Introduction Pituitary apoplexy (PA) is a rare clinical condition presenting most commonly with acute headache as well as vomiting, visual impairment, ophthalmoplegia, altered mental state, and potentially panhypopituitarism. Occasionally it may be fatal. The syndrome is caused by hemorrhage into…
Introduction Rathke cleft cysts are cystic sellar and suprasellar lesions arising from remnants of the embryonic Rathke pouch, a structure of ectodermal origin that folds superiorly from the pharynx during the fourth week of gestation. In the sella, Rathke pouch…
Introduction The empty sella turcica was first described in 1949 as a condition where the sella turcica is only partially filled by the pituitary gland, which appears flattened against the sellar floor ( Fig. 19.1 ). Autopsy studies confirm the…
Introduction Idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) is a disorder of elevated intracranial pressure (ICP) without apparent inciting etiology. Pseudotumor cerebri (PTC) is also a commonly accepted term describing the same disorder. Many authors advocate limiting the definition of IIH to a…
Introduction Intracranial hypotension is a clinical manifestation of low cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) volume or pressure caused by a dural CSF leak. It is usually precipitated by dural injury from an iatrogenic event such as a lumbar puncture, recent surgery, overshunting,…
Background Hemangioblastoma is a vascular tumor of the central nervous system (CNS). It most commonly occurs within or on the surface of the cerebellum and represents the most common primary tumor of the posterior fossa in adults. Hemangioblastomas may also…
Introduction Due to the wide array of available accepted therapies, as well as the increasing number of experimental treatments undergoing clinical trials for the management of glial neoplasms, the task of the radiologist to make appropriate interpretations can seem daunting.…
Introduction Sarcoidosis is a chronic idiopathic, noninfectious, granulomatous disease characterized by the formation of noncaseating granulomas. It most commonly involves the lungs, skin, and lymph nodes, although any organ or organ system may be affected. The disease most commonly affects…
Introduction Central nervous system–immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (CNS-IRIS) represents a diverse group of disorders, all of which are characterized by an exaggerated inflammatory response to either a dead or dying opportunistic infection, viable pathogen from a persistent infection, or a…
Introduction Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) is an opportunistic subacute demyelinating infection of the central nervous system (CNS) first described in 1958. The causative agent is the polyomavirus JC that has tropism for oligodendrocytes. Asymptomatic primary infection occurs in childhood, with…