IL-1RN and IL-1B gene polymorphisms and cerebral hemorrhagic events after traumatic brain injury.

Objective: To investigate the association of (variable number tandem repeat) interleukin (IL) 1RN and (-511) IL-1B gene polymorphisms with brain hemorrhagic events after traumatic brain injury (TBI).

Methods: Data from brain CT, Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) at admission, and 6-month Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS) and modified Rankin Scale (mRS) were collected for 151 prospectively recruited patients with TBI. IL-1RN and IL-1B genotypes were determined using standard methods.

Cervical spinal cord intramedullary teratoma.

We present the case of a 62-year-old patient suffering from the presence of a cervical spinal cord intramedullary teratoma and treated operatively. The purpose of this case report is to describe the highly unusual localization of the intramedullary teratoma associated with other vertebral malformations. A review of the literature is also presented.

Diagnostic accuracy of a new clinical test (the Thessaly test) for early detection of meniscal tears.

Background: Clinical tests used for the detection of meniscal tears in the knee do not present acceptable diagnostic sensitivity and specificity values. Diagnostic accuracy is improved by arthroscopic evaluation or magnetic resonance imaging studies. The objective of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of a new dynamic clinical examination test for the detection of meniscal tears.

Low-intensity transosseous ultrasound accelerates osteotomy healing in a sheep fracture model.

Background: Low-intensity transcutaneous ultrasound can accelerate and augment the fracture-healing process. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of transosseous application of low-intensity ultrasound on fracture-healing in an animal model.

Methods: A midshaft osteotomy of the left tibia was performed in forty sheep.

Increased frequency of white matter lesions in patients with osteonecrosis (WMLeOn) of the femoral head.

White matter lesions (WML) are commonly seen in cerebral MR imaging in normal and demented elderly people or young people suffering from migraine. We present data showing that WML are detected in an unexpectedly high frequency (56.9%) in patients with non-traumatic osteonecrosis of the femoral head compared to age and sex-matched controls.

MR imaging findings in transient osteoporosis of the hip.

Purpose: The authors sought to describe the magnetic resonance (MR) imaging findings including perfusion imaging, in association with the course of acute bone marrow oedema syndrome (aBMEs), in a group of patients with acute hip pain and a final diagnosis of transient osteoporosis of the hip (TOH).

Materials And Methods: From 217 patients referred with a probable diagnosis of avascular necrosis (AVN) of the femoral head, we identified 42 patients who had clinical and radiographic findings not relevant to AVN. MR imaging examinations were performed on a 1.

Evaluation of meniscal repair with serial magnetic resonance imaging: a comparative study between conventional MRI and indirect MR arthrography.

Objective: To prospectively investigate the healing process of meniscal repair with plain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and indirect MR arthrography and to compare the two methods.

Materials And Methods: Twenty patients with an arthroscopic meniscal repair without clinical symptoms underwent conventional and indirect MR arthrography of the affected knee, 3, 6 and 12 months after the index operation applying a T1-w Spin Echo sequence in three planes. The size of the tear gap was measured on transverse images.

MR imaging findings in early osteoarthritis of the knee.

Purpose: To carry out a modern diagnostic survey among patients with a clinical and radiological diagnosis of early osteoarthritis of the knee.

Materials And Methods: A magnetic resonance imaging survey was performed on 70 patients (82 knees) with a mean age of 59 years. (range, 40-71 years) who had chronic knee pain, clinical diagnosis of early osteoarthritis of the knee and conventional knee radiographs classified as 1 and 2 on the Kellgren-Lawrence scale.

Scaphoid nonunions treated with vascularised bone grafts: MRI assessment.

Purpose: To assess the value of MR imaging (MRI) with regard to union, graft viability and proximal pole bone marrow status, after use of vascularized bone grafts for treating scaphoid nonunions.

Materials And Methods: Vascularized bone grafts from the distal radius were used to treat 47 scaphoid nonunions resulting from fractures or enchondromas. Clinical and imaging evaluation was used for the pre- and postoperative assessment of all patients.

Localized pigmented villonodular synovitis in the anteromedial compartment of the knee associated with cartilage lesions of the medial femoral condyle: report of a case and review of the literature.

Localized pigmented villonodular synovitis (PVNS) of the knee is an uncommon entity, presenting with different clinical signs and symptoms. We report on a case of a 42-year-old woman who presented with a 3-year history of knee pain and mechanical problems such as locking. On examination she was found to have a palpable and painful mass over the anteromedial joint line.

Pancreatic pseudocysts: 10 years of experience.

Background: Pancreatic pseudocysts (PP) are considered to be one of the major complications of acute, chronic, and posttraumatic pancreatitis. Their treatment has always been a surgical challenge. Surgical treatment was for many years the only choice in the management of PP.

CT and MRI in malignant external otitis: a report of four cases.

Malignant external otitis (MEO) is a severe infection of the external auditory canal and skull base which most often affects elderly patients with diabetes mellitus. Early diagnosis and aggressive treatment are important in terms of reducing risks of dissemination. We report four cases of MEO in patients with diabetes mellitus who were observed with computed tomography (CT) and/or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Contribution of MRI and MR angiography in early diagnosis of brain death.

The objective of this study was to investigate whether the findings of MR imaging and MR angiography could accurately and early diagnose brain death in comatose patients. Thirty comatose patients were studied with MRI and MR arteriography. In 20 patients (group A) presenting with a Glasgow coma scale (GCS) 3-6, the final clinical diagnosis was brain death.

Fat-suppressed 3D-T1-weighted-echo planar imaging: comparison with fat-suppressed 3D-T1-weighted-gradient echo in imaging the cartilage of the knee.

This study was conducted to compare a three-dimensional (3D) multi-shot echo-planar imaging (EPI) sequence with fat-suppression (FS) with the 3D-fat-suppressed gradient echo (GRE-FS) sequence in imaging the cartilage of the knee. One hundred sixty-nine patients were studied prospectively. The cartilage was imaged in the sagittal plane with: (a) 3D-T1-EPI-FS and (b) 3D-T1-GRE-FS sequences using a 1T MR scanner.

The value of MR angiography in predicting the risk of torsion of a pelvic spleen during pregnancy.

A case of an enlarged pelvic spleen, studied with MRI and MR angiography (MRA), is presented in a 32-year-old female wishing to become pregnant. An ectopic located spleen may be complicated by an acute abdomen due to torsion of the splenic vascular pedicle, resulting in splenic infarction. Displacement of the spleen and splenic pedicle during pregnancy may further increase the risk of torsion.

Benign enlargement of peripheral subarachnoid spaces in twins.

A case of benign enlargement of peripheral subarachnoid spaces in twins is described. Computed tomography demonstrated identical findings, namely the enlargement of the sulci mainly in the frontal area bilaterally with slight dilatation of the ventricular system. Literature research did not reveal such a case in twins nor has any association of the situation with any genetic or family predisposition been found.

Increased signal intensity on fat-suppressed three-dimensional T1-weighted pulse sequences in patellar tendon: magic angle effect?

Objective: To assess the frequency of increased signal intensity in the patellar tendon using three-dimensional T1-weighted MRI pulse sequences.

Design And Patients: Sixty patients were examined with a 1.0 T scanner (15 mT/m gradient strength) using a quadrature coil.

MR imaging of intracranial epidermoid tumors: specific diagnosis with Turbo-FLAIR pulse sequence.

The purpose of this study is to present the imaging findings with particular reference to the FLAIR magnetic resonance (MR) pulse sequence, of four patients with epidermoid cysts. In all cases CT showed hypodense lesions with stippled peripheral calcifications and no enhancement. The MR showed low signal intensity lesions in T1-weighted images, high signal intensity in T2-weighted lesions, no or minor enhancement after gadolinium administration and characteristic heterogeneous appearance in FLAIR images.