PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

M Boukobza

Publications and source records attributed to M Boukobza.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Orgasmic headache and middle cerebral artery dissection.

A patient with a 20 year history of primary orgasmic headache is described who, after suffering an unusually severe episode of orgasmic headache was found to have a middle cerebral artery dissection. This unusual association of primary and secondary orgasmic headache emphasises the need for a thorough diagnostic examination when the orgasmic headache differs from that of previous episodes or is associated with neurological symptoms.

Adult↗

Early epidural blood patch in spontaneous intracranial hypotension.

Thirty patients with a typical orthostatic headache were treated by early lumbar epidural blood patch (EBP) without previously performing lumbar puncture or identifying a CSF leak and with or without typical MRI changes. A complete cure was obtained in 77% of patients after one (57%) or two (20%) EBPs. Spontaneous intracranial hypotension with typical orthostatic headache can be diagnosed without lumbar puncture and can be cured by early EBP in a majority of patients.

Adolescent↗

Spinal subdural haematoma: a study of three cases.

AIMS: To define the clinical, computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) features and the role of MRI in the follow-up of spinal subdural haematoma (SSH), and to compare these findings with those of spinal epidural haematomas (SEH). METHODS: We report three cases of SSH (two women, one male, age: 50-74 years). Two patients were on anticoagulant therapy; in the other case the SSH was spontaneous. All the patients were examined 1-3 days after the onset of the symptoms. All of them had CT, two had MRI and one had angiography. Two patients underwent surgery. RESULTS: The haematoma was located in the thoracolumbar region (two) and in the thoracic region (one), extending from five (two) to 11 vertebral body levels (one). The haematomas were posteriorly located with lateral extension. The transverse shape differed with the level: biconvex, biloculated or circumferential. The haematomas were hyperdense on CT. On MRI, SSH yielded high signal on both T1 and T2. The integrity of the posterior fat pads, which was well shown on CT and MRI, and the visualization of the dura mater demonstrated the intradural location of these collections, making them easily distinguishable from spinal epidural haematoma. MRI provides better evaluation of the longitudinal extent. Our results are compared with those reported in the literature. CONCLUSION: MRI is superior to CT for diagnosis and follow-up of SSH. Our findings and those reported in the literature show that the MR features of SSH are quite specific and allow differentiation from SEH.

Aged↗

Facial "glomangiomas": large facial venous malformations with glomus cells.

BACKGROUND: "Glomangiomas" are benign cutaneous vascular lesions consisting of convoluted, abnormally formed venous channels lined by cuboidal and oval epithelioid, alpha-actin-positive, glomus cells. Three different clinical variants of glomangioma have been recognized: solitary, multiple, and nodular, or plaquelike. Inheritable forms are common. OBJECTIVE: We describe in 7 patients (2 of them having a familial glomangiomatosis) the rare facial location of glomangiomas to differentiate this type from common facial venous malformation (VM). METHODS: We analyzed clinical data (photographs), course, investigations (computed tomographic scans in 4 patients, magnetic resonance imaging in 6, arteriography in 2, direct puncture phlebography in 4, and pathologic examinations in all 7), and outcome with treatment. RESULTS: Lesions were soft, composed of multiple nodules, confluent and plaquelike, deep blue or blue-to-purple, sometimes sagging, one-sided in a cheek, extending to the lips in 5 patients, to the chin in 4, and to the lower eyelid in 4. They were poorly compressible, a finding different from common facial VMs. In a young man extensive back involvement was associated. Among radiologic investigations, only magnetic resonance imaging after gadolinium enhancement offered some differential features with common VMs. However, histopathologic examination clarified the differential diagnosis: although the large tortuous venous channels were reminiscent of capillary-venous malformation, in many vessels the walls contained one or several rows of glomus cells. CONCLUSION: Multiple plaquelike facial "glomangiomas" mimic a common venous malformation because of their blue hue. However, with experience, one can clinically recognize them, and their pathologic aspect is distinctive. Management should differ slightly from that for common facial VM because sclerotherapy has proven to be less effective. Therefore surgical treatment is the only helpful therapeutic option.

Adolescent↗

[Study of the middle ear. Value of multiplanar reconstructions in spiral tomodensitometry].

We point out the interest of computed tomographic reconstructions from spiral acquisition--particularly sagittal reconstructions--in the study of middle ear anatomy and adjacent structures: the facial canal and the chorda tympani. The reference reconstructions are axial and coronal reconstructions. So, we demonstrate the superiority of sagittal reconstructions for the visualization of the lateral process of the malleus, the body and long process of the incus, the third portion of the facial canal, and the chorda tympani. For the other structures of the middle ear and the other parts of the facial canal, these sagittal reconstructions are complementary. Besides, the best type of reconstruction to visualize the stapes and the vestibular window is the axial plane parallel to the stapes axis.

Ear, Middle↗

Cranial epidural tuberculoma. A case report.

A 33-year-old patient with cranial epidural tuberculoma without history of tuberculosis is described. CT and MR imaging showed a lesion located on both sides of a right frontotemporal bone destruction with epidural extent. Except for a small necrotic core, the lesion enhanced intensely after contrast medium administration. Osteitis and subgaleal abscess were associated. The displaced dura mater delineated the epidural tuberculoma. Diagnosis was verified by histology and identification of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. After removal of the tuberculoma and combination therapy, there was a complete regression of abnormalities. Differential diagnoses are dural tuberculoma, focal tuberculous pachymeningitis and tuberculous epidural empyema.

Adult↗

[Sturge-Weber syndrome. The current neuroradiologic data].

Sturge-Weber syndrome (SWS) is a rare congenital sporadic disease with neuro-ocular and cutaneous vascular findings. Clinically, the full-blown condition consists of a facial port-wine stain (PWS) involving the V1 facial trigeminal skin area, alone or in combination with V2 and V3PWS, seizures and ocular abnormalities (glaucoma and choroidal angioma). Radiologically, a leptomeningeal (pial) capillary and venous malformation, mostly located in the parieto-occipital area, cerebral atrophy and calcifications are demonstrated. An ipsilateral enlarged choroid plexus may be an early anatomic symptom. Developmental venous anomalies (DVA) of the brain are sometimes associated. MR with gadolinium enhancement is the optimal neuro-diagnostic imaging technique for the screening of infants with an at-risk V1PWS, as well as for the follow-up of patients with evidence SWS. Accelerated myelination in the involved hemisphere may be an early diagnostic feature before 6 months of age. Later, hyperintensity of white matter on T2 is considered a symptom of gliosis. Clinically, progression of the diseases is associated with anatomic changes and correlates with the extent of the pial vascular anomaly, extent and severity of cerebral atrophy, and white matter abnormalities. A neonatal neuro-imaging work-up, using CT or MRI, may not demonstrate the pial anomaly and should be repeated after 6 to 12 months in an at-risk infant with V1PWS.

Brain↗

Deep cerebral venous thrombosis: imaging in eight cases.

Deep cerebral venous thrombosis (DCVT) is a rare, potentially fatal disease. We carried out a retrospective analysis of eight patients presenting with DCVT, using CT and MRI data. Digital subtraction angiography (DSA), MR angiography (MRA) (2D phase-contrast), and angiography were performed in four, four and two patients, respectively. Direct (venous abnormalities) and indirect (parenchymatous involvement) signs of thrombosis were assessed. Follow-up MRI and MRA were performed on two patients. CT was initially normal in two patients, demonstrated a "cord sign" in deep veins in five and deep venous infarcts in three. When performed within a week of admission (seven patients), MRI showed thrombosis as into intense or high signal in deep veins on sagittal T1-weighted spin-echo images in all patients, and on axial T2-weighted spin-echo images in two. Deep venous infarcts were found in five patients. Direct or indirect signs of sagittal or lateral sinus thrombosis were present on CT in two patients and on MRI in five. CT angiography, MRA and DSA were concordant with MRI findings. CT venography showed persistent flow in thrombosed veins. MRI follow-up demonstrated progressive deep venous recanalisation.

Adolescent↗

[Tuberculosis of the central nervous system. MRI features and clinical course in 12 cases].

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to characterize the MR findings of various intracranial lesions in the central nervous system (CNS) tuberculosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The MRI findings (T1, T2 and T1 sequence after contrast) of 12 proved cases (10 males, 2 females, 24 to 64 years old, average: 35) of CNS tuberculosis were reviewed; 4 patients were seropositive for HIV. RESULTS: Several types of lesions were identified: tuberculomas called miliary lesions if they were smaller than 2 mm in diameter (7 cases), in 1 case the tuberculoma was revealed by two large lesions and bi-hemispheric localisations, leptomeningitis (5 cases), infarction (4 cases), abscesses (3 cases with solitary lesions in 2/3 cases), hydrocephalus (3 cases), pachymeningitis (2 cases). A tuberculomas-leptomeningitis association was found in 4 patients. The pachymeningitis form had an unusual aspect in one case. Patients with leptomeningitis showed thick meningeal contrast enhancement involving all basal cisterns, expanding to the sylvian fissures level, and causing narrowing of the sylvian arteries. Massive infarctions resulted from arterial englobement or embols. In three out of five patients, leptomeningitis was the initial presentation. In seropositive patients, tuberculosis was severe with high mortality (3/4 patients), and associated with other multiple lesions. CONCLUSION: Central nervous system tuberculosis has different appearances, mostly tuberculomas and leptomeningitis. MR with contrast is necessary for follow-up during treatment.

Adult↗

Cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) with presentation as a brain inflammatory pseudo-tumour.

Cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) is frequent but often asymptomatic. It can induce lobar haemorrhage, rapidly progressive dementia or recurrent transient neurological symptoms, other presentations being less frequent. We report 3 patients in their sixties presenting with a space occupying lesion which was the first manifestation of CAA. They were operated with a diagnosis of cerebral tumour. In all three cases, macroscopy was similar, the lesions were superficial in the cerebral cortex and the preoperative diagnoses were glioblastoma, meningioma and cavernoma. Histologically, the lesions consisted of a large inflammatory granuloma with numerous lipophages and siderophages surrounding capillaries with prominent endothelial cells. Vessels in the near cortex and meninges and within the granuloma harboured heavy amyloid deposits immunolabelled by anti-P component, anti-protein beta A4 with a A40 predominance and anti-apolipoprotein E. Adjacent cerebral cortex showed reactive gliosis and rare senile plaques. Amyloidosis is rarely considered among diagnoses of space occupying lesions. In our three cases, CT scan and MRI changes were related to the presence of an inflammatory granuloma around foci of haemorrhage and amyloid laden vessels.

Aged↗

Internal carotid artery dissection causes hypoglossal nerve palsy: CT, MRI, and angiographic findings.

A case of unilateral XIIth nerve palsy due to the dissection of the internal carotid artery is reported. The clinical and radiological features are described. In this patient, cranial nerve palsy is probably the result of compression by an enlarging carotid artery due to mural hematoma. Diagnosis is discussed with emphasis on magnetic resonance imaging findings. Magnetic resonance imaging is also useful for follow-up of arterial lesions.

Adult↗

MRI and MRA for diagnosis and follow-up of cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT).

OBJECTIVE: To assess the sensitivity of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) in the diagnosis and the follow-up of cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT). To describe MRI and MRA features in CVT. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The clinical and neuroradiological studies of 20 patients with proven CVT were reviewed. All patients underwent computed tomography (CT), MRI (with MRA for 15 patients) and digital substraction angiography (DSA). Eleven patients had follow-up after treatment with MRI (nine with MRA). RESULTS: MRI and MRA together provided the diagnosis of CVT in all cases. The sensitivity of MRI alone was 90%. MRA showed abnormalities in all cases of CVT. Progressive sinus recanalization was demonstrated by follow-up with MRI and MRA at least 15 days after diagnosis and treatment. CONCLUSION: In most of cases, the combination of MRI and MRA is sufficient to allow diagnosis of CVT and obviates the need for invasive angiography. MR studies are also useful for the follow-up of CVT.

Adolescent↗

[Facial diplegia in the course of childhood Lyme disease: bilateral enhancement of the facial nerve and MRI after injection of gadolinium].

We report a rare case of Lyme disease presenting as a bilateral seventh cranial nerve palsy and meningitis. The MR appearance was an enhancement of the internal auditory canal segment and mastoid segment of the seventh cranial nerve, in the absence of parenchymal lesions. One should consider Lyme disease in the differential diagnosis of bilateral seventh cranial nerve palsy with enhancement.

Child↗

[Persistent trigeminal artery and its variant. Contribution of MRI and MR-angiography].

We describe the magnetic resonance imaging and magnetic resonance angiography findings in 5 cases of persistent trigeminal artery, and in two cases of variant trigeminal artery. Six patients underwent complete four-vessel angiography, performed to depict other pathology. Magnetic resonance imaging and magnetic resonance angiography allowed in each case to visualize this artery and to precise its latero or intrasellar situation. The variant is not defined on conventional magnetic resonance imaging, but may be individualized on magnetic resonance angiography. In each case, identification of these persistent artery is crucial if surgery of sellar or gasserian region is planned.

Adolescent↗

Primary vertebral and spinal epidural non-Hodgkin's lymphoma with spinal cord compression.

We examined eight patients with primary spinal epidural non-Hodgkin's lymphoma presenting with spinal cord compression and proven histologically after laminectomy (7 cases) or biopsy (1 case) by MRI. The most common findings were an isointense or low signal relative to the spinal cord on T1-weighted images (T1WI) and high signal on T2-weighted images (T2WI). Spinal cord compression, vertebral bone marrow and paravertebral extension were assessed. Contrast enhancement was intense in seven of the eight cases and homogeneous in all of them. T2WI (performed in 2 cases) may be useful to distinguish metastatic carcinomas and sarcomas. T1WI demonstrated the full extent of the epidural lesion, which was well-delineated in all cases. When the paravertebral extension is not well-defined, a study with contrast medium should be performed.

Adult↗

Cerebral developmental venous anomalies associated with head and neck venous malformations.

PURPOSE: To study cerebral developmental venous anomalies in patients with extensive venous malformations of the head and neck. METHODS: All patients had undergone carotid angiography 10 to 15 years previously. Four-vessel cerebral angiography was carried out in 40 patients with venous malformations. All patients had a physical examination, 16 had CT, and 22 were examined with MR imaging. One patient had MR angiography. RESULTS: Eighteen developmental venous anomalies were noted in 8 (20%) of 40 patients. Four patients had multiple anomalies, and these were bilateral in 1 patient. Developmental venous anomalies seen in association with cervicofacial, cutaneous, and mucosal venous malformations were remarkable in their absence of neurologic events and associated cavernoma; significance of ectatic venous convergence, extension, and preponderance of deep drainage routes; and frequency with which they multiple in occurrence. CONCLUSION: Developmental venous anomalies have a remarkable prevalence of 20% in patients with extensive superficial venous malformations. Therefore, it is important to search for a cerebral developmental venous anomaly when confronted with a cervicofacial venous malformation.

Adolescent↗