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Unusual widening of Virchow-Robin spaces: MR appearance
T Ogawa1, T Okudera, H Fukasawa
1Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Research Institute of Brain and Blood Vessels, Akita, Japan.
Abstract:
MR in two patients with unusual widening of the Virchow-Robin spaces showed multiple cystic foci up to 2 cm in diameter along the perforating medullary arteries in the cerebral white matter, mainly in one cerebral hemisphere. These areas were of the same signal intensity as cerebrospinal fluid on all pulse sequences. In one patient, the cystic foci in the white matter were biopsied and histologically confirmed to be large Virchow-Robin spaces.
Insights
Unusual widening of Virchow-Robin spaces in two patients revealed multiple cerebrospinal fluid-like cystic foci in the cerebral white matter. Biopsy confirmed these findings as enlarged Virchow-Robin spaces.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Radiology
- Neuroimaging
Background:
- Virchow-Robin spaces (VRS) are normal perivascular spaces within the brain.
- Enlarged VRS can be associated with various neurological conditions.
Observation:
- Two patients presented with unusual widening of VRS.
- Magnetic Resonance (MR) imaging revealed multiple cystic foci up to 2 cm in diameter.
- These lesions were located along perforating medullary arteries in the cerebral white matter, predominantly in one hemisphere.
Findings:
- The cystic foci exhibited signal intensity identical to cerebrospinal fluid across all MR pulse sequences.
- Histopathological examination of biopsied white matter lesions confirmed them as enlarged Virchow-Robin spaces.
Implications:
- This study highlights a specific MR imaging pattern associated with pathologically confirmed enlarged VRS.
- Understanding this imaging phenotype is crucial for accurate differential diagnosis in neuroimaging.
- Further research may elucidate the underlying causes and clinical significance of such extensive VRS enlargement.