Top

Published in:

Open Access 01-12-2019 | Deep Brain Stimulation | Pictorial Review

Neuroimaging of acute and chronic unilateral and bilateral thalamic lesions

Authors: C. Tuttle, J. Boto, S. Martin, I. Barnaure, A. M. Korchi, M. Scheffler, M. I. Vargas

Published in: Insights into Imaging | Issue 1/2019

Abstract

The thalami are bilateral ovoid grey matter cerebral structures bordering the third ventricle on both sides, which participate in functions such as relaying of sensory and motor signals, regulation of consciousness, and alertness. Pathologies affecting the thalami can be of neoplastic, infectious, vascular, toxic, metabolic, or congenital origin.

The purpose of this review is to provide a comprehensive approach to the thalamus focusing on its anatomy, the main pathologies affecting this structure and their radiological semiology on CT and MRI. We will also illustrate the importance of multimodal MR imaging (morphologic sequences, diffusion-weighted imaging, perfusion, spectroscopy) for the diagnosis and treatment of these conditions.

Singh V (2004) Textbook of clinical neuroanatomy. Elsevier, Noida

Schmahmann JD (2003) Vascular syndromes of the thalamus. Stroke 34:2264–2278CrossRef

Dalrymple-Alford JC, Harland B, Loukavenko EA et al (2015) Anterior thalamic nuclei lesions and recovery of function: relevance to cognitive thalamus. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 54:145–160CrossRef

Caplan LR, DeWitt LD, Pessin MS, Gorelick PB, Adelman LS (1988) Lateral thalamic infarcts. Arch Neurol 45:959–964CrossRef

Luco C, Hoppe A, Schweitzer M, Vicuña X, Fantin A (1992) Visual field defects in vascular lesions of the lateral geniculate body. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 55:12–15

Beks JW, Bouma GJ, Journée HL (1987) Tumours of the thalamic region. A retrospective study of 27 cases. Acta Neurochir (Wien) 85:125–127

Smith AB, Smirniotopoulos JG, Rushing EJ, Goldstein SJ (2009) Bilateral thalamic lesions. AJR Am J Roentgenol 192:W53–W62CrossRef

Al-Okaili RN, Krejza J, Wang S, Woo JH, Melhem ER (2006) Advanced MR imaging techniques in the diagnosis of intraaxial brain tumors in adults. Radiographics 26(Suppl 1):S173–S189CrossRef

Jahnke K, Schilling A, Heidenreich J et al (2005) Radiologic morphology of low-grade primary central nervous system lymphoma in immunocompetent patients. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol 26:2446–2454PubMed

10.

Mangla R, Kolar B, Zhu T, Zhong J, Almast J, Ekholm S (2011) Percentage signal recovery derived from MR dynamic susceptibility contrast imaging is useful to differentiate common enhancing malignant lesions of the brain. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol 32:1004–1010CrossRef

11.

Vargas MI, Lenz V, Bin JF et al (2003) Brain MR imaging of chronic alcoholism. J Radiol 84:369–379PubMed

12.

Dietemann JL, Botelho C, Nogueira T et al (2004) Imaging in acute toxic encephalopathy. J Neuroradiol 31:313–326CrossRef

13.

Pierot L, Cognard C, Spelle L (2004) Cerebral arteriovenous malformations: evaluation of the hemorrhagic risk and its morbidity. J Neuroradiol 31:369–375CrossRef

14.

Drake-Pérez M, Boto J, Fitsiori A, Lovblad K, Vargas MI (2018) Clinical applications of diffusion weighted imaging in neuroradiology. Insights Imaging 9(4):535–547. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13244-018-0624-3

15.

Lazzaro NA, Wright B, Castillo M et al (2010) Artery of percheron infarction: imaging patterns and clinical spectrum. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol 31:1283–1289CrossRef

16.

Kamtchum Tatuene J, Vargas MI, Burkhardt K, Chofflon M (2013) Illustrating the relevance of updated diagnostic criteria for sporadic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease: a teaching neurocase. BMJ Case Rep. 2013;2013:bcr2013010061. https://doi.org/10.1136/bcr-2013-010061.

17.

Lövblad KO, Schaller K, Vargas MI (2014) The fornix and limbic system. Semin Ultrasound CT MR 35:459–473

18.

Barnaure I, Pollak P, Momjian S et al (2015) Evaluation of electrode position in deep brain stimulation by image fusion (MRI and CT). Neuroradiology 57:903–908CrossRef

19.

Bally JF, Vargas MI, Horvath J et al (2017) Localization of deep brain stimulation contacts using corticospinal/corticobulbar tracts stimulation. Front Neurol 8:239CrossRef

Title: Neuroimaging of acute and chronic unilateral and bilateral thalamic lesions
Authors: C. Tuttle
J. Boto
S. Martin
I. Barnaure
A. M. Korchi
M. Scheffler
M. I. Vargas
Publication date: 01-12-2019
Publisher: Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Keyword: Deep Brain Stimulation
Published in: Insights into Imaging / Issue 1/2019
Electronic ISSN: 1869-4101
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s13244-019-0700-3

At a glance: The STEP trials

Springer Medicine

Neuroimaging of acute and chronic unilateral and bilateral thalamic lesions

Abstract

At a glance: The STEP trials

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Please log in to get access to this content

Other articles of this Issue 1/2019

National audit on the appropriateness of CT and MRI examinations in Luxembourg

Vascular tumors in infants and adolescents

Optimization of pulmonary emphysema quantification on CT scans of COPD patients using hybrid iterative and post processing techniques: correlation with pulmonary function tests

Diffuse smoking-related lung diseases: insights from a radiologic-pathologic correlation

Cancer genome landscape: a radiologist’s guide to cancer genome medicine with imaging correlates

IT development in radiology - an ESR update on the Digital Imaging Adoption Model (DIAM)