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Phase images from eleven patients with glioma yielded statistically significant phase-shift values for calcification and hemorrhage compared with normal brain, whereas CT showed substantial overlap of Hounsfield units. Phase image analysis correctly differentiated between intratumoral calcification and hemorrhage in 86% of cases.

The ElutaxDEB may be a promising alternative treatment for patients with symptomatic high-grade intracranial stenosis showing a significantly lower rate of ischemic re-events or restenosis in comparison with the WingspanStent-treated patients with a similar safety profile. Further studies will be needed to definitively elucidate the role of pDEB in the management of symptomatic intracranial high-grade stenosis.

PurposeTo report on the optic canal cross-sectional area (OCA) in Caucasian patients with normal-tension glaucoma (NTG) compared with Caucasian control subjects without known optic nerve (ON) diseases.MethodsRetrospective analysis of computed tomographic images of the cranium and orbits in 56 NTG patients (30 females and 26 males; 99 of 112 eyes; mean age 67.7 ± 11.1 years). Fifty-six age- and gender-matched subjects (mean age: 68.0 ± 11.2 years) without known ON diseases served as controls. The OCA at the orbital opening was measured in square millimeters by using the tool “freehand.” Statistical analysis was performed by using the independent two-tailed t-test.ResultsThe mean orbital opening OCA in NTGs measured 14.5 ± 3.5 mm2 (right OCA: 14.4 ± 3.6 mm2, left OCA: 14.5 ± 3.4 mm2) and in controls measured 18.3 ± 2.6 mm2 (right OCA: 18.5 ± 2.7 mm2, left OCA: 18.1 ± 2.5 mm2). The difference between NTG and controls was statistically significant (p < 0.000 for the right OCA, p < 0.000 for the left OCA).ConclusionThis study demonstrates narrower OCAs in Caucasian NTG patients compared with Caucasian control subjects without known ON diseases. Narrower OCAs might contribute to a discontinuity of the cerebrospinal fluid flow between the intracranial and orbital subarachnoid space in NTG patients. This might have an influence onto the pathophysiology in NTG.

This study demonstrates a gradual reduction in CLCSF towards the retrobulbar segment in NTG, while in controls without NTG, no reduction in CLCSF was measured within the orbital segments. Impaired CSF dynamics along the ON may contribute to the pathophysiology of NTG.