Advanced

AJNR - American Journal of Neuroradiology

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via CrossRef Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Colon, A.J. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Colon, A.J.

American Journal of Neuroradiology 21:1767 (10 2000)
© 2000 American Society of Neuroradiology

ARTICLE

MR Findings of the Brain Stem in Arterial Hypertension

A.J. Colon^a

^a Atrium Medisch Centrum The Netherlands

	Introduction

TOP Introduction References

 
In their case reports, de Seze et al (1) describe edema of the brain stem in two patients with arterial hypertension. Their article once again draws attention to an often unrecognized syndrome that is potentially life-threatening. There have been earlier descriptions of brain stem edema in patients with hypertensive encephalopathy on MR images in patients with brain stem signs (2), but this is the first published with such beautiful FLAIR images.

The authors claim that the particular MR pattern helps to understand the change in hypertensive encephalopathy. In my opinion, it merely underlines the more or less accepted role of edema. The pathogenesis of hypertensive encephalopathy warrants more study, despite some excellent work in the past (3, 4). Futhermore, I would like to emphasize the life-threatening nature of hypertensive encephalopathy, especially if brain stem edema is present. Treatment is available, however, and it is well tolerated (2). Because of this, the clinician must be informed of the MR findings as soon as possible. Lastly, in order to maintain a uniform nomenclature it might have been preferable to refer to the described entity as "hypertensive encephalopathy" not only in the text but in the title of their article as well.

	References

TOP Introduction References

 

1. de Seze J, Mastain B, Stojkovic T, Ferriby D, et al. Unusual MR Findings of the Brain Stem in Arterial Hypertension. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol 2000;21:391-394[Abstract/Free Full Text]

2. Colon AJ. Considérations sur l'Encéphalopathie Hypertensive d'après un cas atypi que. Rev med Suisse Rom 1998;118:505-507[Medline]

3. Auer LM. The Pathogenesis of Hypertensive Encephalopathy. Acta Neuroch 1978;27:1-111

4. Kontos HA, Wei EP, Dietrich WD, et al. Mechanisms of Cerebral Arteriolar Abnormalities after Acute Hypertension. Am J Physiol 1981;240:H511-H527[Abstract/Free Full Text]

This article has been cited by other articles:

				V. Desestret, J.-C. Brisset, S. Moucharrafie, E. Devillard, S. Nataf, J. Honnorat, N. Nighoghossian, Y. Berthezene, and M. Wiart Early-Stage Investigations of Ultrasmall Superparamagnetic Iron Oxide-Induced Signal Change After Permanent Middle Cerebral Artery Occlusion in Mice Stroke, May 1, 2009; 40(5): 1834 - 1841. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				E. M. Shapiro, S. Skrtic, K. Sharer, J. M. Hill, C. E. Dunbar, and A. P. Koretsky MRI detection of single particles for cellular imaging PNAS, July 27, 2004; 101(30): 10901 - 10906. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via CrossRef Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Colon, A.J. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Colon, A.J.