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Silent infarcts (SIs) are common findings in stroke patients, but their clinical significance remains controversial. Aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of SI in consecutive stroke patients, characteristics, associated factors, and influence on in-hospital mortality. The population consisted of 191 patients, consecutively admitted for an acute stroke. Of 191 patients, 74 had SI on CT-scan. Silent infarcts were often multiple, right sided, lacunar. We found SI more frequently in older patients, smokers, with an ischemic stroke having small vessel disease as presumed cause. In our study SI were associated with ageing, smoke habit and lacunar stroke. Silent infarcts size influenced the rate of in-hospital mortality.

There is evidence that an improvement of the diagnostic abilities could have a value for prognosis and therapy of the ischemic stroke. New neuroradiological strategies could be used with an amelioration of the evaluation and standardization of the ischemic damage. The value of early vascular sign remains controversial as a predictor of patient outcome. Early parenchymal changes are related to a poor outcome. The risk of hemorrhagic transformation increases with trombolytic therapy and especially with the onset of therapy. Between hemorrhagic transformation, only the large hematomas seems to be related to early deterioration and death. Brain Computed Tomography (CT) examination can give information about prognosis and therapeutic choice.

610 sacrorodiculographic and myelographic examinations were carried out injecting at lumbar level Iopamidol at 200, 300 and 370 mg I/ml concentrations. Immediate and early complications have been noticed in 18,52% of cases, i.e. sensation of pain during contrast injection, headache, nausea, vomit, neck stiffness, photophobia, epilepsy. In sacrorodiculographic examinations, side effects especially occurred by using 370 mg I/ml concentrations; in lumbar and thoracic myelographies, incidence of complications did not statistically differ by uing 300 or 370 mg I/ml concentrations. Side effects have occurred most frequently in cervical myelographies carried out with 370 mg I/ml concentration. Analysis of complications as well as radiographic results suggest to use Iopamidol at 300 mg I/ml concentration in sacrorodiculographics, in lower thoracic myelographies and in studies of narrowed, stenosed or obstructed canals; Iopamidol at 370 mg I/ml concentration may be used in upper thoracic studies and cervical myelographies.

The authors report a case of associated bilateral asymmetrical microphthalmia and osseous choristoma of the choroid in a seventeen year old young woman. This association, to the author's knowledge, has not been previously reported in the literature. The bone choristoma was present in the eye's posterior poles and the clinical features were studied by electroretinography, fluorescein angiography, A-B scan ultrasonography, computerized axial tomography and nuclear magnetic resonance. The authors hypothesize that a choroid developmental tumor was produced by exposure to the rubella virus during embryonic life.

A case of epilepsy is reported during ventriculography with hydrosoluble triiodate contrast (methylglutamine iotalamate). The cysternal interhemispheric cavities of the midline were flooded. This complication, which could have been lethal was treated with thiopental sodium salt, 6 methylprednisolone, mannitol, curare, trans-larynx intubation, ventilation with oxygen and nitrous oxide. The AA. conclude that the presence of an anaesthetist-resuscitator is essential during ventriculography with triiodate hydrosoluble contrast medium.

From 53 cases of thrombosis of the internal carotid artery in the neck, collateral circulation through external carotid branches was angiographically demonstrated in 34 subjects. Anastomosis between external and intracranial circulations was seen to take place through three ways formed by internal maxillary, superficial temporal and facial arteries. The role of internal maxillary artery is emphasised as the most important pathway in the connections between the two circles.

Three patients with calcification of the posterior longitudinal ligament with myelopathy are reported and discussed. This condition which is frequent in Japan is rarely described in the western population. Such calcification is not only a radiographic finding but is a progressing phenomenon which may extend to compressive lesions of the spinal cord. All patients with calcification of the posterior longitudinal ligament should be fully studied neurologically and followed up.