Multiple Cerebral Hemorrhagic Lesions Depicted by Susceptibility-Weighted Imaging in a Patient with Down Syndrome: Case Report

J Stroke Cerebrovasc Dis. 2019 May;28(5):e37-e38. doi: 10.1016/j.jstrokecerebrovasdis.2019.01.024. Epub 2019 Feb 20.

Abstract

Our objective is to study a 53-year-old woman with Down syndrome presented with massive lobar hematoma in the left fronto-parietal lobe, and who underwent craniotomy and hematoma evacuation. Histopathological diagnosis of surgical specimen was amyloid angiopathy. Postoperative magnetic resonance studies were performed. The lesion this time showed mixed intensity on susceptibility-weighted imaging. In addition, multiple hypointense lesions were evident. An old previously unidentified hemorrhage in the right temporo-parietal lobe was accompanied by superficial cortical siderosis. Old bleeds were apparent in subcortical areas. These various kinds of hemorrhagic lesion were consistent with findings of amyloid angiopathy reported in the elderly. Most reported cases of Down syndrome associated with intracerebral hemorrhage have involved middle-aged patients. Magnetic resonance studies for Down syndrome patients before old age may disclose the degree to which amyloid angiopathy progresses in the brain of these patients.

Keywords: Down syndrome; amyloid angiopathy; susceptibility-weighted imaging.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Age Factors
  • Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy / diagnostic imaging*
  • Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy / etiology
  • Cerebral Hemorrhage / diagnostic imaging*
  • Cerebral Hemorrhage / etiology
  • Cerebral Hemorrhage / surgery
  • Craniotomy
  • Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging*
  • Disease Progression
  • Down Syndrome / complications*
  • Down Syndrome / diagnosis
  • Female
  • Hematoma / diagnostic imaging
  • Hematoma / etiology
  • Humans
  • Middle Aged
  • Predictive Value of Tests
  • Treatment Outcome

Supplementary concepts

  • Amyloid angiopathy