Bacillus cereus meningoencephalitis in preterm infants: neuroimaging characteristics.

Background And Purpose: Meningoencephalitis can severely damage the developing brain. Preterms are more prone for nosocomial infections with pathogens other than Group B streptococci and Escherichia coli. In this report we focus on the deleterious clinical course and imaging characteristics of proven Bacillus cereus meningoencephalitis.

DNase and atelectasis in non-cystic fibrosis pediatric patients.

Introduction: No evidence based treatment is available for atelectasis. We aimed to evaluate the clinical and radiologic changes in pediatric patients who received DNase for persistent atelectasis that could not be attributed to cardiovascular causes, and who were unresponsive to treatment with inhaled bronchodilators and physiotherapy.

Methods: All non-cystic fibrosis pediatric patients who received nebulised or endotracheally instilled DNase for atelectasis between 1998 and 2002, with and without mechanical ventilation, were analysed in a retrospective descriptive study.

Novel mutations in three families confirm a major role of COL4A1 in hereditary porencephaly.

Background: Porencephaly (cystic cavities of the brain) is caused by perinatal vascular accidents from various causes. Several familial cases have been described and autosomal dominant inheritance linked to chromosome 13q has been suggested. COL4A1 is an essential component in basal membrane stability.

Supratentorial arterial ischemic stroke following cerebellar tumor resection in two children.

We describe two children who developed ischemic strokes in the territory of the middle cerebral artery, one 7 days and one 11 days after resection of a cerebellar tumor. In the first child, another infarction occurred in the territory of the contralateral middle cerebral artery 5 days after the first stroke. No specific cause or underlying risk factor other than the surgical procedure was found.

Homozygous nonsense mutations in KIAA1279 are associated with malformations of the central and enteric nervous systems.

We identified, by homozygosity mapping, a novel locus on 10q21.3-q22.1 for Goldberg-Shprintzen syndrome (GOSHS) in a consanguineous Moroccan family.

Sonographic appearance of the normal and abnormal insula of Reil.

Three planes are discerned during ultrasonographic screening of the insula in parasagittal view: opercular, insular, and fissural. Six newborn infants with normal brain anatomy, including two each of 28, 34, and 40 weeks' gestation, were selected for a description of the evolution of these parasagittal planes. Opercularization of the insula begins to be detected on a sonogram at about the 24th gestational week and progresses cranially.

Digital radiogrammetry of the hand in a pediatric and adolescent Dutch Caucasian population: normative data and measurements in children with inflammatory bowel disease and juvenile chronic arthritis.

We have evaluated the applicability of a new Digital X-ray Radiogrammetry (DXR) system in a Dutch Caucasian pediatric population. For this study we enrolled 535 healthy participants who all signed an informed consent form. In addition, 20 children suffering from inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and juvenile chronic arthritis (JCA) were enrolled.

Arterial infarction caused by carotid artery dissection in the neonate.

Arterial stroke in a neonate caused by carotid artery dissection is rare. We report two cases, one with dissection at the level of the skull base, one just distal to the carotid bulb. Non-invasive techniques like MR angiography and sonography demonstrated the dissection accurately.

Pulmonary disease assessment in cystic fibrosis: comparison of CT scoring systems and value of bronchial and arterial dimension measurements.

Purpose: To retrospectively compare thin-section computed tomographic (CT) scores obtained with five scoring systems for assessment of pulmonary disease in children with cystic fibrosis and to determine additional value of bronchial and arterial dimension measurements.

Materials And Methods: Scores obtained with five thin-section CT scoring systems were compared. A score of 0 indicated the absence of abnormalities; a higher score meant that more structural abnormalities were seen.

Hereditary porencephaly: clinical and MRI findings in two Dutch families.

Familial porencephaly is a rare disorder causing motor impairment, hemiplegia, mental retardation and epilepsy in variable degrees. Two families with porencephaly and apparently dominant inheritance are reported. Brain MRI findings are reviewed and described in seven affected individuals.

Progressive damage on high resolution computed tomography despite stable lung function in cystic fibrosis.

For effective clinical management of cystic fibrosis (CF) lung disease it is important to closely monitor the start and progression of lung damage. The aim of this study was to investigate the ability of high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) scoring systems and pulmonary function tests (PFT) to detect changes in lung disease. CF children (n=48) had two HRCT scans in combination with two PFT 2 yrs apart.

Slide tracheoplasty for congenital tracheal stenosis.

Background/purpose: The aim of this study was to add to the experience of slide tracheoplasty in infants with congenital tracheal stenosis (CTS), to review the recent literature on this subject, and to evaluate the diagnostic workup in infants with CTS.

Methods: A retrospective review of 3 infants with CTS treated with slide tracheoplasty was conducted at our institution. They all underwent bronchoscopy, tracheobronchography, and echocardiography.

Changes in globus pallidus with (pre)term kernicterus.

Objective: We report serial magnetic resonance (MR) and sonographic behavior of globus pallidus in 5 preterm and 3 term infants with kernicterus and describe the clinical context in very low birth weight preterm infants. On the basis of this information, we suggest means of diagnosis and prevention.

Methods: Charts and MR and ultrasound images of 5 preterm infants and 3 term infants with suspected bilirubin-associated brain damage were reviewed.

Prenatal testicular torsion: diagnosis and natural course. An ultrasonographic study.

The aim of this study was to demonstrate the ultrasonographic features of prenatal torsion of the testis at presentation and during follow-up, with histological correlation post-orchidectomy. Between January 1985 and December 1999, 13 neonates with antenatal torsion of the testis were examined postnatally, at presentation and during follow-up, with high-resolution ultrasonography, including colour Doppler ultrasonography. Bilateral testis volume was evaluated [lengthxwidthxdepthx(pi/6)].

Estimation of lung growth using computed tomography.

Anatomical studies suggest that normal lungs grow by rapid alveolar addition until about 2 yrs of age followed by a gradual increase in alveolar dimensions. The aim of this study was to examine the hypothesis that normal lung growth can be monitored by computed tomography (CT). Therefore, the gas volume per gram of lung tissue was estimated from measurements of lung density obtained from CT scans performed on children throughout the growth period.

Congenital bilateral plexiform neurofibromas of the cavernous sinuses.

We report the CT and MRI findings of congenital bilateral plexiform neurofibromas of the cavernous sinuses in a 2-month-old girl. Contrast-enhanced CT showed enhancement of masses in both cavernous sinuses and enlargement of both superior orbital fissures. On MRI the masses were isointense with muscle on T1-weighted images, hypointense on T2-weighted images and showed strong homogeneous enhancement on contrast-enhanced T1-weighted images.

A longitudinal study using tibial ultrasonometry as a bone assessment technique in children with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia.

Background: Several longitudinal studies have shown contradictory results regarding the change in bone status in children with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry as the bone assessment technique.

Objective: To determine whether a more recently developed bone assessment technique which does not use radiation, tibial ultrasonometry, can be used for the detection of short-term changes.

Patients And Methods: From January 1997 to February 2001, 37 patients (25 boys, 12 girls, mean age 9.

Collagen Ialpha1 polymorphism is associated with bone characteristics in Caucasian children and young adults.

A large proportion of the variation in bone mass can be explained by genetic factors. We analyzed the G to T substitution in the Sp1 binding site in the first intron of the collagen type Ialpha1 (COLIA1) gene in relation to bone mass. The genotypes GG, GT, and TT were determined in 148 Caucasian children and young adults.

Bone mineral assessment with tibial ultrasonometry and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry in long-term survivors of acute lymphoblastic leukemia in childhood.

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in childhood is a serious disease that can affect growth and the attainment of maximal peak bone mass. The latter has recently been recognized as a risk factor for the development of osteoporosis later in life. To determine long-term effects of the disease itself and its treatment, we assessed the bone status of a group of long-term survivors of childhood ALL, all treated with high doses of steroids (dexamethasone) and methotrexate and without cranial irradiation.

Spinal epidural abscess presenting with abdominal pain.

We report a case of spinal epidural abscess presenting as abdominal pain. An 7-year-old boy presented with abdominal pain. He was operated on under suspicion of appendicitis.

Development of a perigraft seroma around modified Blalock-Taussig shunts: imaging evaluation.

Objective: The modified Blalock-Taussig shunt is a synthetic shunt between the subclavian and pulmonary artery, frequently used in the treatment of children with pulmonary hypoperfusion caused by congenital heart disease. The development of a perigraft seroma is a known complication of this procedure. We sought to describe the imaging features of a perigraft seroma and to define an optimal diagnostic strategy in patients with a suspected perigraft seroma.

Is the Greulich and Pyle atlas still valid for Dutch Caucasian children today?

Background: In our Paediatric Radiology Department, the Greulich and Pyle technique is used to assess skeletal age. Several authors have raised questions with regard to the applicability of this technique in a contemporary paediatric and adolescent population.

Objective: To compare skeletal age and calendar age in a healthy Dutch Caucasian population in order to test the applicability in this specific population.