Sellar Lesions on Magnetic Resonance Imaging
The pituitary gland resides in the sella turcica, a depression in the sphenoid bone, and is subdivided into an anterior portion, composed of hormone-secreting cells, and a posterior portion, composed…
Ring-Enhancing Lesions on Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Gadolinium-based intravenous contrast agents used in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) appear hyperintense on T1 sequences. These agents do not cross the blood–brain barrier in normal patients, and thus T1 hyperintensity…
White Matter Lesions on Magnetic Resonance Imaging
White matter lesions (WMLs), also called white matter hyperintensities, are a common finding on T2 and fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) sequences on brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). WMLs are most…
Autoimmune Encephalitis
A. Autoimmune encephalitis (AE) is a rare form of reversible brain inflammation that may present with psychosis, seizures, altered consciousness, dystonia, and a diverse spectrum of other neurologic symptoms. Tests…
Neurosarcoidosis
Sarcoidosis is an autoimmune disease of unknown cause characterized by the formation of noncaseating granulomas. It can affect multiple organ systems, although pulmonary involvement is most common. Ocular and neurologic…
Transverse Myelitis
Transverse myelitis (TM) refers to a segmental inflammatory process involving the spinal cord, and may be idiopathic or secondary to a variety of specific disease processes. It typically presents with…
Treatment of Multiple Sclerosis
Treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS) is aimed at slowing disease progression and preventing development or worsening of disability. New neurologic symptoms (“relapses”) or progression of disability indicate ongoing disease activity….
Optic Neuritis
Optic neuritis is an inflammatory optic neuropathy that may be idiopathic or associated with underlying demyelinating disease. The typical presentation is one of subacute vision loss and dyschromatopsia (impairment of…
Lyme Disease Involving the Nervous System (Neuroborreliosis)
Lyme disease is caused by an infection with the spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi transmitted via tick bites ( Ixodes ricinus in Europe and Ixodes scapularis in the United States). Primary infection…
Neurosyphilis
Syphilis, caused by the bacterium Treponema pallidum , is able to invade the central nervous system early in the course of infection. As many as 40% of patients will have…
