Mohammad Sarwar

Linguistic recovery after closed head injury

Abstract Recovery from acute aphasia after closed head injury was studied in 21 young adults at least 6 months after injury. Three profiles of scores were found using standardized language tests. Persistent expressive and receptive impairment was present in 6 patients who sustained severe diffuse brain injury resulting in global cognitive deficit. Residual expressive impairment, primarily of naming, was associated with mild diffuse brain injury though focal left-hemisphere injury was present in 3 of 6 cases. Patients who recovered to normal levels on all language tests generally had acute neurologic findings consistent with mild diffuse brain injury. Cranial computed tomography at the time of followup frequently disclosed ventricular enlargement.

Colloid Cysts of the Third Ventricle

The clinical and roentgenographic features of 25 cases of colloid cyst of the third ventricle are described. Of all brain tumors, the colloid cyst is one of the most favorable for surgical removal, hence the need for an exact preoperative diagnosis is emphasized. The differential diagnosis is discussed and 2 cases presented to illustrate some pitfalls in the radiological diagnosis of these cysts.

Growing intracranial aneurysms

Cerebral angiography is the best means by which an intracranial aneurysm can be demonstrated and studied in vivo. In 16 cases clinical deterioration paralleled a variable degree of enlargement of the aneurysms. In all patients the aneurysms were irregular and/or bior multilocular. Possible factors causing aneurysmal enlargement are discussed.

Brain malformations in linear nevus sebaceous syndrome: An MR study

A case is presented of a 16-year-old girl who had unilateral linear nevus sebaceous syndrome and ipsilateral brain malformations. These consisted of unilateral megalencephaly, white matter hypoplasia and excessive gray matter, deficient sulcation, and focal areas of pachygyria of the frontal lobe best seen on magnetic resonance imaging.

MR imaging of intraventricular cysticercosis

Three cases of cysticercosis with cysts located in the cerebral ventricles were studied with magnetic resonance (MR) imaging. This technique proved to be diagnostically superior to CT. In fact, MR can effectively replace metrizamide CT ventriculography in the detection of intraventricular cysticercosis.

The dens-arch synchondrosis versus the Hangman's fracture

The synchondrosis between the dens and arch of C2 is a normal structure in infants and children. It is not visible on lateral views of the cervical spine, but is routinely visible on oblique views. In such cases it has a distinct tendency to mimic a C2-arch fracture. The varying appearance of this synchondrosis and its differentiation from a true fracture of C2 are the subjects of this report.

Computed tomography of cerebrovascular calcifications in postsurgical hypoparathyroidism

Surgicalespite the extensive literature on the radiographic appearance of basal ganglia calcification in hypoparathyroidism, the vascular and perivascular deposits that are the hallmark of this disease have not been described radiographically. We report two patients with postsurgical hypoparathyroidism in whom such vascular calcification was observed on CT and was confirmed pathologically in one. The metabolic disturbance leading to the vascular deposits is discussed.

High resolution computed tomography of the osseous external auditory canal: 1. Normal anatomy.

This study of 34 normal ears was conducted in order to define more precisely the normal computed tomographic (CT) anatomy of the osseous external auditory canal. Great variability was found in canal configuration and its relationship to the temporal squama. The understanding of normal CT appearance of the various fissures along the anterior wall of the external canal is important to avoid mistaking fissures for fractures.

Evolution of dolichoectasia of the vertebrobasilar system as evidenced by serial computed tomography

A case of dolichoectasia of the vertebrobasilar system and carotid arteries is presented. Features considered unique to this case include recurrence of trigeminal neuralgia after a standard surgical procedure, presumably caused by rapidly progressing dolichoectasia of the vertebrobasilar arteries, and progressive calcification and ventriculomegaly over the course of one and a half years, shown on sequential computed tomographic (CT) scans. Dolichoectasia is discussed briefly as a clinical entity and its characteristic CT scan findings are reviewed.

Focal MRI findings in early SSPE

Many investigators have identified localized cortical involvement in subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE) by clinical and electrophysiologic criteria. Some investigators have reported such abnormalities in the posterior cerebrum early in the course of the disease, but without radiologic correlation. Recently, magnetic resonance imaging has been used to follow the progression of SSPE. The largest reported study of SSPE utilizing magnetic resonance imaging indicated that focal abnormalities were distinctly rare and actually mitigated against the diagnosis of SSPE. We report an SSPE patient with focal cerebral dysfunction and magnetic resonance imaging evidence of distinctly focal inflammatory disease early in the course of the illness.