The artery of Percheron (AOP) represents a rare anatomic variant of the posterior circulation. It is a solitary trunk that provides bilateral arterial supply to the rostral midbrain and paramedian thalamus. AOP infarction presentation varies, most often presents with altered mental status, memory impairment, and supranuclear vertical gaze palsy. Diagnosis of the AOP infarct is most often missed in the initial CT scan. A majority of these diagnoses are made outside the window of thrombolytic treatment for ischemic stroke.
We report a case of a 67-year old male with a history of well-managed diabetes mellitus type 2 and hypertension, presented in the ER sudden onset severe drowsiness. On a physical exam, we found left pupil dilation and left eye deviation. Initial CT scan showed no pathological changes. The diagnosis was made on the third day of hospitalization via an MRI. Our case highlights the unusual presentation and that an absence of evidence of AOP infarction in CT scan does not exclude its diagnosis. The artery of the Percheron infarct requires a comprehensive clinical and radiological examination.
Osteomas and cystic mucoceles are well-known benign tumors, affecting the paranasal sinuses. However, the concomitant presence of both lesions represents a rare occurrence, with only a handful of reported cases. We report a case of a frontal sinus osteoma associated with an intracranial mucocele, in a 61-year-old male patient, with a 3-month history of intermittent headaches and subsequent generalized seizures. Post-contrast MRI showed a frontal heterogeneously enhanced lesion with an adjacent non-enhanced cyst. After surgical excision, histopathological examination established the diagnosis of osteoma with mucoid cyst. Mucoceles increase in size progressively and gradually. They are mostly asymptomatic, nevertheless, once they extend intracranially, complications like infections, seizures, or other neurological disturbances, may frequently occur, indicating the necessity for surgical treatment. Imaging modalities, in particular a head MRI is paramount while contemplating the differential diagnosis of a solid and cystic intracranial lesions, owing to its high sensitivity and specificity. The aim of this case report is to underscore the importance of considering intracranial mucoceles in the differential diagnosis of cystic lesions in the anterior cranial fossa when associated with a solid, possibly obstructing mass.
Cholesterol granulomas are chronic inflammatory lesions located primarily in the apex of the petrous part of the temporal bone. They are benign, tumor-like lesions, consisting of a cystic cavity filled with a chocolate-brown fluid and present as hyperintense masses on T1 and T2 sequences on MRI. The most common causes of cholesterol granulomas are chronic middle ear infections and traumas, explaining their prevalence in young to middle aged patients. Due to their progressively expanding nature, clinical presentation include vertigo, diplopia, tinnitus, hearing loss and seizures. Treatment of cholesterol granulomas consists of two different approaches: watch and wait or radical surgery to remove the granulomatous tissue. We present the case of a 38-year-old male patient who was admitted to the Neurology Clinic with complaints of loss of consciousness, headache, pain on the left side of the face and tinnitus in the left ear. These symptoms had been present for some time and gradually worsened in intensity and frequency. Initially after an EEG was performed, the patient showed signs of focal epilepsy and began treatment accordingly. Subsequently, a CT and an MRI of the head and neck were performed, which showed a large, well demarcated expansile mass within the left petrous apex, which was hyperintense on T1 and T2. Based on his clinical presentation and radiologic findings, a diagnosis of cholesterol granuloma was established. Through this case report we hope to emphasize the role imaging modalities play in the diagnosis and appropriate management of cholesterol granulomas.
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