Abstracts

IS THERE A CAUSAL LINK BETWEEN TUMEFACTIVE VIRCHOW-ROBIN (VR) SPACES AND EPILEPSY?

Abstract number : 3.191
Submission category : 5. Neuro Imaging
Year : 2012
Submission ID : 15440
Source : www.aesnet.org
Presentation date : 11/30/2012 12:00:00 AM
Published date : Sep 6, 2012, 12:16 PM

Authors :
P. Bhatia, B. Sitwat, K. Petropoulou

Rationale: There have been isolated case reports and very few retrospective analyses on clinical correlation of tumefactive VR spaces. There have been rare case reports of VR spaces associated with seizures but to date no clear correlation with its location has been identified. Methods: We collected data on 4 patients with tumefactive VR spaces. Tumefactive VR spaces were identified based on their morphology, size, surrounding mass effect, contrast response, and appearance on magnetic resonance spectroscopy. We analyzed the charts for clinical and laboratory data and magnetic resonance imaging of brain for details about location and characteristics of lesions. Results: One case had tumefactive VR space in temporal lobe (cortical and subcortical region), clinically manifesting as temporal lobe epilepsy with abnormal EEG correlate (Figs 1 and 2). Another case had tumefactive frontal lobe lesion, which was an incidental finding post concussion, currently being evaluated for staring spells. Two other cases, presenting with headache had tumefactive VR spaces in thalamus and brain stem each. Conclusions: We describe four cases of tumefactive VR spaces. Two out of these four cases had confirmed or suspected epilepsy. These cases had lesions in known epileptogenic locations i.e. temporal or frontal lobe. One of these two cases had a cortical location of VR space, which has been reported only once in literature. Only one reported case in literature with seizures associated with tumefactive VR spaces had showed a location in temporal lobe.
Neuroimaging