Resonancia magnética fetal en el estudio prequirúrgico de disrafia espinal / Foetal magnetic resonance imaging in the pre-surgical assessment of spinal dysraphism

Abstract. Spinal dysraphism is an important indication for foetal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), considering the evaluation of potential candidates for intrauterine surgery. Foetal MRI has proved to be superior to 2D and 3D ultrasound for the posterior fossa, brain stem, corpus callosum, and cortical development abnormalities. The description and level of spinal injury, hydrocephalus, magnitude of cerebellum herniation, and associated injuries, are valuable information, which is useful for the preoperative assessment, as well as for the comparison with postnatal studies.

Resumen. Las disrafias espinales son una indicación importante de resonancia magnética fetal (RMF), considerando la evaluación de posibles candidatos para cirugía intrauterina. La RMF ha demostrado ser superior a la ultrasonografía 3D y 2D para la evaluación de la fosa posterior, el tronco cerebral, el cuerpo calloso, y las anormalidades del desarrollo de la corteza cerebral. La descripción y el nivel del daño espinal, el grado de hidrocefalia, la magnitud de la herniación del cerebelo, y la presencia de lesiones asociadas son variables importantes, útiles para la planificación preoperatoria y la comparación con estudios posnatales.

Rabdomiolisis inducida por ejercicio en adolescentes chilenos / Exercise-induced rhabdomyolysis in Chilean adolescents

Rabdomiolisis es la destrucción de las fibras musculares y se caracteriza clínicamente por dolor, edema y debilidad muscular, orina color rojo-café (mioglobinuria) y la elevación por un corto período de la enzima creatinquinasa en sangre. Entre las múltiples causas de rabdomiolisis está el ejercicio intenso. La rabdomiolisis inducida por el ejercicio está escasamente documentada en la población pediátrica y en general requiere descartar alguna patología metabólica de base. Las complicaciones de la rabdomiolisis pueden ser múltiples y graves: falla renal, arritmias cardíacas, síndrome compartamental, coagulación intravascular diseminada, acidosis láctica, etc. La falla renal es consecuencia de la necrosis tubular aguda secundaria al taponamiento de los túbulos renales por la mioglobina, que puede llegar a ser fatal. Comunicamos nuestra experiencia con tres adolescentes que después de iniciar un programa de entrenamiento físico, desarrollaron intenso dolor y edema muscular constatándose un significativo aumento de la enzima creatinquinasa y edema muscular en la ultrasonografía de los músculos utilizados en el ejercicio. El estudio complementario descartó una patología metabólica de base en todos ellos. El tratamiento oportuno incluyó terapia sintomática e hidratación intravenosa. No se desarrolló insuficiencia renal en ninguno. Frente al incremento no controlado del entrenamiento físico, el diagnóstico oportuno de esta patología permite evitar sus graves consecuencias.

Rhabdomyolysis implies injury to the muscle fibers. The hallmark clinical manifestations are pain, oedema, muscle weakness and dark urine (myoglobinuria). There is an increase, for a short time, of the muscle enzyme creatine kinase in blood. Exercise induced rhabdomyolysis is one of various causes of rhabdomyolysis but has been rarely documented in the pediatric population. In general it is always important to exclude an underlying metabolic pathology. Complications of rhabdomyolysis can be many and severe: renal failure, cardiac arrhythmias, compartment syndrome, disseminated intravascular coagulation, lactic acidosis, etc.. Renal failure is the consequence of the acute tubular necrosis secondary to the obstruction of the renal tubules by myoglobin, which can become fatal. We report our experience with three adolescents that after starting a program of physical training, developed intense pain and muscle oedema at the ultrasound scan of the muscles involved in the exercise. Complementary studies excluded an underlying metabolic disease in all of them. The opportune treatment included symptomatic treatment and endovenous hydratation. Fortunately, none of them developed renal failure.

Aporte del estudio por imágenes en el estudio de alteraciones respiratorias en niños con limitaciones neurológicas / Contribution of imaging in the study of the respiratory complications in the neurologically impaired child

Neurologically impaired children have a high incidence of coexistent respiratory problems, of multifactorial etiology. Among the main related factors are: ineffective cough, hypersalivation, dysphagia, gastroesophageal reflux and lung restriction secondary to chest wall deformity. Because of this, patients with cerebral palsy and neuromuscular diseases present a high prevalence of pulmonary aspiration, which has very varied and sometimes complex clinical manifestations. a variety of imaging exams are available to clarify the etiological diagnosis of the neurological affectation (Computed Tomography -CT- and magnetic Resonance –mR), and evaluate the gastrointestinal compromise of this patients, including the diagnosis of anterograde and retrograde aspiration (upper gi Barium Radiography and Videofluoroscopic swallowing study). An early and accurate imaging diagnosis allows an appropriate clinical management, which anticipates the possible complications and allows us to choose the therapies that improve the quality of life of these children.

Los niños con severos déficits neurológicos tienen una alta incidencia de problemas respiratorios, de etiología multifactorial. Entre los factores asociados destacan la tos inefectiva, sialorrea, disfagia, reflujo gastroesofágico y restricción pulmonar secundaria a deformidades de la caja torácica. Por lo anterior, los pacientes con parálisis cerebral y enfermedades neuromusculares presentan una alta incidencia de aspiración pulmonar cuyas manifestaciones clínicas son variadas y a veces complejas. La imaginología cuenta con exámenes que resultan de utilidad en precisar el diagnóstico etiológico del compromiso neurológico (tomografía computarizada, TC, y resonancia magnética), diagnosticar y evaluar el compromiso pulmonar (radiografías simples y TC) y valorar el compromiso gastrointestinal, incluyendo el diagnóstico de aspiración anterógrada y retrógrada (radiografía de esófago-estómago-duodeno y videofluoroscopía de deglución). Un adecuado diagnóstico por imágenes permite un manejo clínico adecuado que se anticipe a las posibles complicaciones y permita elegir terapias que mejoren la calidad de vida de estos niños.

[Satoyoshi syndrome: report of one case]. / Síndrome de Satoyoshi: enfermedad multisistémica con respuesta exitosa a tratamiento esteroidal.

Satoyoshi syndrome is a rare multisystemic disease of presumed autoimmune etiology characterized by progressive painful intermittent muscle spasms, diarrhea frequently associated with malabsorption, alopecia, skeletal abnormalities and endocrine disorders with a poor long-term prognosis due to early crippling. We report a 14-year-old Chilean girl with clinical and radiological features of the syndrome who has been successfully treated with prednisone and carbamazepine. She remarkably recovered from muscle spasms, alopecia and diarrhea. At follow up, 24 months later, she persists asymptomatic with considerable improvement in her quality of life.

Síndrome de Satoyoshi: Enfermedad multisistémica con respuesta exitosa a tratamiento esteroidal / Satoyoshi syndrome: Report of one case

Satoyoshi  syndrome is a rare multisystemic disease of presumed autoimmune etiology characterized by progressive painful intermittent muscle spasms, diarrhea frequently associated with malabsorption, alopecia, skeletal abnormalities and endocrine disorders with a poor long-term prognosis due to early crippling. We report a 14-year-old Chilean girl with clinical and radiological features of the syndrome who has been successfully treated with prednisone and carbamazepine. She remarkably recovered from muscle spasms, alopecia and diarrhea. At follow up, 24 months later, she persists asymptomatic with considerable improvement in her quality of life.

[Pneumoparotitis or pneumoparotid: a differential diagnosis to consider]. / Neumoparotiditis o neumoparótida en el niño: un diagnóstico diferencial a considerar.

Childhood parotid swelling has a number of differential diagnosis mostly of inflammatory origin. Pneumoparotitis is an uncommon cause of parotid inflammation. It is caused by an excessive increase of intraoral pressure and secondary passage of air into the Stensen or Stenon duct and its glandular branches. Diagnostic clues can usually be obtained by a directed anamnesis. Ultrasonography (US) and computed tomography are essential diagnostic tools for this condition that has a benign course with spontaneous resolution in most cases. We present four cases of pneumoparotitis diagnosed by US in children 5 to 13 years of age. One of the cases occurred after the child chewed gum and made bubbles for a prolonged time-period and the other three after inflating baloons, making bubbles inside a pool and after playing the flute. All cases resolved spontaneously after two days. We suggest to consider pneumoparotitis in the differential diagnosis of parotid swelling in children.

[The use of chest X-rays for surveillance of bacterial pneumonias in children in Latin America]. / El uso de la radiografía de tórax para la vigilancia de neumonías bacterianas en niños latinoamericanos.

The Division of Vaccines and Immunization of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) is promoting epidemiological surveillance of bacterial pneumonias in children in Latin America in order to generate scientific evidence to support future decisions concerning using vaccines to control such pneumonias in the countries of the Region of the Americas. The diagnosis of these diseases rarely includes bacteriological documentation of the causative agent. Therefore, studies of this type that are carried out around the world accept radiological images of alveolar consolidation as a confirmatory criterion for a presumptively bacterial pneumonia. This piece examines the theoretical rationale and requirements for using thorax radiology as an instrument for epidemiological surveillance of bacterial pneumonias. The piece also summarizes the activities carried out during 2 years of joint efforts between the Center for Vaccine Development (Centro para Vacunas en Desarrollo) of Chile and PAHO's Division of Vaccines and Immunization. During those 2 years, the two groups encouraged the epidemiological study of bacterial pneumonias in Latin American children, using internationally accepted criteria and definitions as well as tools and practical solutions adapted to the reality of the Region of the America. The activities carried out so far show both the need for and the feasibility of standardizing the interpretation of chest radiographs so that they can be used in epidemiological studies.

El uso de la radiografía de tórax para la vigilancia de neumonías bacterianas en niños latinoamericanos / The use of chest X-rays for surveillance of bacterial pneumonias in children in Latin America

La División de Vacunas e Inmunización de la Organización Panamericana de la Salud (OPS) está promoviendo la vigilancia epidemiológica de neumonías bacterianas en niños latinoamericanos, con el objetivo de generar pruebas científicas que sustenten futuras decisiones de control mediante vacunas en los países de la Región. Como es poco frecuente que el diagnóstico de estas enfermedades abarque la documentación bacteriológica del agente causal, los estudios de este tipo que se realizan en el mundo aceptan la imagen radiológica de consolidación alveolar como criterio confirmatorio de una neumonía presuntamente bacteriana. En este informe se examinan la racionalidad teórica y los requisitos necesarios para utilizar la radiología de tórax como instrumento para la vigilancia epidemiológica de neumonías bacterianas. Además, se ofrece un resumen de las actividades realizadas en dos años de trabajo conjunto entre el Centro para Vacunas en Desarrollo, en Chile, y la División de Vacunas e Inmunización de la OPS. Durante ese período se fomentó el estudio epidemiológico de las neumonías bacterianas en niños latinoamericanos utilizando los criterios y definiciones acordados a escala internacional, así como herramientas y soluciones prácticas ajustadas a la realidad de la Región. Las actividades desarrolladas hasta ahora evidencian la necesidad y factibilidad de estandarizar la interpretación de las radiografías de tórax para utilizarlas en estudios epidemiológicos