Cortical abnormalities on MRI: what a neurologist should know

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Radiology
• Medical Imaging

Background:

• Cerebral cortical lesions are common in diverse conditions like vascular, metabolic, inflammatory, neoplastic, infectious, and genetic disorders.
• Cortical involvement can be a hallmark of certain diseases or an occasional finding alongside other lesions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) characteristics of cerebral cortical lesions in various disorders.
• To provide a radiological perspective on identifying the origin of cortical lesions.

Main Methods:

• Review of MRI findings in patients with cerebral cortical lesions.
• Analysis of lesion localization, associated extra-cortical lesions, signal characteristics on different MRI sequences, and temporal evolution.
• Integration of clinical history, patient status, and other diagnostic examinations.

Main Results:

• MRI is crucial for characterizing cerebral cortical lesions.
• Key diagnostic indicators include precise lesion localization, presence of extra-cortical lesions, signal abnormalities across sequences, and lesion evolution.
• Radiological findings must be correlated with clinical and other diagnostic data.

Conclusions:

• Accurate diagnosis of cerebral cortical lesions relies on comprehensive interpretation of MRI features.
• A systematic radiological approach, considering localization, associated findings, and temporal changes, is essential.
• Multidisciplinary correlation of imaging, clinical, and pathological data improves diagnostic accuracy.