Clinical and radiological features of extra-pulmonary sarcoidosis: a pictorial essay.

Unlabelled: The aim of this manuscript is to describe radiological findings of extra-pulmonary sarcoidosis. Sarcoidosis is an immune-mediated systemic disease of unknown origin, characterized by non-caseating epitheliod granulomas. Ninety percent of patients show granulomas located in the lungs or in the related lymph nodes.

Magnetic resonance features of pyogenic brain abscesses and differential diagnosis using morphological and functional imaging studies: a pictorial essay.

The aim of this paper is to illustrate the potential of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in diagnosis, differential diagnosis, treatment planning and evaluation of therapy effectiveness of pyogenic brain abscesses, through the use of morphological (or conventional) and functional (or advanced) sequences. Conventional MRI study is useful for the identification of lesions, to determine the location and morphology and allows a correct hypothesis of nature in the most typical cases. However, the differential diagnosis from other brain lesions, such as non-pyogenic abscesses or necrotic tumors (high-grade gliomas and metastases) is often only possible through the use of functional sequences, as the measurement of diffusion with apparent diffusion coefficient (DWI-ADC), proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy ((1)H-MRS) and perfusion weighted imaging (PWI), which complement the morphological sequences and provide essential information on structural, metabolic and hemodynamic characteristics allowing greater neuroradiological confidence.

Endovascular treatment of intracranial aneurysms with flow-diverter stents: preliminary single-centre experience.

Purpose: This paper reports our preliminary experience with the endovascular treatment of intracranial aneurysms using flow-diverter stents (FDs) and compares it with the literature data.

Materials And Methods: From May 2009 to April 2012, 28 patients (6 men and 22 women; mean age, 54 years) with a total of 35 aneurysms were treated with FDs. We evaluated postprocedural technical success and long-term efficacy, with follow-up examinations performed at 3-7 days [computed tomography (CT)/magnetic resonance (MR) angiography] and at 3, 6 and 12 months (digital subtraction angiography, DSA).

Oxygen-ozone therapy for degenerative spine disease in the elderly: a prospective study.

We describe our experience of oxygen-ozone therapy to treat degenerative spine disease in the elderly. From April 2004 to March 2008 we selected 129 patients with CT and/or MR evidence of spondyloarthrosis and disc degeneration of the lumbar spine. All patients enrolled in the study had contraindications to the administration of commonly used analgesic and anti-inflammatory drugs.

Dural sinus thrombosis in spontaneous intracranial hypotension: Hypotheses on possible mechanisms.

Dural sinus thrombosis (DST) is rarely associated with spontaneous intracranial hypotension (SIH). Engorgement of the venous system, caused by the CSF loss that occurs in SIH, is considered to favour the thrombosis, although signs of both SIH and DST are usually seen simultaneously at the first diagnostic MRI. We observed two patients with SIH and DST.

Metastatic disease of the spine.

Metastases of the spine occur in the spinal cord, dura extramedullary, epidural space, and vertebral bodies. Imaging modalities can be used to evaluate patient symptoms, screen and detect lesions, assess localization and the compartments involved (extradural, epidural, subdural, and paraspinal), and suggest therapeutic strategies. The suggested flow chart for metastases is (1) in asymptomatic patients suspected for metastases and (2) in the patient with neurological symptoms.

Congenital bilateral perisylvian syndrome with partial epilepsy. Case report with long-term follow-up.

Congenital bilateral perisylvian syndrome (CBPS) is a rare neurological disorder characterised by pseudobulbar palsy, cognitive deficits and epilepsy associated with bilateral perisylvian cortical dysplasia on neuroimaging studies. We report a long-term follow-up of a 18-years girl diagnosed with CBPS according to the typical clinical and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) features. The patient showed faciopharyngoglossomasticatory diplegia, severe dysarthria, ataxia, spastic quadriparesis and severe mental retardation.

Interventional spinal procedures.

The interventional procedures for disk herniation and protrusion by percutaneous techniques are decompressive such as chemodiscolysis with chimopapain, nucleo-discectomy introduced by Onik, LASER discectomy, and recently nucleoplasty, and decompressive and direct antinflammatory such as chemiodiscolysis with an Oxygen-ozone mixture. These techniques have minimized the invasive nature of surgery and avoid or decrease complications like infection linked to surgery. Reducing intervertebral disc size by mechanical aspiration of a part of the disc or partially dissolving the herniation by drying reduces the conic pressure on the torn annulus and creates the space necessary for retropulsion whenever the circular fibres of the annulus regain a minimum capacity to contain the disc under tension.

Cranial viral infections in the adult.

Viral infections of the adult are fortunately rare conditions but may carry serious clinical sequelae. Infection is usually acquired by haematogenous spread during a systemic viral illness and may be acute, subacute or chronic. The pathological basis of neuronal degeneration and attempt to repair is common to all illnesses and diagnosis is generally made by analysis of the pattern of disease.

Minimally invasive oxygen-ozone therapy for lumbar disk herniation.

Background And Purpose: Oxygen-ozone therapy is a minimally invasive treatment for lumbar disk herniation that exploits the biochemical properties of a gas mixture of oxygen and ozone. We assessed the therapeutic outcome of oxygen-ozone therapy and compared the outcome of administering medical ozone alone with the outcome of medical ozone followed by injection of a corticosteroid and an anesthetic at the same session.

Methods: Six hundred patients were treated with a single session of oxygen-ozone therapy.