Cent Eur Neurosurg 2011; 72(2): 104-106
DOI: 10.1055/s-0030-1253411
Case Report
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Stereotactically Treated Giant Perivascular Spaces in a 13-Year-Old Boy Mimicking Brain Tumor

D. Chudy1 , M. Rados2 , D. Ozretic2 , G. Grahovac1 , K. Zarkovic3
  • 1Clinical Hospital Dubrava, Neurosurgery, Zagreb, Croatia
  • 2Clinical Centre Zagreb, Radiology, Zagreb, Croatia
  • 3Clinical Centre Zagreb, Pathology, Zagreb, Croatia
Further Information

Publication History

Publication Date:
18 June 2010 (online)

Introduction

Perivascular spaces (PVSs) of the brain, also known as Virchow-Robin spaces, are pia-lined cavities surrounding brain arteries and arterioles as they penetrate into the cerebral tissue [13] [16]. Cystic cavities have first been described in the literature in 1838, as small cavities in the globus pallidus and putamen [2].

In most patients, enlarged perivascular spaces do not cause neurological symptoms. In some patients, they can cause focal neurological symptoms and an extensive space-occupying effect which requires neurosurgical intervention [1] [6] [7] [17].

References

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  • 2 Dechambre A. Mémoire sur la curabilité du ramollissement cérebral.  Gazette Médicale de Paris. 1838;  6 305-314
  • 3 Derouesné C, Gray F, Escourolle R. et al . Expanding cerebral lacunae in a hypertensive patient with normal pressure hydrocephalus.  Neuropathol Appl Neurobiol. 1987;  13 309-320
  • 4 Elster AD, Richardson DN. Focal high signal on MR scans of the midbrain caused by enlarged perivascular spaces: MR-pathologic correlation.  AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 1991;  11 1119-1122
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  • 8 Laitinen LV, Chudy D, Tengvar M. et al . Dilated perivascular spaces in the putamen and pallidum in patients with Parkinson's disease scheduled for pallidotomy: a comparison between MRI findings and clinical symptoms and signs.  Mov Disord. 2000;  15 1139-1144
  • 9 Mascalchi M, Salvi F, Godano U. et al . Expanding lacunae causing triventricular hydrocephalus: report of two cases.  J Neurosurg. 1999;  91 669-674
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  • 11 Ono Y, Suzuki M, Kayama T. et al . Multilobulated cystic formation in the brain stem with Benedikt's syndrome: case report.  Neurosurgery. 1994;  34 726-729
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  • 13 Poirier J, Barbizet J, Gaston A. et al . Thalamic dementia. Expansive lacunae of the thalamo-paramedian mesencephalic area. Hydrocephalus caused by stenosis of the aqueduct of Sylvius.  Rev Neurol (Paris). 1983;  139 349-358
  • 14 Rohfls J, Riegel T, Khalil M. et al . Enlarged perivascular spaces mimicking multicystic brain tumors.  J Neurosurg. 2005;  02 1142-1146
  • 15 Saeki N, Stao M, Kubota M. et al . MR imaging of normal perivascular space expansion at midbrain.  Am J Neuroradiol. 2005;  26 566-571
  • 16 Salzman KL, Osborn AG, House P. et al . Giant tumefactive perivascular spaces.  AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 2005;  26 298-305
  • 17 Schroeder HWS, Gaab MR, Warzok RW. Endoscopic treatment of an unusual multicystic lesion of the brain stem: case report.  Br J Neurosurg. 1996;  10 193-196
  • 18 Song CJ, Kim JH, Kier EL. et al . MR imaging and histologic features of subinsular bright spots on T2-weighted MR images: Virchow-Robin spaces of the extreme capsule and insular cortex.  Radiology. 2000;  214 671-677

Correspondence

Dr. G. GrahovacMD 

Clinical Hospital Dubrava

Neurosurgery Avenija Gojka Suska 6

10000 Zagreb

Croatia

Phone: +385/129/024 76

Fax: +385/129/024 76

Email: ggrahov@mef.hr