Use of sonography in carpal tunnel syndrome surgery. A prospective study.

The diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is mainly based on the characteristic symptoms and confirmed with nerve conduction studies. Sonography can provide measurements of the increased cross-sectional area of median nerve. The use of sonography was evaluated for the diagnosis and postoperative follow up of 48 wrists in 26 consecutive patients with CTS.

Gadolinium-enhanced 3D MR angiography of pulmonary hypoplasia and aplasia.

Objective: The goal of this study was to determine the role of gadolinium-enhanced 3D MR angiography (MRA) in patients with suspected pulmonary hypoplasia and aplasia in a retrospective analysis of MRA and digital subtraction angiography in 11 patients with clinical and/or radiologic suspicion of pulmonary hypoplasia and aplasia.

Conclusion: Gadolinium-enhanced 3D MRA is capable of diagnosing pulmonary hypoplasia and aplasia rapidly and accurately. Both pulmonary hypoplasia and aplasia can be shown morphologically in a noninvasive manner, obviating digital subtraction angiography.

Soft-tissue masses: use of a scoring system in differentiation of benign and malignant lesions.

The purpose of this study was to show the qualitative and quantitative MRI characteristics of soft-tissue masses in differentiation of benign and malignant lesions. A total of 90 soft-tissue lesions were reviewed in this study. The scoring system presents a more objective diagnostic performance in the prediction of benign or malignant masses.

MRI appearance of retrocalcaneal bursitis and rheumatoid nodule in a patient with rheumatoid arthritis.

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disorder of unknown etiology characterized by symmetric, erosive synovitis and sometimes multisystem involvement. Rheumatoid nodules have been reported in as many as 20-30% of patients with rheumatoid arthritis; however, they are not commonly seen in the feet. We present magnetic resonance (MR) findings of a rarely seen case of rheumatoid bursitis in the retrocalcaneal bursa associated with a subcutaneous rheumatoid nodule inferior to the calcaneus which histologically confirmed the rheumatoid arthritis.

'Ecstasy'(MDMA)-induced pneumomediastinum and epidural pneumatosis.

Epidural pneumatosis and pneumomediastinum may occur after the inhalation of "Ecstasy" (methylenedioxymetamphetamine), but only one case has been reported in the literature. We report the case of a 21- year-old male patient who presented with epidural pneumatosis and pneumomediastinum. Chest CT demonstrated the pneumomediastinum and multiple air bubbles within the spinal canal.