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Published in: Neuroradiology 3/2020

Open Access 01-03-2020 | Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disease | Review

Brain miliary enhancement

Authors: Joseph C.J. Bot, Linda Mazzai, Rogier E. Hagenbeek, Silvia Ingala, Bob van Oosten, Esther Sanchez-Aliaga, Frederik Barkhof

Published in: Neuroradiology | Issue 3/2020

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Abstract

Purpose

Miliary enhancement refers to the presence of multiple small, monomorphic, enhancing foci on T1-weighted post-contrast MRI images. In the absence of a clear clinical presentation, a broad differential diagnosis may result in invasive procedures and possibly brain biopsy for diagnostic purposes.

Methods

An extensive review of the literature is provided for diseases that may present with miliary enhancement on T1-weighted brain MR images. Additional disease-specific findings, both clinical and radiological, are summarized and categorized by the presence or absence of perivascular space involvement.

Results

Miliary pattern of enhancement may be due to a variety of underlying causes, including inflammatory, infectious, nutritional or neoplastic processes. The recognition of disease spread along the perivascular spaces in addition to the detection or exclusion of disease-specific features on MRI images, such as leptomeningeal enhancement, presence of haemorrhagic lesions, spinal cord involvement and specific localisation or systemic involvement, allows to narrow the potential differential diagnoses.

Conclusion

A systematic approach to disease-specific findings from both clinical and radiological perspectives might facilitate diagnostic work-up, and recognition of disease spread along the perivascular spaces may help narrowing down differential diagnoses and may help to minimize the use of invasive diagnostic procedures.
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Metadata
Title
Brain miliary enhancement
Authors
Joseph C.J. Bot
Linda Mazzai
Rogier E. Hagenbeek
Silvia Ingala
Bob van Oosten
Esther Sanchez-Aliaga
Frederik Barkhof
Publication date
01-03-2020
Publisher
Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in
Neuroradiology / Issue 3/2020
Print ISSN: 0028-3940
Electronic ISSN: 1432-1920
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00234-019-02335-5

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