Leptomeningeal enhancement on post-contrast FLAIR images for early diagnosis of Susac syndrome

BACKGROUND

Leptomeningeal enhancement (LME) is a key feature of Susac syndrome (SuS) but is only occasionally depicted on post-contrast T1-weighted images (T1-WI).

OBJECTIVE

As post-contrast fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) may be more sensitive, our aim was to assess LME in SuS on this sequence.

METHODS

From 2010 to 2020, 20 patients with definite SuS diagnosis were retrospectively enrolled in this multicentre study. Two radiologists independently assessed the number of LME on post-contrast FLAIR and T1-WI acquisitions performed before any treatment. A chi-square test was used to compare both sequences and the interrater agreement was calculated.

RESULTS

Thirty-five magnetic resonance imagings (MRIs) were performed before treatment, including 19 post-contrast FLAIR images in 17 patients and 25 post-contrast T1-WI in 19 patients. In terms of patients, LME was observed on all post-contrast FLAIR, contrary to post-contrast T1-WI (17/17 (100%) vs. 15/19 (79%), p < 0.05). In terms of sequences, LME was observed on all post-contrast FLAIR, contrary to post-contrast T1-WI (19/19 (100%) vs. 16/25 (64%), p < 0.005). LME was disseminated at both supratentorial (19/19) and infratentorial (18/19) levels on post-contrast FLAIR, contrary to post-contrast T1-WI (3/25 and 9/25, respectively). Interrater agreement was excellent for post-contrast FLAIR (κ = 0.95) but only moderate for post-contrast T1-WI (κ = 0.61).

CONCLUSION

LME was always observed and easily visible on post-contrast FLAIR images prior to SuS treatment. In association with other MRI features, it is highly indicative of SuS.

[Long-term outcomes of intradetrusor botulinum toxin A in multiple sclerosis patients]

INTRODUCTION

The objective of this study was to analyze the long-term efficiency and tolerance of TB in the management of anticholinergic refractory hyperactive bladder in patients with MS.

MATERIAL AND METHOD

Retrospective mono-centric cohort study of all patients with MS who had a TB injection for anticholinergic refractory hyperactivity from 2005 to 2015. The primary endpoint was clinical efficiency based on the frequency of urinary leakage and symptomatic urinary tract infections.

RESULTS

One hundred and nineteen patients received the first injection. Median follow-up was 26.5 months. After an injection, there was a significant decrease in the number of leaks, with 69.7% of patients without leaks and 93.3% of patients without urinary tract infections. After 7 injections 44% of the patients were still dry and 62.07% had no symptomatic urinary tract infections. The failure rate was 24.37%, the average duration before discharge was 34.7 months. 19 (66%) patients stop treatment for loss of efficacy, 9 (31%) for disease progression and 1 (3%) for cessation of treatment without cause. Of the 774 injections performed, there were complications for 26 of them (3.35%).

CONCLUSION

Botulinum toxin remains the second-line reference treatment for detrusor overactivity of neurological origin. There is, at least in the short term, a good answer in a large number of cases. This response can be maintained for many years, especially if patients use intermittent catheterization, with excellent tolerance.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

4.