Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy in the distinction of high-grade cerebral gliomas from single metastatic brain tumors.

Background: Brain metastases and primary high-grade gliomas, including glioblastomas multiforme (GBM) and anaplastic astrocytomas (AA), may be indistinguishable by conventional magnetic resonance (MR) imaging. Identification of these tumors may have therapeutic consequences.

Purpose: To assess the value of MR spectroscopy (MRS) using short and intermediate echo time (TE) in differentiating solitary brain metastases and high-grade gliomas on the basis of differences in metabolite ratios in the intratumoral and peritumoral region.

Microphthalmia and brain atrophy: a novel neurodegenerative disease.

Objective: To delineate the features of a novel neurodegenerative disease.

Methods: We report three children of three related families with congenital microphthalmia and blindness, and progressive spasticity, microcephaly, seizures, and profound mental retardation.

Results: A magnetic resonance imaging scan was normal at birth.

Acute osteomyelitis as a complication of varicella.

Varicella is a common viral infection in childhood, and acute osteomyelitis is one of the rare but serious complications. We report two cases of osteomyelitis as a complication of varicella. The possibilities and limitations of the different imaging modalities are discussed, as well as imaging findings during the course of this condition.

[Skeletal tuberculosis--diagnostic challenges].

Background: Skeletal tuberculosis is rare in Norway. The diagnosis could be difficult.

Material: A Somalian mother and three daughters and a Somalian girl in the neighborhood developed skeletal tuberculosis 4-12 months after arrival in Norway.

Follow-up of a girl with cleft lip and palate and multiple malformations: trisomy 20 mosaicism.

We describe a 16(1/2) -year-old girl with multiple anomalies including cleft lip and palate and a normal karyotype in blood lymphocytes. Because of hyperpigmention along the lines of Blaschko, her karyotype in skin fibroblasts was examined, which showed mosaicism for trisomy 20. This is the first report to our knowledge of this karyotype where hyperpigmentation and facial clefting occurred together.

[Epilepsia partialis continua (Kojevnikov's syndrome)].

Background: Lesions close to the central sulcus may give rise to focal motor seizures of long duration. This condition is called epilepsia partialis continua (Kojevnikov's syndrome).

Material And Methods: Over the last two years, the National Centre for Epilepsy in Norway has treated 12 patients with epilepsia partialis continua.

A patient with a 44-year history of epilepsia partialis continua caused by a perirolandic cortical dysplasia.

Epilepsia partialis continua (EPC), or Kojevnikov's syndrome, is a rare epileptic syndrome arising from a variety of lesions in the perirolandic area. We report herein a 46-year-old woman with drug-resistant EPC due to a cortical dysplasia in the left frontoparietal region. For 44 years she has suffered continuous right-sided jerks, particularly in the right arm and hand, with an average frequency of 10-20 jerks per minute.

Conventional and diffusion-weighted MRI in the evaluation of methanol poisoning.

Cerebral lesions were studied in 2 methanol-poisoned patients using conventional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). In 1 patient, diffusion-weighted MRI (DWI) was also performed. In this patient, conventional MRI showed symmetrical, bilateral increased signal in the lentiform nuclei, involving predominantly putamina, but also extending into the corona radiata, centrum semiovale and subcortical white matter.

Accuracy of CT scan measurements of the medial temporal lobe in routine dementia diagnostics.

Background: Atrophy of the medial part of the temporal lobe is seen in Alzheimer's disease (AD). We studied the usefulness of CT scan measurements of the medial temporal lobe (MTL) in elderly with suspected dementia.

Methods: MTL measurements were done with callipers by three raters, blinded to the diagnosis and to each other, on scans from 110 subjects with suspected dementia from a memory clinic in Oslo, Norway and 36 participants included in the OPTIMA study, Oxford, England.

Vertex epidural hematoma - neuroradiological findings and management.

Epidural hematomas occurring at the vertex are uncommon, and they can be difficult to diagnose by axial CT. We report a case of acute traumatic vertex epidural hematoma, which resolved spontaneously with time. We stress the importance of MR investigations in this diagnostic challenge.

[Diagnostic imaging techniques in the investigation of dementia].

Background: Neuroimaging can provide valuable information in the diagnostic work-up of patients presenting with suspected dementia.

Material And Methods: Based on our experience from a memory clinic at Ullevål University Hospital in Oslo, Norway and on relevant literature identified on Medline, we give an overview of the use of neuroimaging methods in patients with suspected dementia.

Results And Interpretation: CT of the brain should be offered to all patients with suspected dementia as CT can provide essential diagnostic information regarding focal cerebral pathology (tumour, haemorrhage, normal pressure hydrocephalus).

Post-traumatic cerebral infarction. Neuroimaging findings, etiology and outcome.

Purpose: To assess the radiological characteristics of post-traumatic cerebral infarctions (PTCIs), the etiology and site of infarction, and to provide neuroimaging indicators of a poor clinical outcome.

Material And Methods: A retrospective study of 16 patients with the neuroimaging-based diagnosis of PTCI was carried out. All CT, MR examinations, cerebral angiograms and medical records of the patients were reviewed.

Unawareness of illness in chronic schizophrenia and its relationship to structural brain measures and neuropsychological tests.

The present study seeks to elucidate the relationship between unawareness of illness in schizophrenia and frontal lobe dysfunction, in addition to investigating the relationship between lack of insight and sociodemographic and clinical variables. Twenty-one medicated schizophrenic patients, recruited from in- and out-patient wards at Ullevâl Hospital, underwent the Scale to Assess Unawareness of Mental Disorder (SUMD), neuropsychological testing, psychiatric symptom ratings and neuroimaging procedures (CT). Also, 21 matched normal controls were neuropsychologically tested.

[Osteomyelitis as a complication of varicella].

Osteomyelitis is a rare complication after varicella. It should, however, be considered in any child who develops pain in a limb during or after a varicella infection. An 18 month old boy with a five day history of varicella infection was hospitalized.

Three dimensional CT evaluation of occipito-atlanto-axial dislocation in rheumatoid arthritis.

Involvement of the upper cervical spine, with possible instability and dislocation of the atlanto-axial-cervico-occipital joints in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), is routinely monitored with conventional radiographs. As disease progresses severe interpretation problems occur, especially when looking for cranial migration of the odontoid process. The aim of the present study was to evaluate whether three dimensional CT examination should be considered for such monitoring.

Influence of fibrinolytic factors on scar formation after lumbar discectomy. A magnetic resonance imaging follow-up study with clinical correlation performed 7 years after surgery.

Study Design: Prospective cohort study.

Objectives: To assess the amount of scar tissue by viewing magnetic resonance images, and to evaluate the correlation between the amount of scar tissue and clinical outcome, surgical technique, and fibrinolytic factors.

Summary Of Background Data: The influence of fibrinolytic factors on magnetic resonance images has not been investigated previously.

[Computer tomography of pathological neck lesions].

The introduction of high resolution computed tomography (CT) has significantly improved the quality of imaging of neck masses. Incremental dynamic scanning immediately after a quick bolus injection of contrast medium is essential in a majority of patients in order to obtain an optimum of information. This is especially true in the identification, mapping and staging of malignant lesions, which is the main indication for the examination.

[Krukenberg tumor. A seldom considered condition?].

In 1896, Krukenberg described what he presumed was a new type of primary ovarian neoplasm. The true metastatic nature of this lesion was established six years later. Some 10% of all ovarian malignant lesions are regarded as metastatic.

[Abnormality as differential diagnosis in atlas fracture].

In some patients, suspected fractures of the cranial part of the cervical spine are difficult to diagnose properly without the use of computed tomography or MT. In addition to imaging and positioning problems, the possibility of anomalies of the atlas vertebra may complicate the diagnostic considerations. Proper knowledge of such anomalies may facilitate the diagnostic procedures.

Combined endovascular and surgical treatment in vertebral arteriovenous fistula. A case report.

A 7-year-old girl with a right-sided congenital arteriovenous fistula in the neck was admitted with signs of cardial incompensation. Her fistula was fed from the right vertebral artery in antegrade as well as retrograde directions. A steal from the intracranial arteries was established.

[Embolization of cerebral aneurysms. A new therapeutic possibility].

Treatment of cerebral aneurysms with Guglielmi Detachable Coils (GDC) was performed for the first time in Scandinavia in 1992. The experience at Ullevål University Clinic from 1994 to 1996 comprises 27 surgically inoperable aneurysms. Successful embolization was performed in 20 patients.

Anatomic variations and pathologic conditions as risk factors of complications in percutaneous lumbar nucleotomy.

This study was carried out to assess anatomic variations and pathologic changes associated with a potentially increased risk of complications during percutaneous nucleotomy. The MRI and CT examinations of 88 patients were reviewed with regard to the positional relationship between the trajectory to the disc and the bowel and iliac vessels respectively at the L4-L5 and L5-S1 levels. Pathologic conditions involving the anterior part of the annulus were assessed both by MRI and by CT-discography of 97 discs.