Sources of error in neuropathology intraoperative diagnosis.

Objective: The goal of this study was to optimize intraoperative neuropathology consultations by studying trends and sources of diagnostic error. We hypothesized that errors in intraoperative diagnoses would have sampling, technical, and interpretive sources. The study also audited diagnostic strengths, weaknesses and trends associated with increasing experience.

A 22-year-old Australian woman with atypical subacute sclerosing panencephalitis diagnosed at postmortem.

Measles remains a significant global health problem. Despite the decline in measles prevalence in Australia following the implementation of a national vaccination program, challenges surrounding this disease remain. This report describes a 22-year-old woman who presented with coordination loss, tremor, choreiform movements and marked visual blurring, and her condition rapidly deteriorated to coma and death.

Percutaneous muscle biopsies: review of 900 consecutive cases at London Health Sciences Centre.

Objective: In the present study we review our experience with 900 consecutive percutaneous muscle biopsies over the period 1993 to 2007. We examined the advantages and limitations of the procedure, biopsy site preferences, diagnostic range, frequency of diagnoses and quality of histopathology. Demographics, referral patterns and patients' perceptions of the procedure were also assessed.