Transverse myelitis from intraarterial penicillin.

A child was given intramuscular benzathine penicillin and experienced manifestations of sudden, irreversible transection of the spinal cord in the lower thoracic region. The biopsy supported an intravascular injection with occlusion of the spinal vasculature as the etiological mechanism. A review of similar cases reveals a recurring pattern--intramuscular injection with standard techniques and sites into a small muscle mass without evident blood return followed by rapid progression of paralysis.

A simplified method of CT assisted localization and biopsy of intracranial lesions.

A simplified technique available to most neurosurgeons is described for using computerized tomography (CT) to localize and/or biopsy intracranial lesions. Illustrative cases are presented.