Segmental cavernous carotid ectasia in a patient with cluster-like headache

Introduction Cluster headache (CH) is a primary headache with severe, unilateral periorbital or temporal pain lasting 15–180min, accompanied with various cranial autonomic features. A diagnosis of cluster-like headache can be made whenever underlying cause of CLH is present. Methods and results We report a case where an ectatic cavernous segment of the internal carotid artery triggered CHL, most probably due to compression of the ophthalmic nerve within cavernous sinus. The pathological substrate of a vessel ectasia is degeneration of the tunica intima as a consequence of atherosclerosis and hypertension. On the other hand, cavernous sinus is unique space where parasympathetic, sympathetic and nociceptive fibers are in intimate relationship which is of great importance for understanding of CH pathophysiology. Conclusion Magnetic resonance imaging and MR angiography are mandatory imaging tools used for precise localization of pathological changes in the cavernous sinus, especially in the group of secondary headaches attributed to vascular disorders

Slučaj vjerojatne neurosarkoidoze koji se manifestira kao jednostrana oftalmoplegija

Sarcoidosis is a multisystem disease of unknown etiology, characterized by the presence of noncaseating epithelioid granulomas and accumulation of T lymphocytes and mononuclear phagocytes, which damages the normal structure of tissues. Isolated form of neurosarcoidosis is very rare and difficult to diagnose and requires histologic confirmation of noncaseating granulomas in the nervous tissue. We report a case of a 55-year-old female who had probable isolated neurosarcoidosis based on magnetic resonance imaging findings of relapsing pachymeningitis with an inflammatory process in the apex of the right orbit and pseudotumor inflammation of the superior and lateral recti of the right eye. Diagnosis was further verified by positive response to dual corticosteroid and immunosuppressive therapy. Our case demonstrates the importance of considering isolated neurosarcoidosis as a potential underlying etiology of painful ophthalmoplegia, even without systemic manifestation of the disease.Sarkoidoza je multisistemska bolest nepoznate etiologije koju karakterizira prisutnost nekazeoznih epiteloidnih granuloma s nakupljanjem T limfocita i mononuklearnih fagocita te narušavanjem normalne tkivne arhitektonike. Izolirani oblik neurosarkoidoze je vrlo rijedak i teško ga je dijagnosticirati te zahtijeva histološku potvrdu nekazeoznih granuloma u živčanom tkivu. Prikazujemo slučaj 55-godišnje žene koja je vjerojatno imala izoliranu neurosarkoidozu, što je zaključeno na temelju nalaza magnetske rezonancije koji je pokazao recidivirajući pahimeningitis s upalnim procesom u vrhu desne orbite i pseudotumorskom upalom gornjeg i vanjskog ravnog mišića desnog oka. Dijagnoza je dodatno potvrđena pozitivnim odgovorom na dvojnu kortikosteroidnu i imunosupresivnu terapiju. Slučaj naše bolesnice pokazuje važnost razmatranja izolirane neurosarkoidoze kao potencijalnog etiološkog uzroka bolne oftalmoplegije, čak i bez sistemske manifestacije bolesti

Pituitarni apsces neuobičajenog kliničkog tijeka

The aim is to present unusual clinical course and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) features of pituitary abscess. A 59-year-old man presented with fever, polyuria, polydipsia and marked weight loss within the last two months. Basic endocrinology tests revealed the presence of anterior pituitary dysfunction, associated with central diabetes insipidus and increased levels of inflammatory markers. The presence of expansile sellar lesion, showing restricted diffusion signal pattern compatible with acute pituitary pyogenic abscess was found on MRI. Regression of pituitary abscess was obvious during the next few weeks of parenteral antibiotic treatment. Adequate substitution treatment with L thyroxine, hydrocortisone, testosterone and desmopressin was achieved. Seventeen months later, clinical deterioration associated with recurrent pituitary abscess was confirmed on MRI. Abscess regression was obvious again after conservative treatment. However, control MRI study performed three years after initial scanning revealed the presence of pituitary tumor, most consistent with macroadenoma. Surgical intervention was ordered. Histologic evaluation indicated the presence of fibrotic changes, associated with granulation tissue and rare cellular elements, compatible with chronic inflammation. To the best of our knowledge, there are no studies in the literature describing such a pattern of chronic evolution of pyogenic pituitary abscess with consequent chronic inflammatory changes with granulation tissue proliferation, mimicking macroadenoma.Cilj rada je prikaz neuobičajenog kliničkog tijeka i magnetsko-rezonantnih (MR) karakteristika pituitarnog apscesa. Bolesnik je bio 59-godišnji muškarac s groznicom, poliurijom, polidipsijom i gubitkom tjelesne mase u posljednja dva mjeseca. Osnovni endokrinološki testovi ukazali su na poremećaj funkcije adenohipofize, udružen s centralnim insipidnim dijabetesom i povišenom razinom upalnih biljega. Pregled pomoću MR je otkrio ekspanzivnu leziju u selarnoj regiji sa znacima restrikcije difuzije, nalaz kompatibilan s pituitarnim apscesom. Nakon primjene antibiotika tijekom sljedećih nekoliko tjedana došlo je do regresije apscesa, a odgovarajuće nadomještanje hormona postignuto je primjenom L-tiroksina, hidrokortizona, testosterona i dezmopresina. Sedamnaest mjeseci kasnije uočeno je pogoršanje kliničkog stanja s opetovanim pituitarnim apscesom, što je potvrđeno pomoću MR. Nakon primijenjene terapije došlo je do ponovne regresije apscesa. Međutim, kontrolni pregled pomoću MR tri godine nakon prvog otkrio je prisustvo pituitarnog tumora s obilježjima makroadenoma, zbog čega je provedena kirurška intervencija. Patohistološka analiza je dokazala prisustvo fibroze udružene s granulacijskim tkivom, rijetkim staničnim elementima, karakteristično za kroničnu upalu. U literaturi ne postoje studije koje prikazuju kroničnu evoluciju pituitarnog apscesa s kroničnim upalnim promjenama koje oponašaju makroadenom

Impaired dynamic cerebral autoregulation in trained breath-hold divers

Breath-hold divers (BHD) experience repeated bouts of severe hypoxia and hypercapnia with large increases in blood pressure. However, the impact of long-term breath-hold diving on cerebrovascular control remains poorly understood. The ability of cerebral blood vessels to respond rapidly to changes in blood pressure represents the property of dynamic autoregulation. The current investigation tested the hypothesis that breathhold diving impairs dynamic autoregulation to a transient hypotensive stimulus. Seventeen BHD (3 women, 11 ± 9 yr of diving) and 15 healthy controls (2 women) completed two or three repeated sit-tostand trials during spontaneous breathing and poikilocapnic conditions. Heart rate (HR), finger arterial blood pressure (BP), and cerebral blood flow velocity (BFV) from the right middle cerebral artery were measured continuously with three-lead electrocardiography, finger photoplethysmography, and transcranial Doppler ultrasonography, respectively. End-tidal carbon dioxide partial pressure was measured with a gas analyzer. Offline, an index of cerebrovascular resistance (CVRi) was calculated as the quotient of mean BP and BFV. The rate of the drop in CVRi relative to the change in BP provided the rate of regulation [RoR; (δCVRi/δT)/δBP]. The BHD demonstrated slower RoR than controls (P ≤ 0.001, d = 1.4). Underlying the reduced RoR in BHD was a longer time to reach nadir CVRi compared with controls (P = 0.004, d = 1.1). In concert with the longer CVRi response, the time to reach peak BFV following standing was longer in BHD than controls (P = 0.01, d = 0.9). The data suggest impaired dynamic autoregulatory mechanisms to hypotension in BHD. NEW & NOTEWORTHY Impairments in dynamic cerebral autoregulation to hypotension are associated with breath-hold diving. Although weakened autoregulation was observed acutely in this group during apneic stress, we are the first to report on chronic adaptations in cerebral autoregulation. Impaired vasomotor responses underlie the reduced rate of regulation, wherein breath-hold divers demonstrate a prolonged dilatory response to transient hypotension. The slower cerebral vasodilation produces a longer perturbation in cerebral blood flow velocity, increasing the risk of cerebral ischemia

A Case of Probable Neurosarcoidosis Presenting as Unilateral Ophthalmoplegia

Sarcoidosis is a multisystem disease of unknown etiology, characterized by the presence of noncaseating epithelioid granulomas and accumulation of T lymphocytes and mononuclear phagocytes, which damages the normal structure of tissues. Isolated form of neurosarcoidosis is very rare and difficult to diagnose and requires histologic confirmation of noncaseating granulomas in the nervous tissue. We report a case of a 55-year-old female who had probable isolated neurosarcoidosis based on magnetic resonance imaging findings of relapsing pachymeningitis with an inflammatory process in the apex of the right orbit and pseudotumor inflammation of the superior and lateral recti of the right eye. Diagnosis was further verified by positive response to dual corticosteroid and immunosuppressive therapy. Our case demonstrates the importance of considering isolated neurosarcoidosis as a potential underlying etiology of painful ophthalmoplegia, even without systemic manifestation of the disease

Reversible brain damage following acute organic solvents' poisoning determined by magnetic resonance

Introduction. Acute exposure to the effects of volatile solvents is characterized by the abrupt onset of symptoms and signs of poisoning, and relatively fast recovery in the majority of cases. Case report. We report a 24-year-old patient with an acute, accidental poisoning with a mixture of volatile organic solvents (most probably toluene, styrene and xylene), which led to the development of upward gaze paresis, diplopia, hemiparesis, ataxic gate, and the late onset truncal ataxia episodes. After 6 weeks, he recovered completely, while his extensive brain MRI lesions in the caudate nuclei, laterobasal putaminal regions, bilateral anterior insular cortex, central midbrain tegmental area) withdrew completely after 4 months. Conclusion. Acute toxic encephalopathy should be a part of the differential diagnosis in any patient with acute neurobehavioral and neurological deficit

Imaging features of bilateral vestibular neuritis

Introduction. The magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was found to be insensitive diagnostic modality in detecting the abnormalities in patients with vestibular neuritis. Case report. A 32-year-old man was admitted to hospital with clinical signs of acute vestibular neuritis. The conventional MRI was inconclusive, including 3 mm slice-thickness postcontrast study, while the postcontrast high resolution study with 1 mm slice-thikness, detected bilateral enhancement of the vestibulocochlear nerve’s vestibular branch, consistent with inflammation. Conclusion. High-resolution 1 mm or submilimeter slices should be perfomed to evaluate patients with vestibular neuritis in order to increase the MRI sensitivity and improve correlation with clinical findings

Pituitary abscess with unusual clinical course

The aim is to present unusual clinical course and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) features of pituitary abscess. A 59-year-old man presented with fever, polyuria, polydipsia and marked weight loss within the last two months. Basic endocrinology tests revealed the presence of anterior pituitary dysfunction, associated with central diabetes insipidus and increased levels of inflammatory markers. The presence of expansile sellar lesion, showing restricted diffusion signal pattern compatible with acute pituitary pyogenic abscess was found on MRI. Regression of pituitary abscess was obvious during the next few weeks of parenteral antibiotic treatment. Adequate substitution treatment with L thyroxine, hydrocortisone, testosterone and desmopressin was achieved. Seventeen months later, clinical deterioration associated with recurrent pituitary abscess was confirmed on MRI. Abscess regression was obvious again after conservative treatment. However, control MRI study performed three years after initial scanning revealed the presence of pituitary tumor, most consistent with macroadenoma. Surgical intervention was ordered. Histologic evaluation indicated the presence of fibrotic changes, associated with granulation tissue and rare cellular elements, compatible with chronic inflammation. To the best of our knowledge, there are no studies in the literature describing such a pattern of chronic evolution of pyogenic pituitary abscess with consequent chronic inflammatory changes with granulation tissue proliferation, mimicking macroadenoma

A prominent lactate peak as a potential key magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) feature of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML): Spectrum pattern observed in three patients

Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) is a rare, often fatal, opportunistic infection, associated with demyelinating process. PML is caused by John Cunningham (JC) polyomavirus, and predominantly affects patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection or other immunocompromised patients. The purpose of this study was to determine the role of magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) in establishing the diagnosis of PML. MRS with long and short echo time was performed in two patients with PML associated with HIV infection and in one PML patient associated with chronic lymphocytic leukemia. The most prominent peak on the obtained spectra was for lactate; it showed 2-3 times higher concentration of lactate compared to choline, almost 4-6 times higher lactate concentration compared to creatine, and 4-11 times higher lactate in comparison to N-acetylaspartate concentration. Similar spectrum pattern was observed in all patients. To the best of our knowledge, this is a new finding that might be useful in early diagnosis of PML. Nevertheless, further confirmation of our results is needed, since we analyzed the spectrum pattern only in three patients. Overall, our results could help in early detection of PML, especially in non-HIV patients, and thus prevent the fatal outcome of the disease. MRS could also be useful in detecting “tumefactive” demyelinating lesions in PML patients, associated with immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome, to avoid misdiagnosis of neoplasm