Abstract

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE:

Virchow-Robin spaces are pia-lined extensions of the subarachnoid space surrounding the path of brain vessels. When enlarged, such dilated perivascular spaces are often seen as foci of cerebrospinal fluid signal on MRI or CT scan. These foci are found in patients with miscellaneous clinical status. It is necessary to determine the radiological significance and clinical associations, if any, in such patients in order to give them the appropriate treatment.

METHODS:

We describe the clinical and radiological findings of five patients and review the literature on perivascular Virchow-Robin spaces.

RESULTS:

The mechanisms of dilated Virchow-Robin spaces are still not well understood. Such dilated perivascular spaces are found in two locations: typically in the high-convexity white matter of healthy elderly subjects, or surrounding the lenticulostriate vessels as they enter the basal ganglia. On MR images, they may be confused with lacunar infarcts. Most of the patients present with no symptoms: small dilatations located in the high convexity actually represent an anatomic variant, also called "état criblé". Sometimes, giant dilatations, or Poirier's type IIIb "expanding lacunae", found in the basal ganglia and midbrain may result in symptomatic hydrocephalus needing appropriate treatment. For other miscellaneous symptoms as headache, generalized epilepsy, dysmorphy, macrocephaly, there is no reliable correlation with enlarged perivascular spaces seen on MR images.

CONCLUSIONS:

The real symptomatic dilated perivascular spaces need appropriate and quick treatment. Most of the other patients present with no symptoms and will remain asymptomatic.