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ABSTRACT: Dengue infection can take on many different forms, ranging from no symptoms to a mild fever, all the way to a severe condition known as dengue shock syndrome. Although the typical symptoms of dengue are well known, the virus can also cause rare neurological complications. Dengue encephalitis is a severe form of neuroinvasive dengue that can be fatal as the virus directly affects the central nervous system. This case series provides a comprehensive overview of dengue, its clinical spectrum, and the potential for severe neurological complications such as dengue encephalitis. It highlights the importance of considering dengue as a possible diagnosis in patients with encephalitis, particularly during a dengue epidemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Risk of injury to normal vertebral artery (VA) unlike that associated with an anomalous VA is infrequent during posterior C1-C2 reduction for congenital atlantoaxial dislocation (AAD). An ischemic event resulting from such indirect injury is a rare occurrence. A 14-year-old boy with severe AAD/ basilar invagination underwent C1-C2 joint manipulation and fixation with an uneventful intraoperative course. Although his immediate postsurgical period was unremarkable, he sustained sudden and rapid neurological worsening on day 3. He developed multiple posterior fossa infarcts and finally succumbed. VA can be indirectly injured possibly due to excessive distraction/manipulation of C1-C2 joints. The lesson learnt is that anticipation of such injuries along with proactive anticoagulation treatment can potentially alter patient outcome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Vertebral artery dissection (VAD) is a treatable cause of vertebrobasilar ischemic stroke and can be spontaneous or more commonly traumatic. Craniovertebral junction (CVJ) anomalies are a rare and often overlooked cause of VAD.Objective: The objective of this study was to study cases where CVJ anomaly presented as posterior circulation infarct and to conduct a relevant literature review.Materials and Methods: The medical records of seven patients who were managed for posterior circulation infarct associated with CVJ anomaly at our center from January 2009 through August 2013 were reviewed. PubMed and MEDLINE databases were also searched for similar cases, and the published case reports/series were reviewed.Results: Seven patients met our inclusion criteria and were included in the study. The mean age was 17.4 years (range: 10-35 years). All the patients were males. The most common symptoms were headache, vomiting, and gait ataxia. Slurring of speech was seen in one patient. One patient had repeated episodes of gait ataxia with left-sided weakness with complete recovery in between the episodes. One patient presented in unconscious state. Four patients complained of vertigo. The median duration of symptoms was 7 days (range: 3 days-12 months).Conclusions: CVJ anomalies can present as posterior circulation infarct. One must evaluate all patients with posterior circulation stroke, especially young patients, for possible CVJ anomalies. Dynamic lateral cervical spine X-ray is an important tool to diagnose AAD. CVJ anomalies represent a treatable cause of VAD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Owing to the antihemostatic property of viper venom, hemorrhagic complications including intracerebral hemorrhage are the most commonly encountered after viper bite. Ischemic strokes have been rarely reported after viper envenomation, and its occurrence has been attributed to multiple mechanisms. Postsnakebite seizures are known to occur after neurotoxic bite. Here, we report the case of a viper bite victim who developed status epilepticus within 3 h after viper bite. He had only mild signs of local envenomation, and prolonged whole blood clotting time was the only manifestation of systemic envenomation. Subsequently, he was found to have developed right hemiparesis and global aphasia. Brain imaging revealed large infarcts in bilateral middle cerebral artery (MCA) territories. We report this as a unique case of viper bite which presented to the emergency room with status epilepticus. Moreover, bilateral MCA infarct, as was found in this case, is genuinely rare in scientific literature. Finally, the absence of overt features of envenomation makes this case stand out from other similar reported occurrences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Case: Moyamoya disease (MMD) is a neurological disease involving internal carotid artery (ICA) leading to its occlusion. Among the children, the disease presents as ischemic strokes, whereas in adults, it presents as hemorrhagic strokes. Movement disorder among the MMD is very rare with varied presentation. This article reports a case of 16-year-old girl presented with a history of alternating hemiparesis with recurrent hemichorea with self-remitting tendency. Magnetic resonance angiography brain showed marked-to-complete attenuation of supraclinoid ICA with multiple tortuous collateral vessels replacing the circle of Willis. Conclusion: MMD should be kept in the differential diagnosis of children presenting with alternating focal neurological deficit with recurrent movement disorder as movement disorder could be the initial presentation. MMD may present as waxing and waning features of the chorea and neurological deficit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Fibroadenomas (FAs) are the most common benign tumor of the female breast constituting approximately one-third of all benign breast lesions. Epithelial elements of FA can exhibit spectrum of proliferative changes similar to those found in normal breast counterparts. Objective: To study and analyze various histopathological changes within FAs. Materials and Methods: A 3 years retrospective study conducted in the Department of Pathology Employee's State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) Medical College and Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences and Research and ESIC Model Hospital, Rajajinagar. Bengaluru. 372 diagnosed cases of FAs were retrieved and examined for various changes associated within it. Relevant clinical data were analyzed. Results: FAs were commonly encountered in the age group of 21-30 years (63.2). 42.5% of FAs had associated pathological entities. Complex FAs were 1.5%, 0.9% of infarcts and 0.3% of FA with extensive squamous metaplasia. 24.3% of FA with fibrocystic disease, 12.3% of FA with varied degrees of hyperplasia and 0.3% of invasive carcinoma was noted. Incidental detection of even single case of carcinoma within FA emphasizes the need for comprehensive histopathological examination of all FAs. Conclusions: The present study highlights various gamut of nonproliferative and proliferative lesions seen in amalgamate within FAs. Early detection enables further management and surveillance of the concerned patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Splenic infarcts are rare cases. It may not be noticed in the emergency department because the clinical picture is likely to mimic various acute abdominal pains. The splenic infarct is often the result of systemic thromboembolism associated with cardiovascular disorders. The aim of this study is to present an evaluation of the patients that presented to the emergency department (ED) with abdominal pain and were diagnosed with splenic infarct. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A 2-year-old boy was presented to us with right-side hemiparesis after trivial fall. Diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging showed an infarct in left basal ganglia and thalamic region. Secondary causes of stroke were ruled out. The child was managed conservatively. Basal ganglia infarct secondary to minor trauma is a rare event. Possible mechanisms leading to such an event and its management are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The Benin stroke score (BSS) is a validated tool in the diagnosis of intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) but not in the diagnosis of brain infarct. The aim of this report is to specifically validate the BSS in the clinical diagnosis of acute brain infarct. Materials and Methods: A total of 60 participants with a presumptive diagnosis of acute stroke in a busy tertiary neurologic care centre in Francophone West Africa were evaluated within 48 h of onset of symptoms with the BSS after basic data were obtained, before computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging scans was used as gold standard. BSS is a three-item tool that scores age, supine diastolic blood pressure, and Glasgow coma scale with a minimum score of 0 and a maximum score of 3.5. A score of 2.5 or less is diagnostic for a brain infarct. Results: The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, positive and negative likelihood ratios of BSS in the diagnosis of brain infarct were 83.78%, 69.56%, 81.57%, 72.72%, 2.75, and 0.23, respectively. BSS agreed with neuroimaging in the diagnosis of all stroke subtypes significantly on kappa statistics (k = 0.538, P < 0.001) and interrater and intrarater reliability between two cadres of medical personnel in the use of BSS were significant (r = 0.9. 0.95, 0.95, P < 0.001, <0.001, <0.001), respectively. Conclusion: BSS as a simple clinical tool could be used with appreciable levels of accuracy in the clinical diagnosis of acute brain infarct where neuroimaging may not be available or immediately inaccessible, much the same way it is being used for ICH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: To evaluate the additional information that susceptibility weighted sequences and datasets would provide in acute stroke. Aims: The aim of this study were to assess the value addition of susceptibility weighted magnetic resonance imaging (SWI) of brain in patients with acute arterial infarct. Materials and Methods: All patients referred for a complete brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) between March 2010 and March 2011 at our institution had SWI as part of routine MRI (T1, T2, and diffusion imaging). Retrospective study of 62 consecutive patients with acute arterial infarct was evaluated for the presence of macroscopic hemorrhage, petechial micro?bleeds, dark middle cerebral artery (MCA) sign and prominent vessels in the vicinity of infarct. Results: SWI was found to detect hemorrhage not seen on other routine MRI sequences in 22 patients. Out of 62 patients, 17 (10 petechial) had hemorrhage less than 50% and 5 patients had greater than 50% area of hemorrhage. A "dark artery sign" due to thrombus within the artery was seen in 8 out of 62 patients. Prominent cortical and intraparenchymal veins were seen in 14 out of 62 patients. Conclusions: SWI has been previously shown to be sensitive in detecting hemorrhage; however is not routinely used in stroke evaluation. Our study shows that SWI, by virtue of identifying unsuspected hemorrhage, central occluded vessel, and venous congestion is additive in value to the routine MR exam and should be part of a routine MR brain in patients suspected of having an acute infarct. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present the pattern of metabolic brain abnormalities detected in patients undergoing whole body (WB) F-18 flurodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) examination for noncentral nervous system (CNS) malignancies. Knowledge of the PET/CT appearance of various intracranial metabolic abnormalities enables correct interpretation of PET scans in oncological patients where differentiation of metastasis from benign intracranial pathologies is important and improves specificity of the PET study. A complete clinical history and correlation with CT and MRI greatly helps in arriving at a correct imaging diagnosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Here, we report a rare case of bilateral medial rectus palsy following closed head injury. An adult male had an accidental fall which rendered him unconscious. This was followed by diplopia and restricted ocular motility. He received supportive medical therapy. He was examined for systemic medical and ophthalmic findings. Routine laboratory tests and imaging techniques were employed as per the symptoms. Diffusion-weighted imaging on magnetic resonance imaging proved it to be a rare presentation of small bilateral midbrain infarct. He recovered fully after 8 months. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report a case of striatal toe in an adolescent with an infarct in lentiform nucleus and briefly discuss its differential diagnoses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carotid dissection is an uncommon complication of trauma. They can present with immediate or delayed complications. We describe the case of a young patient with bilateral carotid dissections and acute infarcts. Brief review of literature and treatment options are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]