No abstract

Epilepsy/seizures are major indications for brain imaging in clinical neurology. Structural lesions that may cause seizures are numerous and are defined using various neuroimaging techniques, including magnetic resonance imaging. The resolution of MRI allows for better fine ultra-structural lesions delineation. The aim of this study was to describe the pattern and frequency of structural brain lesions in MRI of patients with seizures and no clinically evident focal neurological signs. This was a retrospective, descriptive study carried out in a private hospital in Enugu, South East Nigeria to review all MRI results of patients who presented with seizures without clinical evidence of focal neurologic deficits. The MRI reports of two-third of the patients (47.9%) revealed focal lesions and about a third of the patients (32.2%) had normal findings. The structural lesions reported were mostly brain tumors (16%), stroke (9.5%), central nervous system infections (6.5%), brain malformation (6%) and encephalomalacia/gliosis (5%). Frequency of focal lesions clearly increased with age. Young patients were mostly associated with normal findings. Brain tumors and stroke were noted to occur more in the middle and aged patients respectively. Brain Magnetic Resonance Imaging remains a useful tool in the workup of patients with seizures without neurologic deficits. Treatable lesions can easily be revealed using this imaging modality.

Background: Intracranial aneurysms (IAN) are rare in the Sub-Saharan Africa unlike other parts of the world. The debate is whether the low frequency might be apparent because of the scarcity of advanced neuroimaging services, or real. This study investigated if improved imaging facilities would debunk the rarity of IAN in our subregion. Methods: This is a retrospective cohort study of prospectively recorded data of patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) and IAN managed over 19 years (2003–2021), at the study center with a catchment population of over 47 million. The center witnessed progressive improvements in neuroimaging facilities: 2-Slice, 8-slice, and 64-slice computed tomography (CT) and 0.35T, 1.5T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) during the period. Results: There were 241 cases of SAH, but only 166 aneurysms were confirmed in 158 patients. Between 2003 and 2008, only 27 IAN patients (4.5 IAN/year) were diagnosed. After introduction of CT angiography/magnetic resonance angiography MRA using 8-slice CT/0.35T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), between 2009 and 2014, the frequency of IAN increased to 8/year. Between 2015 and 2018 after installation of a 64-slice CT in 2014, the IAN remained the same (8/year). MRI 1.5T was added in 2018, the frequency doubled to 17 cases/year. The females were more (67.7%), the mean age was 46.3 years, but peak incidence was the sixth decade. Internal carotid artery aneurysms including posterior communicating artery were the most common (43%) followed by ACA with anterior communicating artery (24%) and middle cerebral artery (20%). Multiple aneurysms were seen in ten patients. Conclusion: Improved neuroimaging between 2003 and 2021 did not debunk the rarity of IAN in our region.