Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 7, 2026
06:35
An Immunohistopathologic Study to Profile the Folate Receptor Beta Macrophage and Vascular Immune Microenvironment in Giant Cell Arteritis
Published on: February 8, 2019
Giant tumefactive perivascular spaces: A further case
Senthilkumar Sankararaman1, Sujithra Velayuthan, Sudheer Ambekar
1Department of Pediatrics, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, Shreveport, Louisiana, USA.
Journal of Pediatric Neurosciences
|October 2, 2013
Summary
Giant tumefactive perivascular spaces (GTPVS) are enlarged brain cysts that mimic neoplasms but are benign. This case report highlights their incidental discovery and conservative management in a child, showing no change over a year.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Radiology
- Pathology
Background:
- Virchow-Robin spaces (VRS), or perivascular spaces, are normal fluid-filled cystic structures within the brain.
- These spaces are commonly found where penetrating vessels enter brain tissue and are present across all age groups.
Observation:
- Giant tumefactive perivascular spaces (GTPVS) represent an enlarged form of VRS.
- GTPVS can be mistaken for cystic neoplasms, necessitating accurate diagnostic approaches.
- The characteristic imaging appearance of GTPVS aids in diagnosis, often precluding the need for invasive procedures.
Findings:
- A 4-year-old male presented with incidentally diagnosed GTPVS on brain imaging for head trauma.
- The patient was managed conservatively without intervention.
- Follow-up imaging over one year showed no change in the size of the GTPVS, and the patient remained asymptomatic.
Implications:
- GTPVS are benign findings that can be diagnosed non-invasively through characteristic imaging.
- Conservative management is appropriate for incidentally detected GTPVS, especially in pediatric cases.
- Distinguishing GTPVS from neoplastic lesions is crucial to avoid unnecessary invasive treatments.
Related Concept Videos
01:21Cytotoxic Edema: Pathophysiology
Cytotoxic edema is a form of cerebral edema characterized by intracellular swelling of neurons, astrocytes, and other glial cells. It develops when the mechanisms responsible for maintaining ionic gradients across the cell membrane become impaired. Under normal physiological conditions, the sodium–potassium ATPase actively transports sodium ions out of the cell and potassium ions into the cell, preserving osmotic balance and enabling electrical signaling. This pump requires a continuous supply...
02:17The Tumor Microenvironment
Every normal cell or tissue is embedded in a complex local environment called stroma, consisting of different cell types, a basal membrane, and blood vessels. As normal cells mutate and develop into cancer cells, their local environment also changes to allow cancer progression. The tumor microenvironment (TME) consists of a complex cellular matrix of stromal cells and the developing tumor. The cross-talk between cancer cells and surrounding stromal cells is critical to disrupt normal tissue...