Magnetic resonance imaging in Posterior Reversible Encephalopathy Syndrome: report of three cases and review of literature.
BACKGROUND
Eclampsia is one of the main causes of Posterior Reversible Encephalopathy Syndrome (PRES) a recent clinico-neuroradiological entity represented by characteristic MR findings of a symmetric bilateral subcortical/cortical hyperintensity in T2-weighted images, more often in parieto-occipital lobes, accompanied by clinical neurological alterations. Neuroradiological and clinical alterations are commonly completely reversible although ischemic evolution has been described. The pathophysiology is still a matter of debate. Specific magnetic resonance (MR) techniques, such as FLAIR (fluid attenuated inversion recovery) and DWI (diffusion weighted images) sequences, have improved the ability to detect subcortical/cortical lesions and helped to clarify the underlying pathophysiological mechanism of cerebrovascular involvement, which results important for an appropriate therapeutic decision.


METHODS
We report the MR imaging findings of three patients with eclampsia and PRES as well as a careful review of literature.
Finocchi
Vanina
V
Department of Neuroradiology, University of Rome La Sapienza, Sant'Andrea Hospital, Via di Grottarossa 1035, 00189 Rome, Italy. vaninafinocchi@libero.it
Bozzao
Alessandro
A
Bonamini
Michela
M
Ferrante
Michele
M
Romano
Andrea
A
Colonnese
Claudio
C
Fantozzi
Luigi Maria
LM
D000328:Adult; D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D001929:Brain Edema / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004461:Eclampsia; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020343:Hypertensive Encephalopathy / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D013577:Syndrome