Introduction Pathophysiology of cervical artery dissection is complex and poorly understood. In addition to well-known causative and predisposing factors, including major trauma and monogenic connective tissue disorders, morphological characteristics of the styloid process have been recently recognized as a possible risk factor for cervical internal carotid artery dissection. Aims To study the association of the anatomical characteristics of styloid process with internal carotid artery dissection. Methods Retrospective, multicenter, case-control study of patients with internal carotid artery dissection and age- and sex-matched controls. Consecutive patients with internal carotid artery dissection and controls with ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attack of any etiology excluding internal carotid artery dissection, who had performed computed tomography angiography, diagnosed between January 2010 and September 2016. Two independent observers measured styloid process length and styloid process distance to internal carotid artery. Results Sixty-two patients with internal carotid artery dissection and 70 controls were included. Interobserver agreement was good for styloid process length and styloid process-internal carotid artery distance (interclass correlation coefficient = 0.89 and 0.76, respectively). Styloid process ipsilateral to dissection was longer than left and right styloid process in controls (35.8 ± 14.4 mm versus 30.4 ± 8.9 mm and 30.3 ± 8.2 mm, p = 0.011 and p = 0.008, respectively). Styloid process-internal carotid artery distance ipsilateral to dissection was shorter than left and right distance in controls (6.3 ± 1.9 mm versus 7.2 ± 2.1 mm and 7.0 ± 2.3 mm, p = 0.003 and p = 0.026, respectively). Internal carotid artery dissection was associated with styloid process length (odds ratio = 1.04 mm, 95% confidence interval = 1.01-1.08, p = 0.015) and styloid process-internal carotid artery distance (OR = 0.77 mm, 95% confidence interval = 0.64-0.92, p = 0.004). Conclusion Longer styloid process and shorter distance between styloid process and cervical internal carotid artery are associated with cervical internal carotid artery dissection.
We report the case of an 8-year-old boy with delayed psychomotor development, dysarthria, choreoathetosis, joint mild hyperlaxity, coarse hair, dry lax skin and facial dimorphisms. Cerebral magnetic resonance revealed diffuse vascular tortuosity, with multiple loops in some arteries of Willis' circle. Clinical presentation, corroborated by the imagiological findings, raised the suspicion of a disorder of copper metabolism. Serum copper and ceruloplasmin were decreased and lateral skull X-rays demonstrated bilateral occipital exostoses. ATP7A gene sequencing identified a hemizygous variant c.375delA (p.Ala126Glnfs*2), confirming the diagnosis of occipital horn syndrome. Occipital horn syndrome (also called X-linked cutis laxa) is a milder form of Menkes disease. This rare disorder of copper metabolism results from mutations in ATP7A gene encoding a transmembrane copper-transporting enzyme. The broad spectrum of clinical presentation makes the diagnosis challenging. This case illustrates the importance of a multidisciplinary approach, highlighting the role of neuroimaging.
This is a case report of intramedullary spinal cord metastasis (ISCM) of a colorectal cancer (CRC). A 67-year-old male with no relevant medical history presented with paresthesias in the lower limbs and paraparesis for 7 days. Thoracic spinal cord magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) demonstrated an oval intramedullary lesion suggestive of metastatic lesion. Primary tumor was a rectosigmoid transition zone invasive adenocarcinoma. He had a rapidly progressive neurological condition and became paraplegic with urinary and fecal incontinence. A conservative approach was performed, with spinal cord radiotherapy and derivate colostomy. The patient died 3 months later. This case report describes ISCM from CRC. Although it represents a rare clinical entity, we must be alert in order to achieve the earliest possible diagnosis trying to preserve the patient's quality of life.
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