White Matter and Neurodegenerative diseases Flashcards
gray matter are composed of
neuronal cell bodies
white matter is composed of
long processes of neurons
white matter is named white matter because of the
axonal processes wrapped by the myelin sheaths, and it is the lipid composition of these sheaths for which white matter is named
cerebral white matter diseases are classified into two broad categories, namely
demyelination and dysmyelination
an acquired disorder that affects normal myelin
demyelination
an inherited disorder affecting the formation or maintenance of myelin and thus is typically encountered in the pediatric population
dysmyelination
four main categories of demyelinating diseases
primary/immune-mediated, ischemic, infectious and toxic and metabolic
classic example of a primary or immune-mediated demyelinating disease and is the most common nontraumatic cause of neurologic disability in young adults
Multiple sclerosis
it is an autoimmune disorder affecting the CNS and is a disease characterized by immune dysfunction with the production of abnormal immunoglobulins and T cells, which are activated against myelin and mediate the damage associated with the disease
Multiple sclerosis
age of onset of MS and gender predilection
between 20 and 40 years, with 10% of cases presenting in individuals older than 50 years, female predominance
tx for MS that suppress the activity of the T cells, B cells and macrophages that are thought to lead the attack on myelin sheath
B-interferon and antineoplastic drugs
Important characteristic of MS symptoms
multiplicity and tendency to vary over time
key differentiating feature between MS and other white matter conditions, such as osmotic myelinolysis and PRES
inflammation
this MR sequence provides the best visualization of supratentorial white matter lesions
FLAIR
MR sequence that provides better visualization of infratentorial white matter lesions aside from FLAIR that is used in supratentorial lesions
STIR or PD
active MS lesions have imaging appearance of
enhancing lesions with restricted diffusion on DWI
chronic MS lesions have imaging appearance of
abnormal high SI T2, persists, reflecting residual scarring /gliosis
focal proliferation of astroglia at the site of injury is termed
gliosis
dark lesions of MS are seen in
severe cases, where there is actual loss of neuronal tissue that shows dark signal on T1
although many white matter lesions are nonspecific in nature, these lesions are suggestive of certain white matter disease when they are seen in the periependymal (abutting the ependyma, juxtacortical (gray-white cortical junction) or lesions involving the posterior fossa structures
MS
periventricular lesions that are ovoid and aligned perpendicular to long axis of ventricles are suggestive of
MS
areas wherein ischemic changes are rare and if lesions are seen in these regions, a primary demyelination condition should be considered
cerebellar and cerebral peduncles as well as the corpus callosum, medulla and spinal cord
how to differentiate MS lesions from ischemic changes in the brainstem
MS lesions are more peripheral, in contrast to ischemic changes which tend to be centrally located
characteristic flame-shaped configuration with a periependymal or juxtacortical location
MS
form of MS that may present as a large, conglomerate, deep white matter mass that can be mistaken fro neoplas,
Tumefactive MS or Tumefactive demyelinating lesions
imaging characteristics of Tumefactive MS that may help differentiate them from neoplasm
peripheral crescentic rim of contrast enhancement which represents the advancing leading edge of active demyelination. there is also paucity of perilesional edema as well as relative lack of mass effect for lesion size
whenever there is a focal abnormality of the spinal cord detected, this must be in the differential diagnosis
Demyelinating MS plaque
spinal cord MS plaques typically appears as
well defined, less than one to two vertebral segments in the craniocaudal dimension, and less than 50% of the cross-sectional area of the spinal cord often affecting the peripheral white matter
small-vessel ischemic changes within the deep cerebral white matter that are seen with such frequency in middle age (>50 to 60 years). this represents an arteriosclerotic vasculopathy of the penetrating cerebral arteries
Age-related demyelination
more susceptible to ischemic injury because it is supplied by long, small-caliber penetrating end arteries without significant collateral supply
deep white matter
Represents an arteriosclerotic vasculopathy of the penetrating cerebral arteries
Age-related demyelination
These areas are usually spared from ischemia because of dual blood supply, which decreases their vulnerability to hypoperfusion
cortex, subcortical “U” fibers, central corpus callosum, medulla, midbrain and cerebellar peduncles
Histologically, areas of infarction demonstrate _____ in age-related demyelination
Axonal atrophy with diminished myelin
Multi-infarct dementia is called
Binswanger disease
Refers to small infarcts (5 to 10mm)
Lacunar infarcts
Lacunar infarcts are commonly seen in
Basal ganglia, typically upper 2/3 of putamen
Involvement of the callosal-septal interface is quite specific for what white matter disease
MS
These white matter lesions are more prominent in any patient with a vasculopathy, such as related to atherosclerosis and vascular risk factors(hpm, dm, hyperlipidemia, coronary artery disease, smoking); hypercoagulable conditions; vasculitis (lupus, sarcoid, polyarteritis nodosa, Behcet syndrome) or drug related vasculopathy
Nonspecific punctate white matter lesions (small bright lesions on T2)
A young adult female with prior miscarriages presenting with headaches/migraines and ischemic white matter changes are suggestive findings of _______. It is where circulating antiphospholipid antibodies (cardiolipin or lupus anticoagulant antibodies) lead to hypercoagulable state with resultant white matter and ischemic changes
Antiphospholipid syndrome
Condition with proliferation of tiny collateral vessels presenting a a “puff of smoke”
Moyamoya disease or syndrome
Moyamoya disease refers to
Idiopathic form
Moyamoya syndrome refers to
When the underlying etiology is known, such as fibromuscular dysplasia, marfan syndrome, NF1, SLE, down syndrome
Drug induced vasculopathy is most commonly seen with what drugs
Methamphetamine and sympathomimetic drugs
Normal anatomic finding that may mimic pathology. Consists of an area of high signal on T2 along the tips of frontal horns. Histologic studies show a loose network of axons with low myelin count. This allows transependymal flow of CSF, resulting in a focal area or T2 prolongation
Ependymitis granularis
With age as well as significant vascular risk factors, prominent periventricular T2 hyperintensity may be noted along the entire length of the lateral ventricles, and this may be referred to as
Senescent periventricular hyperintensity or periventricular halo
These structures may mimic deep white matter or lacunar infarcts. They are blood vessels that penetrate into the brain parenchyma, that are enveloped by CSF and a thin sheath of pia
Prominent perivascular spaces/Virchow-Robin spaces
Virchow-Robin spaces are commonly located in the
Centrum semiovale, lower basal ganglia at the level of anterior commisure, where the lenticulostriate arteries enter the brain parenchyma
Important means for differentiating a periventricular space from a parenchymal lesion is the use of
PDW or FLAIR
Difference between perivascular space and ischemic lesions in FLAIR and PDW
Perivascular spaces- CSF signal on all sequences
Ischemia- unless cavitated with cystic change, will be bright as a result of presence of associated gliosis
Difference in the location of lacunar infarcts and perivascular spaces
Lacunar infarcts- upper 2/3 of corpus striatum, bec they reflect end-arteriole infarcts in the vascular distribution
Perivascular spaces- smaller, bilateral, often symmetric within the inferior 3rd of striatum, where vessels enter the anterior perforated substance
If a cystic lacunae has proteinaceous content, it may appear
Hyperintense on FLAIR
Inheritable condition relating to Notch 3 mutation on chromosome 19. This condition presents with ischemic changes, often in middle age. Presence of subcortical anterior temporal and medial frontal lesions is relatively specific for this condition
CADASIL disease (cerebral autosomal dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy)
Heterogeneous group of disorders which are associated with inflammation of blood vessels leading to a variety of ischemic manifestations ranging from ischemic brain lesions, cerebral perfusion deficits, intracerebral or subarachnoid hemorrhage to vessel stenosis
CNS vasculitis
Laboratory tests to support diagnosis of vasculitis
ESR, C-reactive protein level, rheumatoid factor and compliment level
idiopathic vasculitis limited to the brain and spinal cord typically observed in the 5th and 6th decades of life. this condition is associated with an elevation in ESR. Angiography may show segmental irregularity and narrowing of both small and medium-sized parenchymal and leptomeningeal blood vessels
Primary angiitis of the CNS (PACNS)
Autoimmune disorder which presents with white matter lesions (75%) as well as spectrum of neurologic and neuropsychiatric manifestations such as psychosis, stroke, headaches, and neurocognitive deficits. Peak age onset in second to fourth decades of life
SLE
half of SLE patients, aside from white matter lesions, have
cerebral atrophy
Large perivascular spaces are occasionally noted within the _____ and referred to as giant perivascular spaces
caudal aspect of the basal ganglia
progressive occlusive condition of the supraclinoid or terminal aspects of the internal cerebral arteries. It is a condition of children and young adults with a bimodal age distribution (first peak 4 years of age and second peak 30 to 40 years of age)
Moyamoya disease
characteristic findings include marked narrowing and occlusion of the terminal internal cerebal arteris (usually bilateral, but may be asymmetric and occassionally unilateral), with formation of a diffuse extensive network of tiny collateral vessels throughout the deep gray matter structures
Moyamoya disease
On angiography, Moyamoya disease shows enhancement of the tiny collateral vessels in the deep gray matter structures resulting in a dense blush of contrast, giving rise to the term ____
“puff of smoke”
Various infectious agents may result in white matter disease, either directly or indirectly, and most of them are
viral
most common fatal encephalitis
Herpes encephalitis
form of herpes encephalitis which occurs in children and adults is caused by
HSV type 1 (oral type)
neonatal herpes encephalitis is usually caused by
HSV type 2 (genital herpes)
this viral encephalitis has a particular predilection for the limbic system, with localization of infection to temporal lobes, insular cortex, subfrontal area and cingulate gyrus. Imaging reveals primarily T2 hyperintensity of the involved cortex and subcortical structures, presenting as encephalitis with variable contrast enhancement. hemorrhage within the area is strongly supportive of the diagnosis
HSV type 1