Neuroradiologie de la maladie de rendu osler

[Orbito-palpebral vascular pathology]

Orbito-palpebral vascular pathology represents 10% of all the diseases of this area. The lesion may be discovered during a brain CT scan or MRI, or because it causes clinical symptoms such as orbital mass, visual or oculomotor alteration, pain, proptosis, or acute bleeding due to a complication of the lesion (hemorrhage, thrombosis). We present these lesions using an anatomical, clinical, imaging and therapeutic approach. We distinguish four different entities. Vascular tumors have common imaging characteristics (hypersignal on T2 sequence, contrast enhancement, abnormal vascularization well depicted with ultrasound and Doppler, and possible bleeding). The main lesions are cavernous hemangiomas, the most frequent lesion of that type during adulthood; infantile hemangiomas, the most frequent vascular tumor in children; and more seldomly, hemangioperitcytomas. True vascular malformations are divided according to their flow. Low flow lesions are venous (orbital varix), capillarovenous or lymphatic (lymphangioma). High flow malformations, more rare, are either arteriovenous or arterial malformations (aneurisms). Complex malformations include both low and high flow elements. Lesions leading to modifications of the orbito-palpebral blood flow are mainly due to cavernous sinus abnormalities, either direct carotid-cavernous fistula affecting young adults after severe head trauma, or dural fistula, more insidious, found in older adults. The last section is devoted to congenital syndromic vascular malformations (Sturge-Weber, Rendu-Olser…). This classification allows for a better understanding of these pathologies and their specific imaging features.

Neurological involvement in hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia

Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) is an autosomal dominant disorder characterized by epistaxis, telangiectases, and multi-organ vascular dysplasia. Head and neck localizations of HHT are recurrent, frequent associated with serious complications. The aim of this study was to describe the clinical and imaging patterns of neurological involvement in HHT and to discuss the role of interventional radiology in the management of HHT patients. Based on a multidisciplinary experience of twenty years at our center, we report here the different aspects of neurological involvement of HHT. Depending on the genetic type of the disease, vascular abnormalities may affect different organs. The knowledge of neurological involvement according to specific localization of HHT makes detection easier. As cerebral or spinal arteriovenous fistula may be present in patients with epistaxis or pulmonary arteriovenous malformations (PAVMs), radiologists should be able to detect high-risk lesions and prevent related complications. Finally, we review indications and techniques of embolization for hemorrhagic lesions and emphasize that endovascular therapies are very effective and safe in experienced hands. Head and neck imaging is commonly used for the diagnosis of HHT. Imaging plays also a key role for patient evaluation before treatment as pluridisciplinary management is needed.

[Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia. Report of a pediatric case]

Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia, or Rendu-Osler-Weber syndrome, is an autosomal dominant multiorgan disorder. This multisystemic vascular dysplasia is determined by a mutation of one of two main genes, endoglin (ENG) or HHT1, or ACVRL1 or HHT2. These mutations induce vascular disorders that cause recurrent epistaxis and eventually multiple telangiectasia and arteriovenous visceral malformations. We report the case of a 7-year-old girl who developed severe hypoxemia due to multiple pulmonary arteriovenous malformations.