Revascularization of Concurrent Renal and Cerebral Artery Stenosis in a 14-Year-Old Girl with Takayasu Arteritis and Moyamoya Syndrome

The clinical and radiological cerebrovascular abnormalities associated with renovascular hypertension in children: a systematic review

Renovascular disease is an important secondary cause of hypertension in childhood. In this cohort, many may have undiagnosed cerebrovascular disease, and some children present acutely with cerebrovascular complications. However, these associations are yet to be defined in the literature.A systematic review of clinical and radiological abnormalities associated with renovascular hypertension in the global pediatric (< 18 years) population. The MEDLINE, Embase, and Google Scholar databases were searched, from database inception to 26 January 2021. Primary articles were unrestricted by study design and geographical location but were limited to those published in English.A total of 303 individuals (median age: 7.6 years [range 10 days-17.9 years]; M:F, 174:129) from 34 studies were included, across 13 countries. Twenty-seven individual cases were published for children with coexisting renovascular hypertension and cerebrovascular disease. Most children had bilateral renal artery stenosis, secondary to fibromuscular dysplasia and had coexisting occlusive cerebrovascular disease. The majority presented with neurological symptoms, and cerebral complication ranged from asymptomatic cerebrovascular stenosis to acute stroke and posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome. The location or underlying etiology of the renovascular disease did not predict the location or extent of the cerebrovascular disease. The evidence from the cohort studies was limited, as none specifically established a cohort of children with coexisting disease. Furthermore, the conclusions drawn were subjected to considerable bias from the treating clinicians.A prospective cohort of children with renovascular hypertension and cerebrovascular complications should be established so the long-term prognosis and impact of treatment may be better understood.

KSNM60 in Clinical Nuclear Oncology

Since the foundation of the Korean Society of Nuclear Medicine in 1961, clinical nuclear oncology has been a major part of clinical nuclear medicine in Korea. There are several important events for the development of clinical nuclear oncology in Korea. First, a scintillating type gamma camera was adopted in 1969, which enabled to perform modern oncological gamma imaging. Second, Tc-99 m generator was imported to Korea since 1979, which promoted the wide clinical use of gamma camera imaging by using various kinds of Tc-99 m labeled radiopharmaceuticals. Third, a gamma camera with single photon emission tomography (SPECT) capability was first installed in 1980, which has been used for various kinds of tumor SPECT imaging. Fourth, in 1994, clinical positron emission tomography (PET) scanner and cyclotron with a production of F-18 fluorodeoxyglucose were first installed in Korea. Fifth, Korean Board of Nuclear Medicine was established in 1995, which contributed in the education and manpower training of dedicated nuclear medicine physicians in Korea. Finally, an integrated PET/CT scanner was first installed in 2002. Since that, PET/CT imaging has been a major imaging tool in clinical nuclear oncology in Korea. In this review, a brief history of clinical nuclear oncology in Korea is described.

Neuroimaging of Children With Takayasu Arteritis

OBJECTIVE

Takayasu arteritis is a rare granulomatous chronic vasculitis that affects the aorta and its main branches. Neurologic manifestations can accompany the disease; however, there is no study on neuroimaging in children with Takayasu arteritis. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate cranial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in pediatric Takayasu arteritis patients.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Demographic, clinical, and laboratory data were obtained retrospectively.

RESULTS

The study included 15 pediatric Takayasu arteritis patients. All patients presented with constitutional symptoms. Additionally, 6 patients suffered from headache, 2 had syncope, 1 had loss of consciousness, and 1 had convulsion. All patients underwent cranial and diffusion MRI a median 12 months after diagnosis. Cranial MRI findings were normal in 12 patients, whereas 3 patients had abnormal findings, as follows: stenosis in the M1 and M2 segments of the left middle cerebral artery (n = 1); diffuse thinning of the right internal carotid, middle cerebral, and right vertebral and basilar artery (n = 1); as a sequela, areas of focal gliosis in both the lateral ventricular and posterior periventricular regions (n = 1). Among these 3 patients, 1 had no neurologic complaints.

CONCLUSION

Abnormal MRI findings can be observed in pediatric Takayasu arteritis patients, even those that are asymptomatic; therefore, clinicians should carefully evaluate neurologic involvement in all pediatric Takayasu arteritis patients.