Segmental microbleeds: a radiological sign for cranial dural arteriovenous fistula

A 57-year-old man presented to the emergency department following a road traffic accident, having experienced a sudden ascending 'wave of emotion'. After the event, he developed an intense right-sided temporal headache and was thought to have a complex grief reaction resulting from a recent bereavement. Given persistent symptoms, a computed tomography (CT) scan of head was conducted at an outpatient transient ischaemic attack (TIA) clinic, which showed a possible right occipital infarct. Further magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanning revealed instead a segmental area of microbleeds in the posterior right temporal lobe, with occipital extension. Upon discussion at the neuroradiology multidisciplinary team meeting and subsequent digital subtraction angiography (DSA), a cranial dural arteriovenous fistula (DAVF) was confirmed. He underwent a successful embolisation, with his symptoms fully resolving 16 months later.

Hyperosmolar hyperglycaemic state as a stroke cause or stroke mimic: an illustrative case and review of literature

Hyperosmolar hyperglycaemic state (HHS) is a life-threatening metabolic complication of type 2 diabetes (T2DM) that often presents with neurological symptoms. A 74-year-old man with known T2DM presented to the emergency department with collapse, left-sided weakness and slurred speech (National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) 3) and a biochemical profile consistent with HHS. When he further deteriorated (NIHSS 20), he was managed for concurrent ischaemic stroke. All his symptoms fully resolved after 24 hours, which coincided with establishment of normoglycaemia. Subsequent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the head revealed a tiny parietal lobe infarct. Two further cases of HHS mimicking ischaemic stroke have been reported with symptoms and imaging findings resolving with treatment of HHS. Our case demonstrates how HHS can also accentuate symptoms of a minor stroke, highlighting the importance of excluding ischaemic stroke in HHS patients with neurological dysfunction. We recommend consideration of early MRI and/or computed tomography angiography in this cohort, especially in those appropriate for intervention.