Rhino-orbito-cerebral mucormycosis (ROCM) has regained significance following its resurgence in the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in India. Rapid and progressive intracranial spread occurs either by direct extension across the neural foraminae, cribriform plate/ethmoid, walls of sinuses, or angioinvasion. Having known to have a high mortality rate, especially with intracranial extension of disease, it becomes imperative to familiarise oneself with its imaging features. MRI is the imaging modality of choice. This pictorial essay aims to depict and detail the various intracranial complications of mucormycosis and to serve as a broad checklist of structures and pathologies that must be looked for in a known or suspected case of ROCM.
Spinal cord development occurs through three consecutive periods of gastrulation, primary nerulation and secondary neurulation. Aberration in these stages causes abnormalities of the spine and spinal cord, collectively referred as spinal dysraphism. They can be broadly classified as anomalies of gastrulation (disorders of notochord formation and of integration); anomalies of primary neurulation (premature dysjunction and nondysjunction); combined anomalies of gastrulation and primary neurulation and anomalies of secondary neurulation. Correlation with clinical and embryological data and common imaging findings provides an organized approach in their diagnosis.
Precipitating hydrophobic injectable liquid (PHIL) is a newly available liquid embolic agent for endovascular therapy. It is nonadhesive and composed of a biocompatible polymer dissolved in dimethyl sulfoxide solvent and bonded covalently with iodine. In this report, the authors present their preliminary experience using PHIL in the treatment of intracranial vascular shunts. Between July 2015 and December 2015, 11 patients underwent endovascular embolization using the PHIL embolic agent. Five patients had arteriovenous malformations, 4 had dural arteriovenous fistulas, 1 patient had a carotid-cavernous fistula, and 1 patient had a pial arteriovenous fistula. Clinical features, angioarchitectural characteristics, procedural details, and periprocedural complications were included in the analysis. Complete or near-complete obliteration of the nidus or fistulas was achieved in 8 of these patients. Partial embolization (approximately 80% in 2 and 30% in 1) was attained in the other 3 patients. Satisfactory venous penetration after nidal embolization was achieved in all patients. In 1 patient, the microcatheter could not be retrieved. No other major complications related to PHIL injection were noted during the procedure or periprocedural period. Clinical follow-up ranging from 8 months to 1 year showed good outcomes in all but 1 patient, who experienced an intraventricular hemorrhage 6 weeks after embolization. PHIL appears to be an effective alternative embolic material with certain advantages over other available liquid embolic agents. Further studies with adequate follow-up are required to fully evaluate its safety and efficacy.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.