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Biomedical subjects

E Méary

Publications and source records attributed to E Méary.

8 recordsLinked to original sources

Early asymptomatic recurrence of cervical artery dissection: three cases.

Cervical artery dissection (CAD) recurrences are rare but the risk could be higher during the first month. Twenty-seven consecutive patients admitted for an acute CAD were investigated using a standardized imaging protocol. An early asymptomatic recurrence was observed in three patients 49 to 53 days after the initial diagnosis. Anticoagulation was maintained and the prognosis remained good. Early CAD recurrences may have been underestimated previously, because asymptomatic recurrences seem to be more frequent than symptomatic ones.

Adult↗

[Normal results].

THE TECHNIQUE: Today, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is the exploration of choice for a number of central nervous system disorders. This technique, which does not use ionising rays, examines the encephalus in all its dimensions. Various sequences are used to study the cerebral parenchyma: specific sequences in T1, with or without injection of a contrast product, specific sequence in T2, and FLAIR sequence. THE RESULTS OBTAINED: The diffusion and perfusion imaging respectively reveal the movement of the water molecules and the cerebral microcirculation. Visualisation of the arteries and veins is non-invasive with magnetic resonance angiographical techniques. Study of the chemical composition of tissues (magnetic resonance spectroscopy) and of cerebral activation (functional activation imaging) will not be addressed.

Arteries↗

[Tumor pathology].

THE MRI DIAGNOSTIC SUPPORT: Magnetic resonance imaging is an efficient technique for revealing an intercranial tumor, and specifying its topography and loco-regional impact. A macroscopical approach is possible with MRI, since it distinguishes the components: tumoral tissue, cyst, necrosis and hemorrhage. DEPENDING ON THE TUMOR: Assessment of the tumoral limits is easy for extra-axial tumors. However, it is imprecise or even impossible for infiltrating intra-axial tumors. MRI specificity is low, however some lesions such as meningiomas, glioblastomas, arachnoid cysts and neurinomas are evocative.

Brain↗

[Vascular pathology].

IN ARTERIAL ISCHEMIC PATHOLOGY: Magnetic resonance imaging is increasingly proposed for any suspicion of cerebral vascular accident. Because of its diffusion sequences, it permits the rapid diagnosis and screening of ischemic lesions and provides prognostic information. FOR OTHER CEREBRAL VASCULAR DISORDERS: Intra-parenchymatous and sub-arachnoid hemorrhages are easily revealed by MRI. Today, MRI is the most effective examination for the diagnosis of venous thrombosis and of its impact on the parenchyma.

Brain Ischemia↗

[Traumatic, infectious or degenerative pathology].

CRANIO-ENCEPHALIC TRAUMAS: Scanography remains the examination of choice. However, MRI can be useful in diagnosis of diffuse axional lesions, not clearly visualized with scanography, and for screening the subsequent lesions. INFECTIOUS OR INFLAMMATORY LESIONS: Some are very evocative with MRI: cerebral abscesses, notably herpetic encephalitis and Creutzfeldt-Jacob's disease. If multiple sclerosis is suspected, MRI is considered as the principle para-clinical examination able to confirm the diagnosis with the first episode. It also supplies data for the diagnosis of metabolic, toxic and degenerative diseases.

Brain↗

Aneurysmal forms of cervical artery dissection : associated factors and outcome.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The natural history of aneurysmal forms of cervical artery dissection (CAD) is ill defined. The aims of this study were to assess (1) clinical and anatomic outcome of aneurysmal forms of extracranial internal carotid artery (ICA) and vertebral artery (VA) dissections and (2) factors associated with aneurysmal forms of CAD. METHODS: Seventy-one consecutive patients with CAD were reviewed. Aneurysmal forms of CAD were identified from all available angiograms by 2 neuroradiologists. The frequency of arterial risk factors, of multiple vessel dissections, and of artery redundancies was compared in patients with and without aneurysm. Patients with aneurysm were invited by mail to undergo a final clinical and radiological evaluation. RESULTS: Of the 71 patients, 35 (49.3%) had a total of 42 aneurysms. Thirty aneurysms were located on a symptomatic artery (ICA, 23; VA, 7) and 12 on an asymptomatic artery (ICA, 10; VA, 2). Patients with aneurysm had multiple dissections of cervical vessels (18/35 versus 7/36; P:=0.005) and arterial redundancies (20/35 versus 11/36; P:=0.02) more frequently than patients without aneurysm. They were also more often migrainous (odds ratio=2.7 [95% CI, 0.8 to 8.5]) and tobacco users (odds ratio=2.2 [95% CI, 0.7 to 6.3]). Clinical and anatomic follow-up information was available for 35 (100%) and 33 patients (94%), respectively. During a mean follow-up of >3 years, no patient had signs of cerebral ischemia, local compression, or rupture. At follow-up, 46% of the aneurysms involving symptomatic ICA were unchanged, 36% had disappeared, and 18% had decreased in size. Resolution was more common for VA than for ICA aneurysms (83% versus 36%). None of the aneurysms located on an asymptomatic ICA had disappeared. CONCLUSIONS: Although aneurysms due to CAD frequently persist, patients carry a very low risk of clinical complications. This favorable clinical outcome should be kept in mind before potential harmful treatment is contemplated.

Adult↗

[MRI aspects of central nervous system sarcoidosis].

Sarcoidosis is a multisystemic disease of unknown origin characterized pathologically by the presence of noncaseating epithelioid granulomas. Symptomatic involvement of the CNS may develop in a patient with known sarcoidosis or it may be the initial manifestation. Intracranial sarcoidosis may include meningeal disease, cranial neuropathy, hypothalamic and pituitary dysfunction and both intraaxial and extraaxial mass. The MRI features are variable and non specific, so differentiation from other lesions (multiple sclerosis, tumour, meningitis, vasculitis) may be difficult, especially in the absence of extracranial disease. Patients with symptoms usually have corresponding CNS lesions at MR imaging, except for cranial nerves involvement. Under therapy, resolution of lesions at MR imaging lags behind resolution of clinical symptoms. MRI may contribute to confirm a clinically suspected diagnosis or detect subclinical involvement. MRI is also very helpful for follow-up under therapy.

Aftercare↗

[Solitary plasmocytoma of the calvarium].

We report a case of 54 year old patient harboring a solitary painless mass of the calvarium. There was a well-defined biparietal lytic lesion on plain skull radiographics. Computed tomography showed a large hyperdense lesion. This lesion was extraaxial and nearly isointense with gray matter on T1 and T2-weighted MR images, and diffusely enhanced after gadolinium injection. Angiography showed hyperovascularity supplied by middle meningeal and superficial temporal arteries. Imaging study bore some similarities to meningioma. A large extra-axial mass with an important lytic lesion should have led to the diagnosis of plasmocytoma.

Humans↗