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Case Reports
. 2012 Jul;18(7):1050-3.
doi: 10.1177/1352458511431730. Epub 2011 Dec 19.

Pencil-thin ependymal enhancement in neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders

Piyush Banker  1 , Smitha Sonni, Ilya Kister, John P Loh, Yvonne W Lui
Affiliations
Case Reports

Pencil-thin ependymal enhancement in neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders

Piyush Banker et al. Mult Scler. 2012 Jul.

Abstract

AQP4 water channels are thought to be the target of autoimmune attack in neuromyelitis optica-spectrum disorders (NMOsd). AQP4 are highly expressed on ventricular ependyma. The objective of this study was to describe a novel pattern of linear, 'pencil-thin' enhancement of ventricular ependyma in NMOsd. We report two NMOsd patients with pencil-thin ependymal enhancement along the frontal and occipital horns of lateral ventricles. Differential diagnosis of ependymal enhancement should include NMOsd alongside with infectious and neoplastic etiologies. Pencil-thin ependymal enhancement may be a helpful radiological marker of NMOsd that can be used to differentiate this condition from multiple sclerosis.

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