Perfusion CT
Core vs Penumbra
| MTT | CBF | CBV |
Core | ↑ | ↓↓ | ↓↓ |
Penumbra | ↑ | ↓ | nl or ↓ |
Rapid AI
CBF - cooler = worse
MTT - hotter = worse
Report:
Mismatch volume
Mismatch ratio
Interpretation
Hypoperfusion index
Volume of tissue with Tmax >10s/Tmax >6s
Correlates with speed of growth of core infarct
≤0.3 is associated with better outcome
Reporting
Sample
Acute R MCA territory infarct with MCA/PCA penumbra.
CBF < 30% of 17 mL, Tmax > 6 sec of 155 mL, and mismatch volume of 127 mL (ratio 8.5).
Terminology
AIF = Arterial In-flow
VOF = Venous Out-flow
CBF = Cerebral Blood Flow
core infarct
overestimates infarct
automated calculations
CBV = Cerebral Blood Volume
core infarct
good for visual estimate
Tmax = Arterial in-flow to capillary time
MTT = Mean Transit Time = Capillary transit time
TTP = Time to Peak = Arterial in-flow to capillary time AND capillary transit time
ASPECTS
Areas with hemorrhage count as abnormal in aspects scoring.
Dense MCA does not count.
Other vascular territories do not count.
Posterior Circulation ASPECTS (pc-ASPECTS)
Microbleeds on MRI
<5 - tPA safe
>5 - safety unknown
Vascular Anatomy
Vertebral Artery Anatomy
Part one is from the origin to the point at which it enters the transverse foramina of either the fifth or sixth cervical vertebra.
The second part courses within the intervertebral foramina
The third part exits behind the atlas and heads towards the foramen magnum.
The fourth part (intracranial) begins as it pierces thedura and arachnoid mater at the base of the skull, and ends as it meets its opposite vertebral artery to form the midline basilar artery at the level of the medullopontine junction.
White Matter Dz
Multiple Sclerosis Criteria
Multiple Sclerosis Variants
Devic's dz - transverse myelitis & B optic neuritis
Balo's dz - MS lesion w/ concentric demyelination & nl brain
Schilder's dz - acute, rapid, B symmetric demyelination
Marburg variant - repeated relapses w/ rapidly accumulating disability
Multiple Sclerosis DDx
ADEM
Causes - measles, varicella, mumps, rubella, EBV, CMV, M. pneumoniae
multiple, large high T2 lesions which may enhance in a nodular or ring pattern
usually affects cerebrum but may enlarge cord
fulminant type is acute hemorrhagic leukoencephalitis (Hurst's dz)
diffuse multifocal perivascular demylelination & hemmorhage in cerebral WM w/ sparing of U-fibers
PML
JC virus
assoc w/ immunocompromise
asymmetric parietal & frontal involvement, but can be anywhere
low T1, high T2
no enhancement, no mass effect
HIV
SSPE
sequela of measles infection
patchy WM demyelination sparing U-fibers
asymmetric gray & white matter involvement in parietooccipital region
Binswanger dz
CADASIL
inherited arterial dz
recurrent
TIA, stroke, dementia, depression, pseudobulbar palsy, hemi/quadriplegia
F/T/insula w/ subcortical U-fiber involvement
High T2 in WM (periventricular, deep WM, BG, brain stem)
Postanoxic Encephalopathy
occurs after anoxic episode severe enough to produce coma
recovery after 24-48 hrs, then precipitous decline in 2-wk period to death
high T2 throughout WM particularly involving corpus callosum, subcortical U-fibers, int/ext capsules
diffusion positive
PRES
Central Pontine Myelinolysis
alcoholic, debilitated, malnourished pt's w/ rapid correction of hyponatremia
may involve extrapontine stx (thalamus, caudate, putamen, internal external & extreme capsules, claustrum, amygdala, cerebellum, deep gray matter)
high T2 in pons w/ peripheral sparing and sparing of CST
Trauma
Epidural Hematoma
Biconvex shape (lentiform)
Usually in the temporoparietal regions but can be in the occipital region
Usually accompanied with a skull fracture and tear of a branch of the middle meningeal artery
Does NOT cross suture lines, but can cross midline
Usually has more mass effect, but not always, depending on size
Subdural Hematoma
Subdural is crescent shaped typically along the temporoparietal regions as well, and is associated with tearing of the bridging veins
DO cross sutures lines, but DO NOT cross midline
Fracture less commonly associated
Can be bilateral and also interhemispheric, and along the tentorium.
Subarachnoid Hemorrhage
Subarachnoid you look for blood in the fissures, the basilar cisterns, interhemispheric, or in the interpeduncular fossa
Blood in/around the circle of willis = star of texaco sign
Blood along the posterior falx around the sinuses, you can get the delta sign
Vascular Lesions
Approach to intraparenchymal hemorrhage
If Ca2+ near hemorrhage think AVM
Perform MR immediately (before blood products become bright on T1)
If negative, f/u to resolution
Approach to subarachnoid hemorrhage
Non-aneurysmal SAH = Venous hemorrhage
Berry Aneurysms
Common Locations
AComm (33%)
PComm (33%)
MCA Bifurcation (20%)
Basilar Tip
Giant Aneurysms
Spinal AVM
Type 1
dural AV fistula
acquired lesion
most common spinal AVM
1A - single feeding artery
1B - multiple feeding arteries
nidus w/i or on dura of proximal nerve root sleeve in neural foramen
progressive myelopathy & (rarely) SAH
tx is surgical excision of nidus or endovascular glue
Type 2
glomus AVM
intramedullary location
compact nidus
high-flow, produce flow-voids
drainage into coronal venous plexus
engorgement of post and/or anterior median vein
perimedullary flow voids
cord scalloping
serpentine enhancement
may cause enhancement in distant locations in cord
Type 3
Juvenile-type AVM
more diffuse
less prone to hemorrhage
adolescents & young adults
poorer prognosis, not amenable to surg excision
typically cervical region
can involve extramedullary, extradural, and extraspinal structures
multiple arterial feeders, often from several different levels
Type 4
Perimedullary (conus/cauda equina) fistulas
vary in severity
4A - slow flow, mod enlg veins, single feeding art
4C - high flow, markedly dil veins, multiple feeders
progressive myelopathy, SAH (50%), acute paraplegia
Spaetzler Classification for AVM's
Type I
Tonsilar invagination through the foramen magnum into the spinal canal with variable degrees of tonsilar ectopia
There is normal position of the 4th ventricle
Syringohydromyelia is an associated finding
Two components are necessary for the diagnosis - tonsilar herniation and syringohydromyelia
May have associated basilar invagination, assimilation of C1 to the occiput, and Klippel-Feil
Type II
Dysgenesis of the hindbrain with caudally displaced 4th ventricle and caudal elongation of the medulla and vermis
Concurrent anomalies include: myelomeningocele, mesencephalic beaking (tectal beaking), enlarged massa intermedia, accessory anterior commissure, absence of the corpus callosum (which manifests as elevated third ventricle), partial absence of the falx, and cervicomedullary kinking
Abnormalities of the bony vault include Luckenshadel (or lacunar) skull (appears as soap bubble lucencies in the upper calvaria)
A dysplasia of bone and underlying dura
Can be seen with any cause of meningocele and myelomeningocele
Type III
* A rare lesion that consists of herniation of cerebellum into a high cervical or occipital encephalocele
Type IV
* Consists of extreme cerebellar hypoplasia without associated displacement
Ischemia
Stroke
Hyperacute (0-6 hrs)
iso T1/T2
high DWI/low ADC
Acute (6 hrs-4 days)
low T1/high T2
mass effect
high DWI/low ADC
Subacute (4-14 days)
Chronic
TPA Stroke Therapy
Wallenburg Syndrome
Brainstem and Cranial Nerves
Facial Nerve Segments
Typically enhancement is seen:
anterior genu (geniculate ganglion)
posterior genu (between tympanic and mastoid segments)
some enhancement can also be seen in the labarynthine, tympanic and mastoid segments.
proximal greater superfical petrosal nerve
No enhancement should be seen in:
cisternal segment (that in the cerebellopontine angle)
meatal segment (that in the internal acoustic meatus)
extracranial segment (beyond the stylomastoid foramen)
Spine
Dermatomes
DDx
Intradural Intramedullary
astrocytoma
infiltrating
most common in C-spine
ependymoma
central, well-defined, cystic changes, hemorrhage, patchy enhancement
most common at conus
hemangioblastoma
Transverse Myelitis
Parainfectious (occurring at the time of and in association with an acute infection or an episode of infection).
Viral: herpes simplex, herpes zoster, cytomegalovirus, Epstein-Barr virus, enteroviruses (poliomyelitis, Coxsackie virus, echovirus), human T-cell, leukemia virus, human immunodeficiency virus, influenza, rabies
Bacterial: Mycoplasma pneumoniae, Lyme borreliosis, syphilis, tuberculosis
Postvaccinal (rabies, cowpox)
Systemic autoimmune disease
Multiple Sclerosis
Paraneoplastic syndrome
Vascular
Thrombosis of spinal arteries
Vasculitis secondary to heroin abuse
Spinal arterio-venous malformation
Enhancing Nerve Roots (cauda)
drop mets
sarcoid
leukemia, lymphoma
CMV
Guillan-Barre
CIDP (also enlarged)
meningitis
Cord Infarct
Snake eyes appearance on axial imaging
Anterior spinal artery infarct
Increased T2 in central gray matter
DDx Heterogeneous Marrow Signal
Loss of Fatty Marrow
Dorsal Column Increased Signal
Epidural Lipomatosis
Cushing's Dz
Steroids
Congenitalß
Posterior Element Lesion (GO APE)
Vertebral Body Lesion (CALL HOME)
Chordoma
ABC
Leukemia
Lymphoma
Hemangioma
Met/Myeloma
EG
Posterior Scalloping
Hemivertebrae
VACTERL
NF-1
Chiari II
Anterior Meningocele
Benign vs Malignant Compression Fractures
Malignancy tends to involve the pedicles, whereas benign does not
Look for other levels of involvement - if you see noncompressed vertebral bodies at other levels which also have abnormal signal, then you can assume malignant
Cortical destruction is a feature of malignancy
Malignant frxs tend to show abnormal T1 signal involving >80% of the v.b., benign has less
Orbits
Orbital DDx
Intraconal
cavernous hemangioma (capillary in children)
schwannoma
lymphangioma
varix
optic n tumor (meningioma, glioma)
pseudotumor - pain, opthalmoplegia, proptosis, unilateral, enlarged lacrymal gland
thyroid opthalmopathy - spares tendon insertions, often bilateral, does not enhance
lymphoma
lacrymal gland
sinus disease
orbital bone disease
fibrous dysplasia, osteomyelitis, subperiosteal abscess, tumors, trauma
nasal disease
dermoid
rhabdomyosarcoma
mets
mets
inflammation
thyroid eye disease
pseudotumor
lymphoma
Lacrymal Gland
lymphoma
sarcoid
inflammatory
epithelial tumors
pleomorphic adenoma
adenoid cystic
mucoepidermoid
mets
Optic Nerve Pathology
use term 'optic nerve sheath complex'
Optic Neuritis → hyperintense, enlarged
Glioma → enlarged nerve, do not enhance
Meningioma → crescentic
Sarcoid → enhances
Lymphoma/leukemia
Pseudotumor
Graves
Globe
Temporal Bone
DDx for mass in mesotympanum
Nasal Cavity/Sinuses
Maxillary sinus lesion extending to base of tooth? → Think dentigerous cyst
Esthesioneuroblastoma has a bimodal age distribution → children (11-20) and older adults (51-60)
Mucocele Characteristics
Inverting Papilloma
Antrochoanal Polyp
Temporal Bone Fxs
Transverse | Longitudinal |
Sensorineural Hearing Loss | Conductive Hearing Loss |
rhinorrhea | otorrhea |
50% facial nerve dysfunction | 10-20% facial nerve dysfunction |
persistent vertigo | incudostapedial joint dislocation |
Head & Neck
Sjogren's can look like fatty replaced salivary glands
Lymph Node Levels
Lymph Node Chains
Spaces of the Neck
Neoplasms
Most Common Intraaxial Tumors
Location | Adult | Child |
Supratentorial | Astrocytoma
* Pilocytic
* Anaplastic
* GBM
Oligodendroglioma
Gliomatosis Cerebri
Metastasis | PXA
PNET
Ganglioglioma/Gangliocytoma
Desmoplastic Infantile Ganglioglioma (DIG)
DNET |
Infratentorial | Astrocytoma
Hemangioblastoma
Metastasis
Subependymoma
Ganglioglioma | Juvenile Pilocytic Astrocytoma
PNET/Medulloblastoma
Ependymoma
Brainstem Astrocytoma |
Intraventricular | Meningioma
Metastasis
Central Neurocytoma
Subependymoma
Astrocytoma
Oligodendroglioma
CP papilloma (4th vent) | CP papilloma/carcinoma (atria)
Ependymoma
Astrocytoma
PNET
Teratoma |
Spinal | | |
* Probably should add lymphoma to all of these, especially in HIV pts
Intraventricular Mass
Lesions which cross the corpus callosum
One-Liners
Subependymal Spread Pattern → think of pineal germinoma
Paraneoplastic Syndromes
Limbic Encephalitis
high T2 signal in medial temporal lobes
may have associated atrophy
may enhance
associated with small cell lung CA
Infectious
HSV Encephalitis
Creuzfeld-Jakob Disease
Trauma
Diffuse Axonal Injury
responsible for coma and poor outcome in the majority of patients with significant closed head injury
specific anatomic structures involved
body and splenuim (most common location) of the corpus callosum
septum pellucidum
dorso-lateral quadrant of the rostral part of the brainstem
adjacent to the superior cerebellar peduncle
diffuse damage to other axons including the int. capsule may also be present
punctate subcortical hemorrhage and hemorrhage in WM adjacent to the 3rd vent also occur
Random
Mets are very unlikely in the brainstem
Superficial Siderosis
Rhomboencephalosynapsis
rare malformation with vermian aplasia or hypoplasia with fusion of the cerbellar hemispheres
no 4th ventricle midline defect
associated with fusion of the thalami and/or inferior colliculi
associated with septo-optic dysplasia
Lhermitte-Duclos
Wernicke's encephalopathy
increased signal within the periaqueductal region of the midbrain, medial thalamic regions along the lateral walls of the third ventricle, and mammilary bodies
triad of opthalmoplegia, ataxia, and altered mental status
related to alcohol abuse
Dental
Differentials
PRES vs basilar territory infarct
Dark spots on GRE
Amyloid angiopathy
Hypertensive microbleeds
Cavernomas (familial)
DAI
Calcifications
Hemorrhagic mets
Ring-enhancing lesion
Metastasis
Glioblastoma
Lymphoma
Abscess
Restricted diffusion
Lightbulb bright on DWI
Parenchymal Hemorrhage
Hypertensive (75%)
AVM
Dural AVF
DVA
Cavernous malformation
Capillary telangiectasia
Aneurysm
Amyloid angiopathy
Vasculitis
Infarct
Dural venous thrombosis
Basal Ganglia Calcification
Diffuse Subcortical Calcifications
Prior Infection
Hypoparathyroidism
Lead Exposure
Leukemia
Prior XRT
Basal Ganglia Hyperintense T1 (HTN)
TPN (Manganese)
Hepatic failure
NF-1
Basal Ganglia Hyperintense T2 (TINT)
Tumor
Ischemia
Neurodegenerative
Huntington's
Wilson's disease - bright T2 peripherally, dark centrally
Hallevorden-Spatz - bright T2 centrally, dark peripherally
Leigh - uniformly bright T2, involves pons, does not involve caudate
Kearns-Sayre
Toxin
CO, CN poisoning
hypoglycemia
methanol
Basal Ganglia Hypointense T2
Corpus Callosum Lesion
Basimeningeal Enhancement
Low Lying Cerebellar Tonsils
Chiari I/II
Intracranial Hypotension
Mass Effect
Involvement of Cerebellar Peduncles
Leptomeningeal Enhancement
Layering Restricting Material in Vents
Blood
Pus (Ventriculitis)
Brainstem Hemorrhage
Obstruction at Aqueduct of Sylvius
Suprasellar Cystic Mass
Jugular Foramen Mass
Anterior Neck Cyst
Thyroglossal Duct Cyst
Delphian Lymph Node
Lymphangioma
Parotid Cysts
Lymphoepithelial
Branchial Cleft
Lymphangioma
Abscess
Cystic Tumors
Bilateral Parotid Cysts
Horner's Syndrome
Diffuse Skull Thickening
Anemias → ß-thal
Osteopetrosis
Paget's
Focal Non-destructive Skull Widening
Meningioma
Fibrous Dysplasia
Lytic, Non-aggressive Skull Lesion
Epidermoid
Fibrous Dysplasia
Pediatric Skull Lesion
EG
Metastatic Neuroblastoma
Basilar Invagination
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Achondroplasia
Down Syndrome
Etat Crible