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Updated: Sep 28, 2026

Longitudinal In Vivo Imaging of the Cerebrovasculature: Relevance to CNS Diseases
07:47

Longitudinal In Vivo Imaging of the Cerebrovasculature: Relevance to CNS Diseases

Published on: December 6, 2016

Cerebral amyloid angiopathy presenting as nonhemorrhagic diffuse encephalopathy: neuropathologic and neuroradiologic

M Caulo1, D Tampieri, R Brassard

  • 1Department of Neuroradiology, Montreal Neurological Institute of McGill University, Montreal, Canada.

AJNR. American Journal of Neuroradiology
|June 21, 2001
PubMed

Insights

This case study highlights unusual MR imaging findings in cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA). The findings included high T2-weighted signals in gray and white matter without signs of hemorrhage, differing from typical CAA presentations.

Area of Science:

  • Neurology
  • Radiology
  • Pathology

Background:

  • Cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) is a common cause of lobar hemorrhage in the elderly.
  • CAA is characterized by amyloid-beta deposition in cerebral arteries, leading to microhemorrhages and white matter changes.

Observation:

  • A unique case of CAA presented with high signal intensity on T2-weighted MRI sequences in the gray and white matter of both cerebral hemispheres.
  • Crucially, these imaging findings were observed in the absence of any neuroradiologic signs of cerebral hemorrhage.

Findings:

  • Biopsy confirmed amyloid deposition within the walls of intracranial arterial branches.
  • Focal ischemic changes and gliosis were identified in the gray and white matter, correlating with the observed MRI signals.

Implications:

  • This atypical presentation challenges conventional understanding of CAA's imaging characteristics.
  • Highlights the importance of considering CAA even with non-hemorrhagic MRI findings, prompting further investigation into diverse CAA manifestations.

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