Virchow-Robin spaces accompany arteries for a variable distance into the brain substance. They are usually small but can be identified on high resolution MRI images in patients of all age groups. We report a rare case of a 40-year-old woman with giant mesencephalothalamic Virchow-Robin spaces which caused hydrocephalus requiring CSF diversion. After right ventriculoperitoneal shunt the patient recovered completely.
SalzmanKLOsbornAGHouseP: Giant tumefactive perivascular spaces. Am J Neuroradiol26: 298–305, 2005.
3.
HeierLABauerCJScwartzL: Large Virchow-Robin spaces: MR-clinical correlation. Am J Neuroradiol10: 929–936, 1989.
4.
ShiratoriKMrowkaMToussaintA: Extreme unilateral widening of Virchow-Robin space: Case report. Neuroradiology44: 990–990, 2002.
5.
KanamallaUSCalabroFJinkinsJR: Cavernous dilation of mesencephalic Virchow-Robin spaces with obstructive hydrocephalus. Neuroradiology42: 881–884, 2000.
6.
HomeyerPComuPLacomblezL: A special form of cerebral lacunae: Expanding lacunae. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatr61: 200–202, 1996.
7.
PapayannisCESaidonPRugiloCA: Expanding Virchow-Robin spaces in the midbrain causing hydrocephalus. Am J Neuroradiol24: 1399–1403, 2003.
8.
OgawaROkuderaTFukasawaH: Unusual widening of Virchow-Robin spaces. MR appearance. Am J Neuroradiol16: 1238–1242, 1995.
9.
VitalCJulianJ: Widespread dilatation of perivascular spaces: A leucoencephalopathy causing dementia. Neuroradiology48: 1310–1313, 1997.
10.
AwadIAJohnsonPCSpetzlerRF: Incidental subcortical lesions identified on magnetic resonance imaging in the elderly. Post mortem pathological correlations. Stroke17: 1090–1097, 1986.
11.
Benhaiem-SigauxNGrayFGherardiR: Expanding cerebral lacunae due to dilatation of perivascular space associated with Biswanger's subcortical arteriosclerotic encephalopathy. Stroke18: 1087–1092, 1987.
12.
FazekasFKleinertRRoobG: Histopathologic analysis of foci of signal loss on gradient echo T2 weighted MR images in patients with spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage: Evidence of microangiopathy related microbleeds. Am J Neuroradiol20: 637–642, 1999.
13.
HughesW: Origin of lacunes. Lancet1: 19–21, 1965.
14.
BraffmanBHZimmermanRATrojanowskiJQ: Brain MR: Pathologic correlation with gross and histopathology. 1. Lacunar infarction and Virchow-Robin spaces. Am J Neuroradiol9: 621–628, 1988.
15.
MascalchiMSalviFGodanoU: Expanding lacunae causing triventricular hydrocephalus: Report of two cases. J Neurosurg91: 669–674, 1999.
