[Clinical relevance of normal and enlarged Virchow-Robin spaces].
Virchow-Robin spaces ensheathe the penetrating vessels of the brain. They communicate with the subpial space, are filled with interstitial fluid and contain a specific population of macrophages.Virchow-Robin spaces are a common finding in both CT and MR imaging. Recent radiologic studies have led to a concise definition of Virchow-Robin spaces.Virchow-Robin spaces appear isointense to cerebrospinal fluid on all imaging sequences. They are typically localised in the basal ganglia, subcortically or in the midbrain and pons. Enlarged Virchow-Robin spaces may appear as a single or multiple lesion(s). They may cause hydrocephalus in rare cases. Some studies indicate that enlarged Virchow-Robin spaces occur more frequently in elderly patients, in patients with arterial hypertension or CADASIL.In this review we illustrate the diagnostic criteria of normal and enlarged Virchow-Robin spaces and discuss their clinical relevance. Furthermore, we present an overview of the current knowledge on the anatomy, physiology and pathology of Virchow-Robin spaces.
Gess
B
B
Klinik und Poliklinik für Neurologie, Universitätsklinikum Münster, Albert-Schweitzer-Strasse 33, Münster, Germany. gess@uni-muenster.de
Niederstadt
T U
TU
Ringelstein
E B
EB
Schäbitz
W R
WR
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001479:Basal Ganglia / Q000098:blood supply / Q000473:pathology; D001921:Brain / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000473:pathology*; D046589:CADASIL / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D002536:Cerebral Arteries / Q000473:pathology*; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000098:blood supply / Q000473:pathology; D002550:Cerebral Veins / Q000473:pathology*; D002561:Cerebrovascular Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis*; D004108:Dilatation, Pathologic; D045604:Extracellular Fluid; D006801:Humans; D006849:Hydrocephalus / Q000473:pathology; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008636:Mesencephalon / Q000098:blood supply / Q000473:pathology; D010841:Pia Mater / Q000473:pathology*; D011149:Pons / Q000098:blood supply / Q000473:pathology; D013346:Subarachnoid Space / Q000473:pathology; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
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