GFAPα-IgG, when detected in CSF, is highly specific for an immunotherapy-responsive autoimmune CNS disorder, sometimes with paraneoplastic cause. Ann Neurol 2017;81:298-309.

IMPORTANCE Recognizing the characteristics of myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein autoantibody (MOG-IgG) myelitis is essential for early accurate diagnosis and treatment. OBJECTIVE To evaluate the clinical, radiologic, and prognostic features of MOG-IgG myelitis and compare with myelitis with aquaporin-4-IgG (AQP4-IgG) and multiple sclerosis (MS).

SUMMARY: SIFs are a common, though often unsuspected, cause of low back pain in the elderly. Although numerous radiographic modalities can be used to diagnose SIFs, bone scintigraphy and MR imaging are the most sensitive. Conservative management involves various combinations of bed rest, rehabilitation, and analgesics. More recently, sacroplasty has emerged as an alternative therapy for the treatment of SIFs, with prospective studies and case reports suggesting that it is a safe and effective therapy. This article reviews the imaging appearance of SIFs and discusses treatment options with a focus on sacroplasty.ABBREVIATIONS: FEA ϭ finite-element analysis; MDP ϭ methylene diphosphonate; PMMA ϭ polymethylmethacrylate; SIF ϭ sacral insufficiency fracture; VAS ϭ visual analog pain scale.

Background and Objective:There are few studies that compare lesion evolution across different CNS demyelinating diseases, yet knowledge of this may be important for diagnosis and understanding differences in disease pathogenesis. We sought to compare MRI T2-lesion evolution in myelin-oligodendrocyte-glycoprotein-IgG-associated disorder (MOGAD), aquaporin-4-IgG-positive neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (AQP4-IgG-NMOSD), and multiple sclerosis (MS).Methods:In this descriptive study, we retrospectively identified Mayo Clinic patients with MOGAD, AQP4-IgG-NMOSD, or MS and: 1) brain or myelitis attack; 2) available attack MRI within 6 weeks; and 3) follow-up MRI beyond 6 months without interval relapses in that region. Two neurologists identified the symptomatic or largest T2-lesion for each patient (index lesion). MRIs were then independently reviewed by two neuroradiologists blinded to diagnosis to determine resolution of T2-lesions by consensus. The index T2-lesion area was manually outlined acutely and at follow-up to assess variation in size.Results:We included 156 patients (MOGAD, 38; AQP4-IgG-NMOSD, 51; MS, 67) with 172 attacks (brain, 81; myelitis, 91). The age (median [range]) differed between MOGAD (25 [2-74]), AQP4-IgG-NMOSD (53 [10-78]) and MS (37 [16-61]) (p<0.01) and female sex predominated in the AQP4-IgG-NMOSD (41/51 [80%]) and MS (51/67 [76%]) groups but not among those with MOGAD (17/38 [45%]). Complete resolution of the index T2-lesion was more frequent in MOGAD (brain, 13/18[72%]; spine, 22/28[79%]) than AQP4-IgG-NMOSD (brain, 3/21[14%]; spine, 0/34[0%]) and MS (brain, 7/42[17%]; spine, 0/29[0%]), p<0.001. Resolution of all T2-Lesions occurred most often in MOGAD (brain, 7/18[39%]; spine, 22/28[79%]) than AQP4-IgG-NMOSD (brain, 2/21[10%]; spine, 0/34[0%]), and MS (brain, 2/42[5%]; spine, 0/29[0%]), p< 0.01. There was a larger median (range) reduction in T2-lesion area in mm2 on follow-up axial brain MRI with MOGAD (213[55-873]) than AQP4-IgG-NMOSD (104[0.7-597]) (p=0.02) and MS, 36[0-506]) (p< 0.001) and the reductions in size on sagittal spine MRI follow-up in MOGAD (262[0-888]) and AQP4-IgG-NMOSD (309[0-1885]) were similar (p=0.4) and greater than MS (23[0-152]) (p<0.001).Conclusions:The MRI T2-lesions in MOGAD resolve completely more often than AQP4-IgG-NMOSD and MS. This has implications for diagnosis, monitoring disease activity, and clinical trial design, while also providing insight into pathogenesis of central nervous system demyelinating diseases.

SUMMARY:Spinal cord infarction following lumbar transforaminal epidural steroid injection is a rare and devastating complication. We describe the case of a 55-year-old woman who developed spinal cord infarction following right L2-3 transforaminal epidural injection, diagnosed on the basis of clinical and MR imaging findings. Spinal angiography demonstrated occlusion of the right L2 segmental artery with reconstitution of the radicular branch from collaterals. The artery of Adamkeiwicz could not be demonstrated and was presumably occluded by the steroid injection.T ransforaminal epidural steroid injection (TF ESI) is a common procedure in the nonsurgical management of lumbosacral radiculopathy. The incidence of significant complications is low. Spinal cord infarction (SCI) following lumbar TF ESI is one of the rarest yet most devastating complications, with 5 cases reported in the literature.1-3 Inadvertent vascular penetration of a radiculomedullary artery by the procedure needle has been implicated as the likely etiology. Cord ischemia could result from vascular injury with thrombosis or embolism involving the artery of Adamkiewicz or from occlusion secondary to intra-arterial injection of steroid suspension. In this case, we describe the MR imaging and angiographic findings in a case of SCI following lumbar TF ESI. To our knowledge, the angiographic findings have never been reported. Case ReportA 55-year-old woman with an acute-on-chronic disk herniation at L1-2 presented for TF ESI at L2-3 on the right. Initial placement of a 22-gauge spinal needle reportedly showed backbleeding on removal of the stylet, which apparently resolved once the needle was repositioned. Epidural placement of the needle tip was reportedly confirmed following injection of 2 mL of myelographic contrast (Fig 1), followed by therapeutic injection of an additional 1 mL of triamcinolone acetonide (Kenalog) and 0.25% bupivacaine. Within minutes of the injection, the patient developed bilateral lower extremity weakness, which progressed to flaccid paralysis.The patient underwent CT of the thoracolumbar spine within 1.5-hours of the injection, which demonstrated no evidence of epidural hematoma. MR imaging of the spine was performed approximately 4 hours after the injection, including sagittal and axial T1 (TR, 350; TE, 15.7), T2 (TR, 3950; TE, 105), and echo-planar diffusionweighted imaging (bϭ1000). T2-weighted images demonstrated subtly increased signal intensity within the central gray matter of the distal thoracic cord with restricted water diffusion in the same area (Fig 2).Catheter-directed spinal angiography was performed to evaluate potentially treatable causes of spinal cord ischemia, including spasm or dissection. The ostium of the right L2 segmental artery could not be selected and was presumed to be occluded. Injection of the right L3 segmental artery demonstrated collateral vessels coursing toward the right L2-3 foramen, with irregular attenuated reconstitution of the distal L2 segmental branch and radicular artery (Fig 3). Addi...

Even without the assistance of an MRV sequence, neuroradiologists can validly identify bilateral transverse sinus stenosis in patients with intracranial hypertension more reliably than other previously described MR imaging findings in this condition. We conclude that transverse sinus stenosis is the most useful and sensitive imaging indicator of this disease state.

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Mechanical clot lysis is a powerful technique for immediate restoration of antegrade venous flow in dural sinus thrombosis. In most patients, the superior sagittal sinuses and contralateral transverse sinuses could be accessed with the 5-French rheolytic catheter.