Bilateral basal ganglia infarction after mild head trauma

Mineralizing angiopathy as a rare cause of pediatric stroke: review and report of two cases

In the Indian subcontinent, traumatic brain injury stands as the leading cause of pediatric stroke, whereas in Europe, it is considered a rare or potentially underdiagnosed factor. The etiology of post-traumatic stroke is unknown, although it has been associated with the presence of calcification in the lenticulostriate arteries, a condition known as "mineralizing angiopathy." The theory suggests that calcified lenticulostriate vessels in a brain with inadequate myelination could have an increased vulnerability to mechanical injuries, which may result in their obstruction. This ischemic stroke associated with mineralizing angiopathy usually occurs after mild traumatic brain injury, with an asymptomatic interval following the trauma. The typical age of presentation is between 6 and 24 months. Children with mineralizing lenticulostriate vasculopathy generally experience a favorable outcome after stroke, with the majority achieving complete or nearly complete recovery of their motor functions. Despite aspirin treatment, a small proportion of children may still face stroke recurrence following repeat head trauma. We present the cases of two male patients with clinical features compatible with childhood stroke after a mild traumatic brain injury.

Bilateral basal ganglia hemorrhage: a systematic review of etiologies, management strategies, and clinical outcomes

Bilateral basal ganglia hemorrhages (BBGHs) represent rare accidents, with no clear standard of care currently defined. We reviewed the literature on BBGHs and analyzed the available conservative and surgical strategies. PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Cochrane were searched following the PRISMA guidelines to include studies reporting patients with BBGHs. Clinical characteristics, management, and outcomes were analyzed. We included 64 studies comprising 75 patients, 25 (33%) traumatic and 50 (67%) non-traumatic. Traumatic cases affected younger patients (mean age 35 vs. 46 years, p=0.014) and males (84% vs. 71%, p=0.27) and were characterized by higher proportion of normal blood pressures at admission (66% vs. 13%, p=0.0016) compared to non-traumatic cases. Most patients were comatose at admission (56%), with a mean Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score of 7 and a higher proportion of comatose patients in the traumatic than in the non-traumatic group (64% vs. 52%, p=0.28). Among the traumatic group, motor vehicle accidents and falls accounted for 79% of cases. In the non-traumatic group, hemorrhage was most associated with hypertensive or ischemic (54%) and chemical (28%) etiologies. Management was predominantly conservative (83%). Outcomes were poor in 56% of patients with mean follow-up of 8 months. Good recovery was significantly higher in the traumatic than in the non-traumatic group (48% vs. 17%, p=0.019). BBGHs are rare occurrences with dismal prognoses. Standard management follows that of current intracerebral hemorrhage guidelines with supportive care and early blood pressure management. Minimally invasive surgery is promising, though substantial evidence is required to outweigh the potentially increased risks of bilateral hematoma evacuation.

Current status of infarction in the basal ganglia-internal capsule due to mild head injury in children using PRISMA guidelines

Post-traumatic basal ganglia-internal capsule (BGIC) infarction in pediatric patients is a relatively rare consequence of mild head injury (MHI). To the best of the authors' knowledge, at present, no comprehensive review has been published. To review research on BGIC infarction after MHI, a literature search was performed using the PubMed database and relevant search terms. According to recent data, MHI may cause BGIC infarction due to mechanical vasospasm of the perforating vessels in pediatric patients. The anatomical characteristics of the growing brain in infancy, mineralization of the lenticulostriate arteries and viral infection may all play a part in BGIC infarction after MHI, which often occurs within 24 months. Symptoms are not as severe and tend to disappear in the early period. Computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging often shows BGIC infarction. There are also children with scattered calcification of the basal ganglia. Neural rehabilitation is a commonly accepted treatment. The prognosis of patients with BGIC infarction after MHI consistently improves.

Vessel Wall Magnetic Resonance Imaging in a Case of Post-traumatic Multifocal Striatocapsular Hemorrhagic Infarction

Post-traumatic striatocapsular infarction is extremely rare and has been described only within the vascular territory of the perforating arteries originating from the middle cerebral artery (MCA). We recently encountered a patient presenting with unilateral multifocal striatocapsular hemorrhagic infarctions following mild head injury. This 25-year-old female was admitted to our trauma center after a motorcycle accident. Initial brain computed tomography and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging showed multifocal acute hemorrhagic infarctions with a clustering in the right caudate head, anterior limb of internal capsule, and globus pallidus. MR angiography and digital subtraction angiography showed suspicious luminal irregularities of the lenticulostriate arteries of the right MCA. Vessel wall MR images (VWI) did neither indicate intramural hematoma nor wall enhancement in the right MCA, suggesting dissection. However, VWI showed the passages of each lenticulostriate artery supplying each infarction site. Therefore, based on both conventional images and VWI, we postulate that this patient's post-traumatic multifocal striatocapsular hemorrhagic infarctions were caused by damage to multiple lenticulostriate arteries.

Mineralizing Angiopathy of Lenticulostriate Arteries with Infantile Basal Ganglia Infarct Following Minor Head Trauma: A Case Series

Acute arterial ischemic stroke after minor head trauma has been reported in the past, mostly in infants. Most of these affected children had basal ganglia infarct on imaging. Investigations for other etiologies of stroke were noncontributory in most of the cases. Thin-slice computed tomography scan may show mineralizing angiopathy of lenticulostriate arteries. We report a clinical series of four infants who presented with the classical features of this distinct clinico-radiological entity. Clinical characteristics and risk factors at the time of stroke were described in detail. The long-term outcome on standard antiplatelet therapy is reported. None of the children had stroke recurrence during follow-up. The current literature on this clinico-radiological syndrome is reviewed in detail. In the typical cases, extensive etiological workup may not be warranted.

Stroke After Minor Head Trauma in Infants and Young Children With Basal Ganglia Calcification: A Lenticulostriate Vasculopathy?

The authors retrospectively reviewed charts of the children with basal ganglia stroke who either had preceding minor head injury or showed basal ganglia calcification on computed tomography (CT) scan. Twenty children, 14 boys and 6 girls were identified. Eighteen were aged between 7 months to 17 months. Presentation was with hemiparesis in 17 and seizures in 3. Preceding minor head trauma was noted in 18. Family history was positive in 1 case. Bilateral basal ganglia calcification on CT scan was noted in 18. Brain magnetic resonance imaging done in 18 infants showed acute or chronic infarcts in basal ganglia. Results of other laboratory and radiological investigations were normal. Four infants were lost to follow-up, 9 achieved complete or nearly completely recovery, and 7 had persistent neurological deficits. Basal ganglia calcification likely represents mineralized lenticulostriate arteries, a marker of lenticulostriate vasculopathy. Abnormal lenticulostriate vessels are vulnerable to injury and thrombosis after minor head trauma resulting in stroke.

Mineralizing Angiopathy with Basal Ganglia Stroke after Minor Trauma: Case Series Including Two Familial Cases

Introduction:

Basal ganglia stroke following trauma has been known to occur and described in previous case studies. But exact etiology is unknown.

Aim:

To study the clinical characteristics, imaging features, and neurodevelopmental outcomes of children presented with basal ganglia stroke associated with mineralization in the lenticulostriate arteries in our center from January 2013 to June 2016.

Subjects and Methods:

Children with subcortical stroke during the study period were identified retrospectively, and those presented with basal ganglia stroke with mineralization of lenticulostriate vessels were analyzed for clinical profile, imaging features, and outcomes. Statistical analysis was carried out using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) software, version 17 (IBM, New York).

Results:

Of 38 children with basal ganglia stroke (20 boys, 18 girls, and mean age at presentation 14.026±5.8470 months), 27 had history of trauma preceding the stroke. Thirty-seven children presented with hemiparesis and one presented with hemidystonia. The mean follow-up time was 8 months, three children developed recurrence during that period. Five children with recurrence of stroke, initial episodes were not evaluated as they presented to us for the first time. A total of 17 of 30 infants who did not have stroke recurrence were normal on follow-up, whereas 9 infants showed persistent mild hemiparesis, 2 had motor delay, and 2 others had mild residual distal weakness. No identifiable causes were observed for vascular calcification. Two familial cases were also noted.

Conclusion:

Most common cause for acute basal ganglia stroke in toddlers was mineralizing angiopathy of lenticulostriate vessels. It was preceded by minor trauma in most cases.

Hidden dense middle cerebral artery sign in a 4-year-old boy with traumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage

A 4-year-old boy was admitted with acute onset of hemiplegia of the right side that was secondary to a traffic accident. Initial computed tomography revealed a traumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage, and follow-up computed tomography showed a more localized hematoma of the left sylvian cistern. After a few days of conservative treatment, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed a cerebral infarction of the left lenticulostriate territory, even though magnetic resonance angiography showed preserved middle cerebral artery flow. Thus, we realized that the hematoma of the sylvian cistern was the so-called dense middle cerebral artery sign. This case of posttraumatic infarction suggested the importance of meticulous investigations and clinical correlations of imaging studies in pediatric patients with head injuries.

Mineralizing angiopathy with infantile basal ganglia stroke after minor trauma

AIMS

The objective of this study was to describe a cohort of infants with basal ganglia stroke associated with mineralization in the lenticulostriate arteries and their clinical outcomes.

METHOD

Subcortical strokes occurring in infants during the study period were categorized as arterial ischaemic, venous, or haemorrhagic. A cohort of infants with basal ganglia infarcts and associated mineralization of lenticulostriate arteries were identified. This group was analysed for possible aetiological factors, clinical course, and recurrence rate of the stroke.

RESULTS

Of 23 infants with basal ganglia arterial ischaemic stroke, 22 (16 males, six females; mean age 11mo [±SD 4.8mo]) were found to have lenticulostriate artery mineralization. Twenty infants presented with hemiparesis and two presented with recurrent episodes of hemidystonia. Eighteen infants had a history of minor trauma before onset of stroke. No other predisposing factors were identified in this cohort. There were no demonstrable causes for vascular and soft tissue calcification. The mean follow-up was 11 months, during which five infants experienced stroke recurrence. Of the 17 infants who did not experience a recurrent stroke, eight exhibited complete neurological recovery, and nine had mild residual hemiparesis.

INTERPRETATION

Acute basal ganglia stroke after minor trauma associated with mineralization of lenticulostriate arteries in infants is a distinct clinicoradiological entity. Investigations for prothrombotic states and vasculopathies are normal. Although neurological outcomes in most children are good, trauma is a risk factor for recurrence of stroke.

Clinical features and risk factors of cerebral infarction after mild head trauma under 18 months of age

Mild head trauma can cause cerebral infarction in children younger than 18 months of age, yet the pathogenesis, clinical characteristics, and risk factors are not fully understood. Data of 16 cases between August 2008 and September 2011, including clinical manifestations and imaging and laboratory findings were collected and analyzed. All patients had the history of mild head trauma. The median age of the cohort was 13.5 months (range 6 months to 18 months). All children developed neurologic symptoms and signs within 72 hours after trauma, 62.5% (10/16) within 30 minutes. The first symptoms included hemiparesis (9/16), facial paresis (4/16), and convulsion (6/16). Overall, 93.75% (15/16) of the lesions were in the basal ganglia region. Two risk factors were identified, basal ganglia calcification in 10 and cytomegalovirus infection in eight. After conservative therapy, the neurologic deficits recovered to some extent. Cerebral infarction after mild head trauma in children younger than 18 months of age may take place, especially under the circumstances of basal ganglia calcification or cytomegalovirus infection.

Progressive obtundation in a young woman with bilateral corpus striatum infarction: a case report

Background

Bilateral ischemic infarction involving the corpus striatum is a rare event which usually results from global cerebral hypoxia, intoxications, and drug abuse.

Case presentation

We report a 28 year old Caucasian woman who presented with progressive obtundation and later development of severe expressive dysphasia and Parkinsonism after sustaining ischemic stroke of both corpora striata. Hemorrhagic transformation developed on day four of admission.

Conclusion

This is a rare case of bilateral basal ganglia infarction with hemorrhagic transformation in a young patient. Our patient's work up did not reveal any cause behind this stroke; however, advanced investigations (such as genetic testing and conventional angiography) were not done. The damage resulted in motor dysphasia and Parkinsonism. Neither dystonia nor other involuntary movements developed, and cognitive function was not assessed because of the language disorder.