patients manifested abnormal lesions in their computerized tomographic findings. 1005 epileptic children with various types of seizures have been investigated to detect the possible causes of epilepsies. 32% of the patients had abnormal brain C-T findings, of these patients, infantile spasm was the most frequently manifested abnormal C-T finding, rating 52.9%; simple partial seizure, 37.7%; complex partial seizure, 36.1% and generalized seizure, 27.1%, in order of frequency. Curable lesions, such as tumor, granuloma and arachnoid cyst were detected by brain C-T scan, and a brain tumor was detected in 2% of the patients. The brain C-T scan is one of the most effective diagnostic tools to evaluate the underlying lesions of the central nervous system of epileptic children.
Adolescent ; Brain Damage, Chronic/radiography ; Brain Diseases/*radiography ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Epilepsy/*radiography ; Female ; Human ; Infant ; Male ; *Tomography, X-Ray Computed

The clinical cases of 6 patients suffering with chorea after acute carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning were reviewed. There were 2 men and 4 women, and the age at onset ranged from 11 to 60 (mean 33.0) years. All the patients except one were associated with mild delayed CO encephalopathy. The latency period between CO poisoning and the onset of chorea was 10 to 30 (mean 21.7) days. The duration of chorea after CO poisoning was 14 to 90 (mean 39.8) days. The brain CT findings were bilateral low- density lesions in the basal ganglia and/or in the white matter of the cerebral cortex, and there was no correlation between the lesion sites on the imagings and the development of chorea. Neuroleptic agents alleviated the chorea and the patients did not relapse after neuroleptic agents were halted.
Acute Disease ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Brain Diseases/etiology/radiography ; Carbon Monoxide Poisoning/*complications/radiography ; Chorea/*etiology/radiography ; Female ; Human ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

INTRODUCTIONRadiologists may encounter bilaterally symmetrical abnormalities of the basal ganglia on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), typically in the context of diffuse systemic, toxic or metabolic diseases. A systematic approach and broad knowledge of pathology causing this uncommon group of conditions would be useful.

MATERIALS AND METHODSThis review uses illustrative images to highlight metabolic conditions, such as Leigh's syndrome, citrullinaemia, hypoglycaemia or carbon monoxide poisoning, as well as other causes of bilateral basal ganglia lesions such as osmotic myelinolysis, deep cerebral venous thrombosis and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease.

RESULTSCareful assessment of radiological findings outside the basal ganglia, such as involvement of the cortex, white matter, thalamus and pons, together with clinical correlation, may be helpful in narrowing the differential diagnosis, and directing further radiological, biochemical or genetic investigations. Recent advances in MR technology have resulted in newer techniques including diffusion-weighted (DW) MR imaging and MR spectroscopy (MRS); these may be helpful if appropriately used.

CONCLUSIONSAbnormal MRI findings in the basal ganglia should not be interpreted in isolation. A systematic approach including DW MR imaging, MRS, and a broad knowledge of diffuse systemic, toxic or metabolic diseases is helpful.

Basal Ganglia Diseases ; diagnosis ; diagnostic imaging ; physiopathology ; Brain Diseases, Metabolic ; diagnosis ; diagnostic imaging ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Radiography

Chronic mitral valve disease (CMVD) is the most common cardiovascular disease in dogs, causing decreased cardiac output that results in poor tissue perfusion and tissue damage to kidneys, pancreas, and other organs. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationships between heart disease severity and N-terminal pro B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) and lipase in dogs with CMVD, as well as to evaluate longitudinal changes in these values. A total of 84 dogs participated in this 2015 to 2017 study. Serum values of NT-proBNP and lipase were analyzed; radiography was used to measure the vertebral heart score and assess various echocardiographic values. NT-proBNP showed a strong positive correlation with increasing stage of heart disease; lipase showed a mild positive correlation with heart disease stage. When the three values (NT-proBNP, lipase and month) were continuously measured at 6-month intervals, all showed a correlation with the increasing length of the disease.
Animals ; Cardiac Output ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Dogs ; Echocardiography ; Heart ; Heart Diseases ; Kidney ; Lipase ; Mitral Valve ; Natriuretic Peptide, Brain ; Pancreas ; Perfusion ; Radiography

OBJECTIVETo explore pathogenic mutation in a family affected with 2-hydroxyglutaric aciduria.

METHODSExons of 3 candidate genes, including L2HGDH, D2HGDH and SLC25A1, were amplified with polymerase chain reaction and subjected to direct sequencing.

RESULTSDNA sequencing has found that the proband and his affected younger brother have both carried a heterozygous mutation c.845G>A (p.R282Q) in the exon 7 of the L2HGDH gene. The same mutation was not detected in the his sister who was healthy. Pedigree analysis has confirmed that the above mutation was inherited from the mother. No mutation was detected in exons and flanking sequences of the D2HGDH and SLC25A1 genes.

CONCLUSIONMutation of the L2HGDH gene probably underlies the 2-hydroxyglutaric aciduria in this family.

Alcohol Oxidoreductases ; genetics ; Base Sequence ; Brain ; diagnostic imaging ; Brain Diseases, Metabolic, Inborn ; diagnostic imaging ; enzymology ; genetics ; Child ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Mutation ; Pedigree ; Radiography ; Young Adult

The authors report here a rare case of cerebellar schistosomiasis identified by pathological diagnosis, lacking extracranial involvement. The clinical symptoms included headache, dizziness, and nausea. Studies in blood were normal and no parasite eggs were detected in stool. Computed tomography of brains showed hypodense signal, and magnetic resonance imaging showed isointense signal on T1-weighted images, hyperintense signal on T2-weighted images, and intensely enhancing nodules in the right cerebellum after intravenous administration of gadolinium. A high-grade glioma was suspected, and an operation was performed. The pathologic examination of the biopsy specimen revealed schistosomal granulomas scattered within the parenchyma of the cerebellum. The definitive diagnosis was cerebellar schistosomiasis japonica. A standard use of praziquantel and corticosteroid drugs was applied, and the prognosis was good. When the pattern of imaging examinations is present as mentioned above, a diagnosis of brain schistosomiasis should be considered.
Adrenal Cortex Hormones/therapeutic use ; Animals ; Brain Diseases/drug therapy/*parasitology/pathology/radiography ; Cerebellum/*parasitology/radiography ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Praziquantel/therapeutic use ; Schistosoma japonicum/isolation & purification ; Schistosomiasis japonica/drug therapy/*parasitology/pathology/radiography

Disseminated cryptococcosis mainly occurs in patients with cell-mediated immunity disorders. A case of disseminated cryptococcosis, in a patient with pituitary Cushing's disease, is reported. Cultures of blood, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and aspirates of a skin lesion all grew Cryptococcus neoformans. Despite antifungal treatment, with amphotericin-B, the patient died within 3 weeks.
Amphotericin B/therapeutic use ; Antifungal Agents/therapeutic use ; Brain/microbiology/pathology/radiography ; Cryptococcosis/*complications/drug therapy/radiography ; Cushing Syndrome/*complications/microbiology ; Fatal Outcome ; Female ; Human ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Middle Aged ; Pituitary Diseases/*complications/microbiology/radiography

A previously healthy 16-month-old Korean girl with symptoms of fever, vomiting, and generalized tonic seizure was diagnosed to have Group D non-typhoid Salmonella meningitis. The patient was treated with ceftriaxone (100 mg/kg/day) and amikin (22.5 mg/kg/day) initially and ciprofloxacin (30 mg/kg/day) was added later because of clinical deterioration and disseminated intravascular coagulation. Brain CT performed on the second day showed a well-demarcated low density lesion in the right lentiform nucleus and both caudate nuclei, without evidence of increased intracranial pressure. MRI performed on the 11th day confirmed CT scan findings as well as right subdural fluid collection, brain atrophy, and ventriculomegaly. She underwent subdural drainage and later ventriculo-peritoneal shunt operation. Despite receiving intensive treatment, she still has severe neurologic sequelae. Our case shows that infarctions of basal ganglia and thalami are not specific for tuberculous meningitis and that meningitis complicated by infarction is indicative of grave prognosis.
Basal Ganglia Diseases/radiography ; Basal Ganglia Diseases/pathology ; Basal Ganglia Diseases/complications ; Basal Ganglia Diseases/cerebrospinal fluid ; Brain/radiography ; Brain/pathology ; Case Report ; Cerebral Infarction/radiography ; Cerebral Infarction/pathology ; Cerebral Infarction/complications* ; Cerebral Infarction/cerebrospinal fluid ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Human ; Infant ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Meningitis, Bacterial/radiography ; Meningitis, Bacterial/pathology ; Meningitis, Bacterial/complications* ; Meningitis, Bacterial/cerebrospinal fluid ; Salmonella Infections/complications* ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed/methods

BACKGROUND: Several methods have been developed to measure skin thickness, including the use of the radiography, micrometer screw gauge, Harpenden's caliper, and ultrasound, but there are no reports to measure skin thickness using computed tomography. OBJECTIVE: We measured skin thickness on the CT films retrospectively. This study was to investigaste variations of skin thickness by age, gender, and different sites. METHODS: Skin thickness was measured on the CT films of 562 patients, including 357 males and 205 females who had undergone brain, chest, and abdominal CT in our hospital. Patients with endocrinologic, malignant, or collagen disease and those on antimetabolite or steroid therapy were excluded. Comparisons of histometric and computed tomographic methods weremade in 5 skin tumors and 1 localized lipodystrophy. Results: 1. The measurements of the skin thickness(mean) in examined sites varied from 0.84 to 3.07 milimeters : the posterior part at the level of the chest(aortic arch level) was the thickest and the anterior part at the level of the forehead(aortic arch level) was the thickest and the anterior part at the level of the forehead(frontal sinus level) was the thinnest. 2. Skin thickness in males wal generally thicker than in females : the anterior and lateral part at the level of the forehead(P<0.0001), the posterior part at the level of the bladder(P<0.2) were thicker in males than in females. 3. In each gender, the thickness of the skin increased with age of 40 or 60, and then decreased with age at every level. 4. Skin on posterior parts of the body was thicker than on other parts. 5. Unlike other levels, skin was thicker on the lateral parts than on the anterior parts at the levels of the forehead and bladder. 6. The measured skin thickness in about 7% greater in formalin fixed tissues than on CT films. CONCLUSION; Computed tomographic measurement of the skin thickness in a reliable method in the aquisition of normal values and their individual variations during cutaneous aging. Moreover, this method is useful in evaluating skin tumors and monitoring the response to therapy of inflammatory conditions.
Aging ; Brain ; Collagen Diseases ; Female ; Forehead ; Formaldehyde ; Humans ; Lipodystrophy ; Male ; Radiography ; Reference Values ; Retrospective Studies ; Skin* ; Thorax ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Ultrasonography ; Urinary Bladder

Intradural extramedullary (IDEM) tuberculoma of the spinal cord is uncommon entity and moreover, few reports have been documented on concurrent IDEM and intracranial tuberculomas. Authors report a case of IDEM spinal tuberculoma having intracranial lesion simultaneously. A 49-year-old woman suffered from paraparesis and urinary incontinence while being given medical treatment for tuberculous meningitis. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed an IDEM mass lesion between the T1 and T2 spinal levels, and multiple intracranial tuberculous granulomas. Surgical resection of the IDEM tuberculoma followed by anti-tuberculous medication resulted in good outcome.
Brain/radiography ; Case Report ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Human ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Middle Age ; Mycobacterium tuberculosis/isolation & purification ; Spinal Cord Diseases/radiography* ; Tuberculoma/surgery ; Tuberculoma/radiography ; Tuberculoma/drug therapy ; Tuberculoma/complications* ; Tuberculosis, Meningeal/surgery ; Tuberculosis, Meningeal/radiography ; Tuberculosis, Meningeal/drug therapy ; Tuberculosis, Meningeal/complications*