title: Pencil-thin ependymal enhancement in neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders.
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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Montefiore Medical Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Piyush
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Banker
authors.forename: Smitha
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sonni
authors.forename: Ilya
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kister
authors.forename: John P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Loh
authors.forename: Yvonne W
authors.initials: YW
authors.lastname: Lui
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004805:Ependyma / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000175:diagnosis; D009471:Neuromyelitis Optica / Q000175:diagnosis*