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Molybdenum cofactor deficiency: report of three cases presenting as hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy.

We report three infants with the diagnosis of molybdenum cofactor deficiency. The key findings leading to diagnosis were neonatal seizures unresponsive to treatment, craniofacial dysmorphic features, hyperexcitability, low blood uric acid levels, and neuroimaging findings. The parents were consanguineous in two of these patients. The diagnosis was established by the presence of low blood uric acid levels, positive urine sulfite reaction, quantitative aminoacid analysis, and high-voltage electrophoresis of the urine sample showing a typical increase of S-sulfo-L-cysteine. Skin fibroblast cultures confirmed the diagnosis. Magnetic resonance imaging findings were suggestive of encephalomalacia with cystic changes due to hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy. We conclude that molybdenum cofactor deficiency must be included in the differential diagnosis of patients presenting with intractable seizures in the newborn period who have computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging findings reminiscent of those of hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy, and the urine sulfite dipstick test can be a part of the evaluation of these infants in neonatal intensive care units.

Coenzymes↗

A child with Diamond-Blackfan anemia, methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase mutation, and perinatal stroke.

Diamond-Blackfan anemia is a congenital hypoproliferative anemia known to be associated with diverse physical anomalies affecting the thumb, craniofacial bones, urogenital system, and heart; prematurity; and fetal demise. We report the case of a 16-month-old boy with Diamond-Blackfan anemia noted to have decreased use of his right side since birth. Magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated a large area of encephalomalacia in the left middle cerebral artery territory. Magnetic resonance angiography showed marked attenuation of the left middle cerebral artery, suggesting a remote thromboembolic event. The laboratory results were remarkable for a decreased hemogolobin of 9.5 g/dL and increased platelets of 591,000/microL. He was heterozygous for the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase gene C677T mutation. An echocardiogram demonstrated a patent foramen ovale versus an atrial septal defect with left to right shunting. Perinatal stroke may be a rare complication of Diamond-Blackfan anemia in the setting of other risk factors.

Anemia, Diamond-Blackfan↗

Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy and diffusion-weighted imaging in isolated sulfite oxidase deficiency.

Isolated sulfite oxidase deficiency is a rare autosomal recessive disorder of the newborn that can be mistaken for neonatal asphyxia. Diffusion-weighted imaging of the brain demonstrates widespread diffusion restriction, and proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy shows an elevated lactate level, a decrease in the ratio of N-acetylaspartate to creatine, and a rise in the ratio of choline to creatine. This precedes severe cystic encephalomalacia and suggests that the energy failure associated with neuronal dysfunction and myelin disintegration occurs early in isolated sulfite oxidase deficiency.

Amino Acid Metabolism, Inborn Errors↗

Differential involvement of the brain in neonatal asphyxia: a pathogenic explanation.

Multiple cystic lesions in brain parenchyma supplied by the anterior cerebral circulation is a recognized pattern of cerebral injury associated with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy in the term infant. This report presents a series of seven infants (gestational age, 39.3 +/- 2.8 weeks; range, 36 to 44 weeks) who developed multicystic encephalomalacia in the distribution of the anterior cerebral circulation after severe neonatal asphyxia. Cerebral imaging and pathologic studies demonstrate relative preservation of the cerebellum, brain stem, and cerebral structures supplied by the vertebrobasilar circulation. Compared to the vertebrobasilar vasculature, the anterior cerebral vessels in the term infant have dense sympathetic innervation. Asphyxia, a potent sympathetic stimulator, may induce vasoconstriction in the anterior circulation and differentially accentuate the effects of hypoxia/ischemia on cerebral tissue.

Asphyxia Neonatorum↗

An outbreak of toxoplasmosis in farmed mink (Mustela vison S.).

A large Wisconsin mink (Mustela vison) farm experienced an outbreak of toxoplasmosis in the spring of 1999 following an outbreak of canine distemper during the previous fall. Major clinical signs for pregnant females included reduced feed consumption, abortions, and stillborn kits; kits < or =3 weeks old experienced ataxia and mortality. Of 7,800 females, 1,976 (26%) lost their entire litter either from abortion or neonatal mortality. Kit mortality from 7 days to 3 weeks of age was 3,300, and overall kit mortality attributed to the toxoplasmosis outbreak was 10,408. Six neonatal mink kits, 12 3-week-old kits, and 2 adult female mink were submitted to the University of Minnesota Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory for diagnostic workup. Gross postmortem lesions were limited to empty stomachs (12 of 12 kits) and pale livers (4 of 12 kits) for the 3-week-old kits. Major microscopic lesions included interstitial pneumonia, encephalitis, encephalomalacia, and myocarditis. Toxoplasmosis was diagnosed by microscopic lesions, microscopic lesion distribution, and the detection of Toxoplasma gondii tachyzoites by immunohistochemistry. This is the first detailed report of an outbreak of toxoplasmosis in mink in the United States.

Abortion, Veterinary↗

Simple partial status epilepticus localized by single-photon emission computed tomography subtraction in chronic cerebral paragonimiasis.

A patient with chronic cerebral paragonimiasis began to have new motor seizures of the right face manifested by clonic contractions that occurred several hundred times a day, consistent with simple partial status epilepticus. Ictal electroencephalogram discharges started from the left frontal region and then spread to the left hemisphere with left frontal maximum. But clinical seizures were limited to the right face. The frequent partial seizures were controlled by the intravenous infusion of phenytoin. Brain magnetic resonance imaging showed multiple conglomerated round nodules with encephalomalacia in the left temporal and occipital lobes. Applying the technique of ictal-interictal single-photo emission computed tomography subtraction, the authors were able to localize the focal ictal-hyperperfusion on left precentral cortex adjacent to the lesions that correspond to the anatomical distribution of left face motor area.

Adult↗

Clinical and radiographic features of peritumoral infarction following resection of glioblastoma.

Focal areas of restricted diffusion adjacent to high-grade glioma resection cavities were detected in 70% of patients on immediate postoperative MRI studies. Follow-up studies demonstrated cystic encephalomalacia in 91% of these foci, suggesting the presence of infarction, and the infarcted tissue demonstrated enhancement in 43% of cases. New postoperative deficits correlated well with the anatomic region of infarction in six patients. Enhancement in perioperative infarcts can mimic tumor progression on follow-up imaging studies.

Adult↗

Progressive facial hemiatrophy and epilepsy: a common underlying dysgenetic mechanism.

Progressive facial hemiatrophy (PFH), a rare disorder characterized by progressive and self-limited atrophy of the skin and the subcutaneous tissues, is often associated with epilepsy but the link between these two conditions is poorly understood. The cause of PFH remains unclear. We report four patients with PFH associated with partial epilepsy in whom brain MRI showed cerebral dysgenesis. The four patients (two men, two women; age range: 24 to 73 years) developed parasagittal PFH in their second decade. Seizures started before the age of 20 years in three patients and were refractory simple, or complex partial seizures. All the patients had focal MRI showing cortical dysgenesis, ipsilateral to PFH, consisting of cortex thickening, gyral effacement, and blurring of the white-gray interface. The underlying white matter was hyperintense on T2-weighted sequences, with nodular areas in two patients. These areas were stable over time, without contrast enhancement, and were consistent with the MRI characteristics of cystic encephalomalacia. These neuroradiologic features suggest a localized cerebral hemispheric defect of congenital origin. Because cells participating in the formation of the fronto-nasal bud derive from common progenitors with the cells that give rise to the cerebral hemisphere, we suggest that an early malformative process affecting one side of the rostral neural tube could underlie both cerebral dysgenesis and facial hemiatrophy.

Adult↗

Enlarged parietal foramina: association with cerebral venous and cortical anomalies.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate a series of patients with enlarged parietal foramina for associated brain anomalies. BACKGROUND: Enlarged parietal foramina are usually considered a benign calvarial defect. METHODS: Ten patients with enlarged parietal foramina were identified. Seven patients were evaluated with neuroimaging: two by cranial CT and five by CT and/or MRI. Three patients who underwent MRI also underwent MR angiography or MR venography. RESULTS: Six of seven patients had cranial imaging showing a persistent falcine venous sinus. Three of six patients had variations of occipital cortical infolding. One patient had focal encephalomalacia in close proximity to the persistent falcine venous sinus and one had a previously undiagnosed atretic occipital encephalocele. CONCLUSION: This constellation of findings suggests that aberrant vascular evolution during fetal development may affect cerebrovascular, brain, or skull development. Individuals with enlarged parietal foramina (>5 mm) warrant imaging of underlying brain parenchyma and vasculature.

Adult↗

Aneurysmal SAH: cognitive outcome and structural damage after clipping or coiling.

BACKGROUND: Aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) and surgical clipping of intracranial aneurysms are associated with substantial morbidity and mortality. OBJECTIVE: To compare cognitive outcome and structural damage in patients with aneurysmal SAH treated with surgical clipping or endovascular coiling. METHODS: Forty case-matched pairs of patients with aneurysmal SAH treated by surgical clipping or endovascular coiling were prospectively assessed by use of a battery of cognitive tests. Twenty-three case-matched pairs underwent MRI 1 year after the procedure. Matching was based on grade of SAH on admission, location of aneurysm, age, and premorbid IQ. RESULTS: Both groups were impaired in all cognitive domains when compared with age-matched healthy control subjects. Comparison of cognitive outcome between the two groups indicated an overall trend toward a poorer cognitive outcome in the surgical group, which achieved significance in four tests. MRI showed focal encephalomalacia exclusively in the surgical group. This group also had a significantly higher incidence of single or multiple small infarcts within the vascular territory of the aneurysm, but both groups had similar incidence of large infarcts and global ischemic damage. CONCLUSION: Endovascular treatment may cause less structural brain damage than surgery and have a more favorable cognitive outcome. However, cognitive outcome appears to be dictated primarily by the complications of SAH.

Cognition↗

Lesion-induced pseudo-dominance at functional magnetic resonance imaging: implications for preoperative assessments.

OBJECTIVE: To illustrate how lesion-induced neurovascular uncoupling at functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) can mimic hemispheric dominance opposite the side of a lesion preoperatively. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed preoperative fMRI mapping data from 50 patients with focal brain abnormalities to establish patterns of hemispheric dominance of language, speech, visual, or motor system functions. Abnormalities included gliomas (31 patients), arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) (11 patients), other congenital lesions (4 patients), encephalomalacia (3 patients), and tumefactive encephalitis (1 patient). A laterality ratio of fMRI hemispheric dominance was compared with actual hemispheric dominance as verified by electrocortical stimulation, Wada testing, postoperative and posttreatment deficits, and/or lesion-induced deficits. fMRI activation maps were generated with cross-correlation (P < 0.001) or t test (P < 0.001) analysis. RESULTS: In 50 patients, a total of 85 functional areas were within 5 mm of the edge of a potentially resectable lesion. In 23 of these areas (27%), reduced fMRI signal in perilesional eloquent cortex in conjunction with preserved or increased signal in homologous contralateral brain areas revealed functional dominance opposite the side of the lesion. This suggested possible lesion-induced transhemispheric cortical reorganization to homologous brain regions (homotopic reorganization). In seven patients, however, the fMRI data were inconsistent with other methods of functional localization. In two patients with left inferior frontal gyrus gliomas and in one patient with focal tumefactive meningoencephalitis, fMRI incorrectly suggested strong right hemispheric speech dominance. In two patients with lateral precentral gyrus region gliomas and one patient with a left central sulcus AVM, the fMRI pattern incorrectly suggested primary corticobulbar motor dominance contralateral to the side of the lesion. In a patient with a right superior frontal gyrus AVM, fMRI revealed pronounced left dominant supplementary motor area activity in response to a bilateral complex motor task, but right superior frontal gyrus perilesional hemorrhage and edema subsequently caused left upper-extremity plegia. Pathophysiological factors that might have caused neurovascular uncoupling and facilitated pseudo-dominance at fMRI in these patients included direct tumor infiltration, neovascularity, cerebrovascular inflammation, and AVM-induced hemodynamic effects. Sixteen patients had proven (1 patient), probable (2 patients), or possible (13 patients) but unproven lesion-induced homotopic cortical reorganization. CONCLUSION: Lesion-induced neurovascular uncoupling causing reduced fMRI signal in perilesional eloquent cortex, in conjunction with normal or increased activity in homologous brain regions, may simulate hemispheric dominance and lesion-induced homotopic cortical reorganization.

Adult↗

Thorium dioxide granuloma of the neck: a report of four cases.

Four patients with Thorotrast granuloma are reported. The first patient had a radical neck dissection performed; however, postoperative hemorrhage and fistula occurred with a six-month delay in healing. The granuloma in this patient had totally occluded his carotid system with a greatly enlarged vertebral artery. A second patient presented with spontaneous bleeding in the neck from a granuloma followed by encephalomalacia, hemiparesis and aphasia. The third and fourth patients presented as hoarseness with a hard mass in the neck. All four patients had Thorotrast in the liver and spleen. The latter three had laryngoscopies and incisional neck biopsies as their only surgical treatment. Neck malignancy from Thorotrast is very rare. Despite legal decisions suggesting removal and similar suggestions in the literature, the authors feel only small extravasations have had uncomplicated operations. Neck dissection is rarely indicated. Hoarseness can be improved by vocal cord injection. These patients, of course, must be followed periodically as any other tumor, checking the neck mass, liver, and carotid circulation.

Adult↗

Developmental follow-up of breastfed term and near-term infants with marked hyperbilirubinemia.

OBJECTIVE: In recent years, the increased prevalence of breastfeeding in conjunction with early discharge practices has increased the risk for marked hyperbilirubinemia in neonates. This has resulted in the potential for bilirubin brain injury in affected infants. The purpose of this study was to identify all infants >/=36 weeks' gestational age with bilirubin levels >25 mg/dL and evaluate them for early and late evidence of bilirubin brain injury. METHODS: We reviewed the charts of all infants (from 1993-1996) >/=36 weeks' gestational age who were readmitted to the hospital during the first week of life with bilirubin levels >25 mg/dL. Readmission records were reviewed for early signs of bilirubin encephalopathy. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRIs) and Brainstem auditory-evoked responses (BAERs) were reviewed for evidence of bilirubin toxicity. At follow-up, study infants had a complete neurodevelopmental examination, repeat MRIs, and behavioral hearing evaluations. RESULTS: From 1993 to 1996, we identified 6 term and near-term infants readmitted to the hospital within the first week of life with peak bilirubin values ranging from 26.4 mg/dL (451 micromol/L) to 36.9 mg/dL (631 micromol/L). Five of 6 infants had bilirubin values >30 mg/dL (513 micromol/L). All were exclusively breastfed or fed a combination of breast and bottle feedings. Five of 6 infants presented with abnormal neurologic signs. Four infants had initial MRIs, 3 of whom had increased signal intensity in the basal ganglia consistent with kernicterus. Two infants had abnormal BAERs; both also had abnormal MRIs. Five of 6 infants received exchange transfusions and all were treated with phototherapy and intravenous fluids. Follow-up examinations between 3 months and 2 years showed resolution of clinical signs in all but 1 infant. Four infants had a subsequent normal MRI and 1 had residual hearing impairment. One infant demonstrated severely abnormal developmental evaluations, as well as both an abnormal initial MRI and BAERs. Follow-up MRI showed evidence of encephalomalacia with changes not characteristic of kernicterus. CONCLUSIONS: We observed transient neurologic abnormalities in 5 of 6 infants readmitted to the hospital during the first week of life with marked hyperbilirubinemia. The abnormalities resolved following aggressive management using hydration, phototherapy, and exchange transfusion and may not correlate with long-term prognosis. Less aggressive therapy may be associated with residual neurologic abnormalities. We speculate that inadequate establishment of breastfeeding coupled with early discharge practices may play a role in the development of marked hyperbilirubinemia in these infants.

Breast Feeding↗

Isolated sulfite oxidase deficiency: a case report with a novel mutation and review of the literature.

Isolated sulfite oxidase deficiency is a rare but devastating neurologic disease that usually presents in early infancy with seizures and alterations in muscle tone. Only 21 cases have been reported in the literature. We report a case of a newborn infant boy with isolated sulfite oxidase deficiency who presented with generalized seizures on his fourth day of life. Plasma total homocysteine was not detectable. Urinary sulfite, thiosulfate, and S-sulfocysteine levels were elevated. The patient began a low-methionine and low-cysteine diet and was treated with thiamine and dextromethorphan. However, he became increasingly microcephalic and was severely developmentally delayed. Mutation analysis of the sulfite oxidase gene revealed that the patient was homozygous for a novel 4-base pair deletion, and both of his parents were found to be heterozygous carriers of the same deletion. We reviewed the clinical, biochemical, neuroradiologic, and neuropathologic features in all published cases of isolated sulfite oxidase deficiency. Seizures or abnormal movements were prominent features in all cases. Developmental delays were reported in 17 cases. Ectopia lentis was detected in 9 cases. Clinical improvement with dietary therapy was seen in only 2 patients, both of whom presented after the age of 6 months and had relatively mild developmental delays. Plasma or urinary S-sulfocysteine levels were elevated in all cases. Urinary sulfite was detected in all except 1 case. Cerebral atrophy and cystic encephalomalacia were observed with neuroradiologic imaging and were noted in all 3 postmortem reports of isolated sulfite oxidase deficiency. The main alternative in the differential diagnosis of isolated sulfite oxidase deficiency is molybdenum cofactor deficiency.

Amino Acid Metabolism, Inborn Errors↗

[Predictive value of cerebral ultrasound with respect to clinical outcome in infants diagnoses on neonatal meningitis: a focus 12 years later].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the predictive value of cerebral ultrasound in infants diagnoses on meningitis neonatal to the neurological outcome. METHOD: A retrospective study of 16 children admitted at Institute Fernandes Figueira RJ-Brazil, who had neonatal meningitis and were examined by cerebral ultrasound. The neurologic outcome was evaluated until 12 years of age. Positive and negative predictive values, sensitivity and specificity were calculated. RESULTS: 56.25% were male and 81.25% premature. Hydrocephalus was the most frequent finding (56.25%) followed by normal exam (43.75%). Findings of hydrocephalus (9) only one had good neurologic outcome; and normal exam (7): only 57.14% without brain damage. Findings of ventriculitis (4) and brain abscesses (2) all had neurologic damage. Diagnosis of encephalomalacia (2): only one had good cognitive function. Findings of cerebral atrophy (2) all with severe outcome. CONCLUSION: The positive and predictive values were: 88.89%; 57.14% negative; sensitivity was 72.73% and specificity 80%.

Brain Diseases↗

Aspects of the life cycle and pathogenesis of Elaphostrongylus cervi in red deer (Cervus elaphus).

Aspects of the migratory life cycle and pathogenesis of Elaphostrongylus cervi were studied in red deer (Cervus elaphus) using 2 farmed calves experimentally infected with 450 third-stage larvae killed 40 and 45 days postinfection and using 3 wild calves and 3 wild yearlings with natural infections killed during autumn hunting. A full necropsy was carried out on the experimental calves, but only the head, eviscerated carcass, and lungs were examined from the naturally infected animals. Histological examination included extensive studies of the central nervous system (CNS), spinal nerve roots, and lungs. The experimental calves had prepatent infections, with many immature adult nematodes in the CNS, whereas the wild calves showed CNS lesions indicating a very recent E. cervi infection. The yearlings had patent infections, with many mature E. cervi in their skeletal muscles, reflecting acquisition of infection during the previous summer. Our findings showed that E. cervi develop to the adult stage in the CNS (subarachnoid spaces) and subsequently migrate into the skeletal muscles, where the mature nematodes live in reproductive pairs and groups. In the nervous system, the nematode caused encephalomyelitis, focal encephalomalacia and gliosis, meningitis, radiculitis, ganglionitis, and perineuritis.

Animals↗

MR imaging of brain contusions: a comparative study with CT.

Ninety-eight brain contusions in 17 patients served as a data base for a comparative study of MR and CT for defining brain contusions. MR was the more sensitive technique, detecting 98% of the brain contusions compared with only 56% by CT. CT was slightly better for showing hemorrhagic components, documenting 77% of hemorrhages compared with 71% for MR. The appearance of the contusions on MR was variable, depending on the T1- and T2-weighting of the images and the constituents of the contusions, such as edema, hemorrhage, and encephalomalacia. On MR, hemorrhagic components appeared as high signal on T1-weighted images and as either low or high signal on T2-weighted images, depending on the age of the hemorrhage. The approximate ages of hemorrhagic contusions were often suggested by their appearance on T1- and T2-weighted images. CT is very effective for evaluating acute head trauma, but MR is recommended for documenting brain contusions during the subacute and chronic stages of head injuries.

Adolescent↗

Radiation-induced temporal lobe changes: CT and MR imaging characteristics.

OBJECTIVE: This article documents the CT and MR imaging characteristics of patients with temporal lobe changes after radiation therapy for nasopharyngeal carcinoma. These characteristics may serve to differentiate radiation-induced changes from intracranial tumor recurrence. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed the imaging records of 1916 patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma examined over a 5-year period. Forty-seven patients (2.5%) had temporal lobe changes. Thirty-four patients underwent CT (55 examinations), and 26 patients underwent MR imaging (32 examinations). Thirteen patients underwent CT and MR imaging. These studies were independently analyzed according to imaging technique and were categorized as follows: location of lesions, characteristics of gray or white matter changes, and patterns of late changes. RESULTS: On CT, 12 patients (35%) had unilateral temporal lobe changes, and 22 patients (65%) had bilateral temporal lobe changes. The following patterns were noted: ill-defined contrast enhancement in 27 patients (79%); solid enhancement in six patients (18%); and ring enhancement in one patient (3%). On MR imaging, 11 patients (42%) had unilateral lesions, and 15 patients (58%) had bilateral lesions. Simultaneous gray and white matter lesions were noted in 17 patients (65%), and nine patients (35%) had lesions localized to the gray matter. Three patients (6%) had cerebral atrophy, and two patients (4%) had encephalomalacia. CONCLUSION: The temporal lobes show characteristic CT and MR imaging features after radiation injury. Familiarity with these changes may assist in differentiating temporal lobe changes from progressive nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Adult↗