Brain imaging inspired by outer space

Pract Neurol. 2023 Nov 23;23(6):542-546. doi: 10.1136/pn-2023-003787.

Abstract

Medicine has many vividly named signs. We have compiled a list of radiological cerebral signs inspired by phenomena in outer space. These range from the well-known 'starry sky' appearance of neurocysticercosis or tuberculomas, to various lesser known signs including the 'starfield' pattern of fat embolism; 'sunburst' sign of meningiomas; 'eclipse' sign of neurosarcoidosis; 'comet tail' sign of cerebral metastases; 'Milky Way' sign of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy; 'satellite' and 'black hole' sign of intracranial haemorrhage; 'crescent' sign of arterial dissection and 'crescent moon' sign of Hirayama disease.

Keywords: ARTERIAL DISSECTION; INFECTIOUS DISEASES; MRI; NEURORADIOLOGY.

MeSH terms

  • Brain / diagnostic imaging
  • Brain / pathology
  • Humans
  • Leukoencephalopathy, Progressive Multifocal*
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging / methods
  • Meningeal Neoplasms*
  • Meningioma*
  • Sarcoidosis*