DWI-SSFSE with ADC values provides objective information in the differential diagnosis of Rathke's cleft cysts from other sellar cystic lesions. In addition, DWI-SSFSE with ADC values is useful for differentiating Rathke's cleft cysts from craniopharyngiomas and haemorrhagic pituitary adenomas.

A 29-year-old female presented with an unusual case of Wallenberg's syndrome due to a dissecting aneurysm of the posterior inferior cerebellar artery (PICA) manifesting as a sensation of heaviness in the occipital region and vertigo. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed infarction of the lateral aspect of the medulla oblongata. Digital subtraction angiography (DSA) revealed a spindle-shaped dilatation of irregular contour in the proximal portion of the left PICA. Pooling of contrast medium was noted in the venous phase but no double lumen sign. A suboccipital craniectomy confirmed these findings macroscopically.Blood flow meter monitoring before and after proximal clipping of the diseased vessel ensured the safety of the procedure. Follow-up DSA 3 years after surgery revealed no evidence of aneurysm recurrence.

Three-dimensional computed tomography (3D CT) angiography was used to investigate two cases of persistent primitive arteries. 3D CT angiography and 3D CT demonstrated a persistent primitive trigeminal artery variant penetrating the lateral edge of the posterior clinoid process and running to the posterior medial side, and a persistent primitive trigeminal artery perforating the canal of the posterior clinoid process and the petrosal bone junction. 3D CT angiography can delineate these persistent primitive arteries and the anatomy relative to the bone structure simultaneously, so is very useful to identify the arterial line where the canal is penetrated.

The morphometric characteristics of nerve fibers of the human optic nerve in the chiasmatic region were measured with the combination of an image analyzer and a computer , using the Luxol fast blue periodic acid-Schiff-hematoxylin discriminative staining method. The mean axonal transverse area of the human optic nerve fibers was 0.644 ± 0.361 µm². Comparison of the size of the axon of the human optic nerve fiber with that of various other human nerves showed optic nerve fibers were definitely thinner than the other nerve fibers, and were surrounded by a thinner myelin sheath . Optic nerves may be more liable to mechanical damage at surgery that previously believed .

Automation of proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) in recent years has made it possible for MRS measurement to be performed in a shorter time than before, and the number of reports of its usefulness for the assessment of glioma malignancy has been increasing in the past several years. We studied the efficacy of proton MRS when used for glioma and conducted clinicopathological examination of glioma. The subjects were 15 patients who had received a pathological diagnosis of glioma at our hospital (6 cases of glioblastoma, 1 case of anaplastic astrocytoma, 4 cases of low-grade astrocytoma, and 4 cases of radiation necrosis); Siemens Magnetom Vision 1.5T was used for the study. Regions of interest (ROIs) were defined as the areas where abnormal signals were found on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Areas of primary peaks, such as choline (Cho), N-acetylaspartate (NAA), and lactate (Lac), were measured, and the ratios to normal brain tissue were examined. This study revealed a tendency of increased malignancy of glioma with a decrease in NAA. Some cases also displayed a decrease in Cho with an increase in malignancy. Assessment of malignancy must not be based on a single ROI alone, but several ROIs should be assessed comprehensively. Measurement was difficult when the tumor volume was small. Because diagnosis of very early glioma by MRS seemed difficult, other adjunctive diagnoses may be necessary. Proton MRS is very useful for diagnosis of glioblastoma.