RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Superficial siderosis of the CNS: MR diagnosis and clinical findings.
JF American Journal of Neuroradiology
JO Am. J. Neuroradiol.
FD American Society of Neuroradiology
SP 227
OP 236
VO 14
IS 1
A1 M Bracchi
A1 M Savoiardo
A1 F Triulzi
A1 D Daniele
A1 M Grisoli
A1 G B Bradac
A1 C Agostinis
A1 D Pelucchetti
A1 G Scotti
YR 1993
UL http://www.ajnr.org/content/14/1/227.abstract
AB PURPOSE To report the clinical and neuroradiologic findings of superficial siderosis of the CNS, due to chronic subarachnoid bleeding of unknown origin.MATERIALS AND METHODS We observed seven cases. The main clinical manifestations were progressive deafness and ataxia. Four patients had had previous cranial or cervical trauma, with root avulsion in two, many years before onset of deafness and ataxia. Neuroradiologic studies included MR (0.5 T in four and 1.5 T in three) and angiography of the brain in all cases, CT in six cases, MR of the spine in six, and myelography in four.RESULTS MR demonstrated a rim of marked hypointensity in T2-weighted images, consistent with hemosiderin deposits, on the surface of cerebellum, brain stem, inferior part of cerebral hemispheres, and spinal cord. CT showed cerebellar atrophy in five cases, and a rim of mild hyperdensity around the brain stem in two. Angiographic studies were negative. Myelography showed cervical nerve root avulsion in two cases and a cervicodorsal extradural cyst in one. Cerebrospinal fluid contained RBCs in all the six examined cases.CONCLUSION Although CT may occasionally suggest the diagnosis of superficial siderosis, MR demonstrates this abnormality to better advantage.