Foci of MRI signal (pseudo lesions) anterior to the frontal horns: histologic correlations of a normal finding

Review of all normal magnetic resonance (MR) scans performed over a 12-month period consistently revealed punctate areas of high signal intensity on T2-weighted images in the white matter just anterior and lateral to both frontal horns. Normal anatomic specimens were examined with attention to specific characteristics of this region. Three unique features typify the brain tissues that correspond to the foci of high signal. First, this region of the brain is notable for its loose network of axons with low myelin content. Second, pathologic scrutiny revealed an entity called "ependymitis granularis," which represents patchy loss of the ependyma in the frontal horns with astrocytic gliosis. Third, flow of interstitial fluid within this region of the brain tends to converge at the dorsal-lateral angle of the frontal horns. All these factors contribute to increased water content locally, which results in foci of high signal intensity anterior to the frontal horns in all normal MR scans.
CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

				R. Schmidt, H. Schmidt, M. Pichler, C. Enzinger, K. Petrovic, K. Niederkorn, S. Horner, S. Ropele, N. Watzinger, M. Schumacher, et al. C-Reactive Protein, Carotid Atherosclerosis, and Cerebral Small-Vessel Disease: Results of the Austrian Stroke Prevention Study Stroke, December 1, 2006; 37(12): 2910 - 2916. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. Spilt, R. Goekoop, R.G.J. Westendorp, G.J. Blauw, A.J.M. de Craen, and M.A. van Buchem Not all age-related white matter hyperintensities are the same: a magnetization transfer imaging study. AJNR Am. J. Neuroradiol., October 1, 2006; 27(9): 1964 - 1968. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. Schmidt, Ph. Scheltens, T. Erkinjuntti, L. Pantoni, H. S. Markus, A. Wallin, F. Barkhof, and F. Fazekas White matter lesion progression: A surrogate endpoint for trials in cerebral small-vessel disease Neurology, July 13, 2004; 63(1): 139 - 144. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				K. L. Davis, D. G. Stewart, J. I. Friedman, M. Buchsbaum, P. D. Harvey, P. R. Hof, J. Buxbaum, and V. Haroutunian White Matter Changes in Schizophrenia: Evidence for Myelin-Related Dysfunction Arch Gen Psychiatry, May 1, 2003; 60(5): 443 - 456. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. J. THOMAS, R. PERRY, R. BARBER, R. N. KALARIA, and J. T. O'BRIEN Pathologies and Pathological Mechanisms for White Matter Hyperintensities in Depression Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci., November 1, 2002; 977(1): 333 - 339. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. J. Campbell III and C. E. Coffey Neuropsychiatric Significance of Subcortical Hyperintensity J Neuropsychiatry Clin Neurosci, May 1, 2001; 13(2): 261 - 288. [Full Text] [PDF]

				H. Schmidt, F. Fazekas, G. M. Kostner, C. M. van Duijn, and R. Schmidt Angiotensinogen Gene Promoter Haplotype and Microangiopathy-Related Cerebral Damage : Results of the Austrian Stroke Prevention Study Stroke, February 1, 2001; 32(2): 405 - 412. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. Schmidt, H. Schmidt, F. Fazekas, P. Kapeller, G. Roob, A. Lechner, G. M. Kostner, and H.-P. Hartung MRI Cerebral White Matter Lesions and Paraoxonase PON1 Polymorphisms : Three-Year Follow-Up of the Austrian Stroke Prevention Study Arterioscler. Thromb. Vasc. Biol., July 1, 2000; 20(7): 1811 - 1816. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				P. Sachdev and H. Brodaty Quantitative Study of Signal Hyperintensities on T2-Weighted Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Late-Onset Schizophrenia Am J Psychiatry, December 1, 1999; 156(12): 1958 - 1967. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				R. Schmidt, F. Fazekas, P. Kapeller, H. Schmidt, and H.-P. Hartung MRI white matter hyperintensities: Three-year follow-up of the Austrian Stroke Prevention Study Neurology, July 1, 1999; 53(1): 132 - 132. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				R. Mantyla, T. Erkinjuntti, O. Salonen, H. J. Aronen, T. Peltonen, T. Pohjasvaara, and C.-G. Standertskjold-Nordenstam Variable Agreement Between Visual Rating Scales for White Matter Hyperintensities on MRI : Comparison of 13 Rating Scales in a Poststroke Cohort Stroke, August 1, 1997; 28(8): 1614 - 1623. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				R. Schmidt, H. Schmidt, F. Fazekas, M. Schumacher, K. Niederkorn, P. Kapeller, V. Weinrauch, and G. M. Kostner Apolipoprotein E Polymorphism and Silent Microangiopathy-Related Cerebral Damage : Results of the Austrian Stroke Prevention Study Stroke, May 1, 1997; 28(5): 951 - 956. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				R. Schmidt, M. Hayn, F. Fazekas, P. Kapeller, and H. Esterbauer Magnetic Resonance Imaging White Matter Hyperintensities in Clinically Normal Elderly Individuals: Correlations With Plasma Concentrations of Naturally Occurring Antioxidants Stroke, November 1, 1996; 27(11): 2043 - 2047. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				N. Watanabe, Y. Imai, K. Nagai, I. Tsuji, H. Satoh, M. Sakuma, H. Sakuma, J. Kato, N. Onodera-Kikuchi, M. Yamada, et al. Nocturnal Blood Pressure and Silent Cerebrovascular Lesions in Elderly Japanese Stroke, August 1, 1996; 27(8): 1319 - 1327. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				R. Schmidt, P. Auer-Grumbach, F. Fazekas, H. Offenbacher, and P. Kapeller Anticardiolipin Antibodies in Normal Subjects : Neuropsychological Correlates and MRI Findings Stroke, May 1, 1995; 26(5): 749 - 754. [Abstract] [Full Text]