Angiographic findings and clinical implications of persistent primitive hypoglossal artery.

BACKGROUND: The primitive hypoglossal artery (PHA) is a rare vascular anomaly, which belongs to the group of carotid-basilar anastomosis that may occur in adults. CASE PRESENTATION: Herein is presented a case of a patient with a PHA, who had undergone a cerebral angiography due to investigation of subarachnoid hemorrhage. Additionally, the diagnostic alternatives for detection and assessment of PHA and the spectrum of diseases related to its presence are discussed.

Late colonic obstruction after barium meal examination in a myxoedematous patient.

A case in which inspissated barium was retained and produced sigmoid obstruction after one year is described. The patient was elderly and myxoedematous. Prolonged retention of barium producing a bowel obstruction requiring surgery is a rare complication and, to our knowledge, is only the second case described in which the symptoms of obstruction appeared so late after the examination.

Sternal tuberculosis after coronary artery bypass graft surgery.

We report a case of sternal tuberculosis following sternotomy, which was performed during coronary artery bypass graft surgery. Although pre-operative evaluation revealed signs of asymptomatic tuberculosis of the lung, isoniazid chemoprophylaxis was not instituted, and the patient developed active tuberculosis in both the lung and sternum 5 y later.

An unusual case of brucellar spondylitis involving both the cervical and lumbar spine.

We report an unusual case of brucellar spondylitis, involving both the cervical and lumbar spine. Diagnosis was established using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). An initial plain radiograph of the lumbar spine, showing mild degenerative lesions, was misleading.

Electrocardiographic changes in elderly patients during small bowel enema.

Rationale And Objectives: Enteroclysis (small-bowel enema) involves the introduction of a large amount of fluid into the small bowel, through a tube, producing small bowel distention. A study was done to determine the incidence of any electrocardiographic changes during enteroclysis with Holter monitoring.

Methods: Continuous electrocardiographic monitoring and 12-lead electrocardiograms were performed in 30 elderly patients undergoing enteroclysis and in 30 control subjects undergoing routine chest, bone, and upper gastrointestinal small bowel follow-up studies.