Relation between serum ferritin and liver and heart MRI T2 in beta thalassaemia major patients

There is a need for higly accurate non-invasive methods for assessing organ iron content in thalassaemia patients. This study evaluated the relation between serum ferritin level, liver enzyme levels and hepatitis C antibody and liver and heart iron deposition assessed by MRI T2 Data were obtained from the medical records of 156 thalassemia major patients in Tehran. There was a moderate negative correlation between serum ferritin and liver MRI T2 relaxation time [r= -0.535] and a weak negative correlation between serum ferritin and heart MRI T2 relaxation time [r= -0.361]. Hepatitis C infection and liver enzyme levels did not confound or modify the relation between ferritin and liver or heart MRI T2. Liver and heart MRI T2* readings were poorly correlated [r= 0. 281]. Routine evaluation of liver and heart iron content using MRI T2 is suggested to better evaluate the haemosiderosis status in thalassemia patients

Unusual manifestations of brucellosis: a retrospective case series in a tertiary care Greek University Hospital

Brucellosis remains a diagnostic puzzle. We retrospectively studied the case notes of 105 patients with brucellosis who were admitted in the Department of Internal Medicine of the University of Patras Hospital, a tertiary care institution serving an extended rural area in western Greece, from 2003 to 2006. Five unusual causes of brucellosis were identified: hepatic, epidural and thyroid abscesses, intrahepatic cholestatic liver disease and pancytopenia. Virtually every human organ and system can be involved in brucellosis, which highlights the need to include brucellosis in the differential diagnosis, especially in endemic areas

Effect of pre-instruction on anxiety levels of patients undergoing magnetic resonance imaging examination

This study investigated differences in anxiety level of patients who received instruction prior to magnetic resonance imaging [MRI] compared to a control group that did not. Thus, 60 patients were randomly assigned to two groups. Patients in the study group received instructions designed by the researcher plus the routine hospital instructions, while the control group received the routine hospital instructions only. The State-Trait Anxiety Inventory was administered to both groups before and after MRI examination. Patients who received the designed instructions reported significantly lower levels of anxiety than the controls. The findings also indicated that 60% of the total sample used prayer to reduce anxiety. The study emphasizes the need for detailed information about the procedure and training in relaxation techniques

Incidental paranasal sinus inflammatory changes in a Jordanian population

A retrospective study was conducted to determine the prevalence of abnormalities in the paranasal sinuses in Jordanian patients who had undergone magnetic resonance imaging [MRI] scans for neurological signs and symptoms. The T2-weighted axial MRI scans of 280 patients were studied. Of these patients, 64.3% showed one or more abnormality. Mucosal thickening was the most common abnormality observed and the ethmoid sinuses the most commonly affected site. Incidental paranasal sinus inflammatory changes are a common finding in MRI scans performed for patients primarily scanned for neurological diseases. MRI is a sensitive method for assessing soft tissue abnormalities including inflammatory changes

Magnetic resonance imaging in the diagnosis of vertebral haemangiomas

A retrospective analysis of 600 [238 females, 362 males] spine examinations was carried out. Vertebral haemangioma was observed in 160 patients [27%], 74 females [31%] and 86 males [24%]. The majority were over 35 years. The most frequent site was the lumbar region, 64 patients [40%], then the thoracic region, 32 patients [20%], cervical region, 26 patients [16%], predominantly in the dense complex of the axis, and 38 patients [24%] were found to have multiple haemangiomas. Characteristically all vertebral haemangiomas abutted or included the basivertebral veins in the vertebral body