The morphologic correlate of incidental punctate white matter hyperintensities on MR images.

摘要: Postmortem examinations were made of the brains six patients, 52-63 years old, who exhibited incidental punctate white matter hyperintensities on MR images before death. Our aim was to unravel morphologic correlate such lesions. By repeating study after fixation four specimens, cutting brain parallel imaging plane, and examining whole-hemisphere microscopic sections, we optimized lesion identification. The signal abnormalities better delineated pre- than postmortem scans, visual inspection slices normal in all but one location. Histologically, found areas reduced myelination with atrophy neuropil around fibrohyalinotic arteries as well different stages perivenous damage. latter ranged from spongiform transformation scattered foci demyelination large marked rarefaction myelinated fibers. Edematous glial swelling ganglion cell heterotopia caused subcortical case. results suggest minor perivascular damage not infarction most likely substrate elderly brains. Histologic correlations obtained during life or studies unfixed material are necessary analyze small