Differential SPECT activation patterns associated with PASAT performance may indicate frontocerebellar functional dissociation in chronic mild traumatic brain injury.

Unlabelled: Patients with mild traumatic brain injury (TBI) often complain of cognitive fatigue during the chronic recovery phase. The Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test (PASAT) is a complex psychologic measure that may demonstrate subtle deficiencies in higher cognitive functions. The purpose of this study was to investigate the brain activation of regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) with PASAT in patients with mild TBI to explore mechanisms for the cognitive fatigue.

Tc-99m ECD neuro-SPECT and diffusion weighted MRI in the detection of the anatomical extent of subacute stroke: a cautionary note regarding reperfusion hyperemia.

We present a case of subacute middle cerebral artery infarct, which demonstrates restricted diffusion on MRI and reperfusion hyperemia in the posterior half of the lesion on angiography. Tc-99m ethyl cysteinate dimer (ECD) SPECT obtained shortly after the MRI failed to demonstrate perfusion defects in the regions demonstrating reperfusion hyperemia on angiography, underestimating the true size of the infarct. Crossed cerebellar diaschisis is, however, present.

Spondyloarthritis Research Consortium of Canada magnetic resonance imaging index for assessment of spinal inflammation in ankylosing spondylitis.

Objective: To develop a feasible magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-based scoring system for spinal inflammation in patients with spondylarthropathy that requires minimal scan time, does not require contrast enhancement, evaluates the extent of lesions in 3 dimensional planes, and limits the number of vertebral levels that are scored because MRI demonstrates characteristic inflammatory lesions in the spine of patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) prior to the development of typical features on plain radiographic.

Methods: Our scoring method was based entirely on the assessment of increased signal denoting bone marrow edema on T2-weighted STIR sequences. Blinded MRI films were assessed in random order at 2 sites by 3 blinded readers at each of the 2 sites (the Universities of Alberta and Toronto).

Intrapleural nasogastric tube insertion.

A misplaced fine-bore nasogastric tube (NGT) might enter the bronchial tree. Pleural puncture and intrapleural passage of the tube is very uncommon but the location can often be inferred from the frontal chest radiograph. Following recognition of a NGT within the pleural space, progress films should be carefully screened for complications, particularly pneumothorax.