Black Toenail Sign in MELAS Syndrome

Mitochondrial encephalopathy with lactic acidosis and stroke-like episodes (MELAS) syndrome is a mitochondrial disorder often causing progressive brain injury that is not confined to large arterial territories. Severe insults ultimately lead to gyral necrosis affecting the cortex and juxtacortical white matter; the neuroimaging correlate is partial gyral signal suppression on T2/FLAIR, resembling black toenails. We aim to characterize the imaging features and natural history of MELAS related gyral necrosis.

Source: Pediatric Neurology - July 11, 2017 Category: Neurology Authors: Matthew T. Whitehead, Michael Wien, Bonmyong Lee, Nancy Bass, Andrea Gropman Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research