Differentiation between Tuberculous and Pyogenic Spondylodiscitis: The Role of the Anterior Meningovertebral Ligament in Patients with Anterior Epidural Abscess.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Differentiation between tuberculous and pyogenic spondylodiscitis is a diagnostic challenge because imaging often does not reliably distinguish the 2 entities and percutaneous biopsies are often culture-negative. The purpose of this study was to determine whether violation of the anterior meningovertebral ligament in the setting of anterior epidural abscess discriminates between these entities. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort study of all patients with acid-fast bacillus testing and anterior epidural abscess diagnosed on spinal MR imaging between May 2014 and September 2019, with a final diagnosis of tuberculous or pyogenic spondylodiscitis. Six cases of tuberculous spondylodiscitis (mean age, 45.5 years; 80% male) and 35 cases of pyogenic spondylodiscitis were evaluated (mean age, 56.6 years; 49% male). Demographic characteristics were recorded. Cases were assessed for anterior meningovertebral ligament destruction on MR imaging, as demonstrated by the shape of the epidural collection. Segmental location of the infection was also assessed. Independent 2-sample t tests and χ2 tests of independence were performed to evaluate the significance of the difference between the groups. RESULTS: Five of 6 (83.3%) cases of tuberculous epidural abscess had an intact anterior meningovertebral ligament, and 0/35 cases of pyogenic epidural abscess demonstrated an intact ligament (P < .001). The presence of an intact anterior meningovertebral ligament had 83.3% sensitivity and 100% specificity for tuberculous spondylodiscitis, a 100% positive predictive value, and a 97.2% negative predictive value. CONCLUSIONS: The presence of an intact anterior meningovertebral ligament has high sensitivity and specificity for tuberculous spondylodiscitis-associated epidural abscess, though these results should be validated in a larger sample.

Prescribing knowledge and skills of final year medical students in Nigeria.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the knowledge of final year medical students in Nigeria, about good prescribing and the application of this knowledge to their prescribing skills. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty four final year medical students of the Lagos State University College of Medicine (LASUCOM), Ikeja, were interviewed with a structured questionnaire that assessed their knowledge on the principles of good prescribing. They were also requested to write a prescription, based on a paediatric clinical scenario of malaria and upper respiratory tract infection. The prescription was used to assess their prescribing skills. RESULTS: Thirty one (91.18%) students knew that rational prescribing involved prescribing correct dosage of an appropriate medicine formulation. Factors considered important by the students to prescribe rationally were: Potential benefit: risk ratio of a medicine - 33 (97.06%); good knowledge of pharmacology - 29 (85.29%) and pathophysiology of the disease to be treated - 24 (70.59%); and safety of an alternative medicine to be used - 24 (70.59%). An average of 3.71 medicines was prescribed for a child suspected to have malaria. Antimalarials (38.24%) and paracetamol (20%) were the most frequently prescribed medicines. The name and signature of the prescriber were available in 51.61% and 58.06% prescriptions, respectively. Less than 50% prescriptions had the name, case file number, age and gender of the patient. CONCLUSION: The final year medical students of LASUCOM would require theoretical and practical teaching of principles of rational prescribing to improve their prescribing knowledge and skills.

Deep brain reversible encephalopathy: association with secondary antiphospholipid antibody syndrome.

We present a case of a patient with systemic lupus erythematosus and secondary antiphospholipid syndrome. The patient presented with acute right cerebellar infarction and clinical and imaging evidence of brain stem and bilateral thalamic encephalopathy that resolved completely.

Current Procedural Terminology: History, Structure, and Relationship to Valuation for the Neuroradiologist.

The year 1965 was critical for US health care policy. In that year, Medicare was created as part of the Social Security Act under President Lyndon B. Johnson after several earlier attempts by Presidents Franklin Roosevelt and Harry Truman. In 1966, the American Medical Association first published a set of standard terms and descriptors to document medical procedures, known as Current Procedural Terminology, or CPT. Fifty years later, though providers have certainly heard the term "CPT code," most would benefit from an enhanced understanding of the historical basis, current structure, and relationship to valuation of Current Procedural Terminology. This article will highlight this evolution, particularly as it relates to neuroradiology.

Quantitative Evaluation of Medial Temporal Lobe Morphology in Children with Febrile Status Epilepticus: Results of the FEBSTAT Study.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The pathogenesis of febrile status epilepticus is poorly understood, but prior studies have suggested an association with temporal lobe abnormalities, including hippocampal malrotation. We used a quantitative morphometric method to assess the association between temporal lobe morphology and febrile status epilepticus. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Brain MR imaging was performed in children presenting with febrile status epilepticus and control subjects as part of the Consequences of Prolonged Febrile Seizures in Childhood study. Medial temporal lobe morphologic parameters were measured manually, including the distance of the hippocampus from the midline, hippocampal height:width ratio, hippocampal angle, collateral sulcus angle, and width of the temporal horn. RESULTS: Temporal lobe morphologic parameters were correlated with the presence of visual hippocampal malrotation; the strongest association was with left temporal horn width (P < .001; adjusted OR, 10.59). Multiple morphologic parameters correlated with febrile status epilepticus, encompassing both the right and left sides. This association was statistically strongest in the right temporal lobe, whereas hippocampal malrotation was almost exclusively left-sided in this cohort. The association between temporal lobe measurements and febrile status epilepticus persisted when the analysis was restricted to cases with visually normal imaging findings without hippocampal malrotation or other visually apparent abnormalities. CONCLUSIONS: Several component morphologic features of hippocampal malrotation are independently associated with febrile status epilepticus, even when complete hippocampal malrotation is absent. Unexpectedly, this association predominantly involves the right temporal lobe. These findings suggest that a spectrum of bilateral temporal lobe anomalies are associated with febrile status epilepticus in children. Hippocampal malrotation may represent a visually apparent subset of this spectrum.

Effect of Immunosuppressive Therapy on Cardiovascular Risk Factor Prevalence in Kidney-Transplanted Children: Comparative Study.

BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the second major cause of death in kidney-transplanted children. Cardiovascular risk factors (CVRF) prevalence after transplant may increase. The effect of immunosuppressive therapy has not been fully studied in children. The objective of the study was to measure and compare CVRF prevalence in kidney-transplanted children, depending of immunosuppressive therapy. METHODS: The study was an observational, transversal, retrospective, comparative study of pediatric patients transplanted at UMAE Hospital General Centro Medico La Raza. All patients were treated with prednisone and mycophenolic acid and any of cyclosporine, tacrolimus, or sirolimus. Demographic, clinical, and biochemical variables and immunosuppressive therapy were evaluated. We used analysis of variance, χ(2), and Fisher tests with the SPSS 18.0 statistical program. RESULTS: One hundred fifteen patients were studied. Sixty-five (56.5%) were male, and median age was 18.5 ± 2.3 years. Seventy-eight (67.2%) were transplanted from a living related donor. Prevalence of anemia and nephrotic proteinuria was significantly less in patients treated with tacrolimus. Those treated with cyclosporine had a significantly greater prevalence of increased LDL-cholesterol, increased serum phosphorus, and increased calcium-phosphorus. Those treated with tacrolimus had lower, not significant, prevalence of hypertension, hyperuricemia, hypoalbuminemia, hypercholesterolemia, hypertriglyceridemia, and low serum HDL-cholesterol than those treated with sirolimus and cyclosporine. In multivariate analysis, patients treated with cyclosporine had significantly more probability of increased phosphorus (OR, 10.65; 95% CI, 2.75-41.16, P = .001) and calcium-phosphorus (OR, 37.94; 95% CI, 3.45-416.17, P = .003) than those treated with tacrolimus. CONCLUSIONS: Patients treated with tacrolimus had less prevalence of CVRF than those treated with cyclosporine or sirolimus. Tacrolimus is the best immunosuppressive option to diminish CVRF in children after kidney transplantation.

Wallenberg's lateral medullary syndrome. Clinical-magnetic resonance imaging correlations.

OBJECTIVE: To correlate clinical and radiologic findings in patients with lateral medullary infarction. DESIGN: Case series with "blinded" evaluation of brain imaging. SETTING: Hospitalized and ambulatory patients at the Neurological Institute of New York (NY). PATIENTS: Thirty-three consecutive patients with lateral medullary syndrome were evaluated by the Stroke Center between 1983 and 1989. RESULTS: Ataxia (70%), numbness either of the ipsilateral face or of the contralateral body (64%), vertigo (51%), and dysphagia (51%) were the most frequent symptoms at onset. Eleven patients had ocular symptoms (diplopia or blurred vision). Horner's syndrome was found in 91%, ipsilateral ataxia in 85%, and contralateral hypalgesia in 85%. Nystagmus (61%) and facial weakness (42%) were less frequent. Head computed tomography was abnormal only when a cerebellar infarction was present (three cases). Magnetic resonance imaging, obtained in 22 cases, was normal in two; a lateral medullary infarction alone was present in 12, and a lesion extending beyond the lateral medulla was found in eight. No correlation was noted between facial weakness or ocular symptoms and infarction extending beyond the lateral medullary region. Vertebral artery disease was confirmed by vascular imaging or insonation studies in 73% of patients. CONCLUSIONS: The triad of Horner's syndrome, ipsilateral ataxia, and contralateral hypalgesia will clinically identify patients with lateral medullary infarction. Facial weakness and ocular symptoms are frequent and do not necessarily imply that the infarction extends beyond the lateral medulla. Cerebellar infarcts only infrequently accompany lateral medullary syndrome, suggesting that most of the posterior inferior cerebellar artery territory is spared, despite the high frequency of vertebral artery occlusion.

Differential diagnosis of pituitary tumors.

Many parasellar lesions may mimic pituitary adenomas clinically, endocrinologically, and radiologically. Certain patterns do lead suspicion toward the correct diagnosis, whereas in other cases the diagnosis may be difficult. For most of these lesions, the treatment of choice is different from that for a pituitary tumor, so correct diagnosis is of paramount importance. The presenting signs and symptoms as well as radiologic manifestations of parasellar tumors and conditions are discussed.

Brain anomalies in velo-cardio-facial syndrome.

Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain in 11 consecutively referred patients with velo-cardiofacial syndrome (VCF) showed anomalies in nine cases including small vermis, cysts adjacent to the frontal horns, and small posterior fossa. Focal signal hyperintensities in the white matter on long TR images were also noted. The nine patients showed a variety of behavioral abnormalities including mild developmental delay, learning disabilities, and characteristic personality traits typical of this common multiple anomaly syndrome which has been related to a microdeletion at 22q11. Analysis of the behavioral findings showed no specific pattern related to the brain anomalies, and the patients with VCF who did not have detectable brain lesions also had behavioral abnormalities consistent with VCF. The significance of the lesions is not yet known, but the high prevalence of anomalies in this sample suggests that structural brain abnormalities are probably common in VCF.

Angiographic criteria reliably predict when carotid endarterectomy can be safely performed without a shunt.

BACKGROUND: Selective shunting during carotid endarterectomy is widely performed, but the optimal approach for predicting when a shunt is unnecessary remains uncertain. We evaluated the ability of preoperative cerebral angiography to predict when carotid endarterectomy could be safely performed without a shunt. STUDY DESIGN: Eighty-seven patients undergoing carotid endarterectomy between August 1991 and December 1997 had preoperative cerebral angiograms. The angiograms were evaluated for the presence of collateral flow from the contralateral carotid through the anterior communicating artery and from the posterior circulation through the posterior communicating artery. Patients then underwent endarterectomy and were selectively shunted based on somatosensory evoked potential changes. Internal carotid artery stump pressure was routinely measured in all patients. RESULTS: Nine patients (10%) had a shunt placed based on somatosensory evoked potential changes and none of the 87 patients had a perioperative (30 days) stroke. Angiography revealed that 36 patients (41%) had no cross-filling from the contralateral carotid through the anterior communicating artery. Nine of these patients (25%) required a shunt; none of the 51 patients with adequate cross-filling (p < 0.001) did. Furthermore, 94% of the patients without cross-filling but with a patent ipsilateral posterior communicating artery did not require a shunt using somatosensory evoked potential changes as the standard for shunt insertion. Stump pressure measurements (> or = 25 mmHg) or (> or = 50 mmHg) did not reliably exclude the need for a shunt. Only 2 of 15 patients with contralateral carotid occlusion and 1 of 16 patients with a prior ipsilateral stroke required shunts. CONCLUSIONS: In the presence of cross-filling from the contralateral carotid artery, shunt insertion was uniformly unnecessary. In addition, routine shunting of patients with previous ipsilateral strokes or contralateral carotid occlusion was not always necessary. Stump pressures were less sensitive than angiographic criteria in determining when a shunt was unnecessary. Evaluation of cross-filling from the contralateral carotid artery on preoperative angiography can predict with certainty which patients will not require a shunt.

The spectrum of brain MR abnormalities in sickle-cell disease: a report from the Cooperative Study of Sickle Cell Disease.

PURPOSE: To define the spectrum of abnormalities in sickle-cell disease, including infarction, atrophy, and hemorrhage, that are identified by brain MR imaging. METHODS: All MR studies included T1, T2, and intermediate pulse sequences. Images were interpreted without knowledge of the clinical history or neurologic examination findings. Brain MR imaging was performed in 312 children with sickle-cell disease. RESULTS: Seventy patients (22%) had infarction/ischemia and/or atrophy, infarction/ischemia was noted in 39 children (13%) who had no history of a stroke (the "silent" group). The prevalence rates for silent lesions were 17% for sickle-cell anemia and 3% for hemoglobin sickle-cell disease. For patients with sickle-cell anemia and a history of cerebrovascular accident, infarction/ischemia lesions typically involved both cortex and deep white matter, while silent lesions usually were confined to deep white matter. Within the age range studied, the prevalence of infarction/ischemia did not increase significantly with age, although older patients with lesions had more lesions than did younger patients with lesions. CONCLUSIONS: Brain MR imaging showed infarction/ischemia in the absence of a recognized cerebrovascular accident in 13% of patients. The prevalence of these lesions did not increase significantly between the ages of 6 and 14 years, suggesting that lesions are present by age 6. However, the increase in the average number of lesions per patient with age may indicate progressive brain injury.

Trigeminal schwannoma. Surgical series of 14 cases with review of the literature.

A consecutive series of 14 patients with trigeminal schwannoma managed surgically at the Neurological Institute of New York since 1970 is reported. Nine women and five men (mean age 40 years) were diagnosed following a mean symptom duration of 33 months. Abnormalities of trigeminal nerve function were present in 11 patients on admission examination. Facial pain was a prominent feature in eight patients. Two patients, both with schwannomas arising from the trigeminal root, presented initially with typical trigeminal neuralgia. Additional cranial nerve palsies or cerebellar or pyramidal tract signs were noted in eight patients. The surgical approach to these tumors depends on their anatomical location. Four patients had tumors confined to the middle fossa, three patients had tumors limited to the posterior fossa, and seven patients had both supratentorial and infratentorial components of their tumors. Twenty operative procedures were performed on these patients, resulting in complete extirpation in six patients, nearly complete removal in seven patients, and partial removal in one patient. Adherence of the tumor to the lateral wall of the cavernous sinus or the brain stem precluded total removal. There was one postoperative death. In the immediate postoperative period, abnormalities of cranial nerves controlling the extraocular muscles were common. In general, these deficits were transient; however, some permanent loss of trigeminal nerve function occurred in nine patients. Two patients required tarsorrhaphy for neurotropic keratitis, and two patients underwent cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) shunting procedures for hydrocephalus or for a persistent CSF leak. The follow-up period ranged from 4 to 177 months (mean 47 months). The clinical features, anatomical considerations, and surgical approach to these rare tumors are discussed. A clinical review of 106 additional cases of trigeminal schwannoma, reported in the English literature since 1935, is also presented.

Radiologic imaging of intradural pathology.

Neuroimaging entails knowing both which modality to use and when in the sequence of clinical evaluation to use a particular modality. This article review the role, both diagnostic and prognostic, of neuroimaging in the various categories of intradural spinal disease and presents the spectrum of neuroimaging modalities.

The use of magnetic resonance angiography prior to pharyngeal flap surgery in patients with velocardiofacial syndrome.

Twenty consecutive patients with velocardiofacial syndrome underwent magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) to determine if abnormalities of the neck arteries would contraindicate pharyngeal flap surgery. All 20 patients were found to have anomalies to the carotid arteries, vertebral arteries, medially placed internal carotids, low carotid bifurcations, and tortuous or kinked internal carotids. The internal carotids were found to be almost directly under the mucous membrane of the pharynx in two patients. In these two patients, the arteries were close to the pharyngeal midline at the base of the first cervical vertebra and might easily be severed during the raising of a pharyngeal flap. Hypoplastic vertebral arteries also were found. One patient had an extra neck vessel. The anomalies of the internal carotids did not have a strong correlation with endoscopically observed pulsations in the position affected the location of the internal carotids did not have a strong posterior pharyngeal wall. It also was found that head position affected the location of the internal carotid arteries when they were located close to the pharyngeal mucous membrane. The information provided in the MRA studies allowed assessment of the arterial anomalies in relation to the flap donor site so that the patients in the sample who underwent pharyngeal flap surgery using a short superiorly based flap had no major bleeding complications.

Pseudoaneurysm of the lingual artery secondary to tonsillectomy treated with selective embolization.

False aneurysm may occur from trauma to the floor of the mouth, including iatrogenic trauma from surgical procedures. This report will present a case of a pseudoaneurysm of the lingual artery following tonsillectomy. Development of lingual artery pseudoaneurysms can occur within a few hours following tonsillectomy. Angiography provides the diagnosis, and endovascular intervention is an efficient alternative to surgery for treatment of such aneurysm with low morbidity. Endovascular embolization with platinum coils is an effective means of controlling bleeding and avoiding surgical intervention.

Assessment of an introductory cervicocerebral catheter angiography learning program: a pilot study.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: There is no standardized curriculum currently available at most institutions for establishing procedural competency in trainees performing cervicocerebral angiography. The purpose of this study was to evaluate a simple learning program to supplement the teaching of basic cervicocerebral angiography. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An 11-session interactive curriculum was implemented covering anatomic, clinical, and radiographic topics for the novice cervicocerebral angiographer. The target learner was the neuroradiology fellow. Data were gathered regarding fellow comfort level on topics relating to cervicocerebral angiography by using a 5-point Likert scale. Improvement in scores on knowledge-based questions after completion of the curriculum was calculated (McNemar test). Trainee-perceived utility of the program was also recorded by using a 5-point Likert scale. Focus sessions were held at the completion of the curriculum to gather feedback regarding the strengths and weaknesses of the program from participants. RESULTS: Ten subjects were enrolled in this pilot study for 3 years. Topics where participants reported a poor initial comfort level (4 or higher) included selection of injection rates and volumes and reformation of reverse-curve catheters. Trainees demonstrated a statistically significant change in the distribution of scores of 29.3% (49.4%-78.7% correct response rate, P < .0001). The average perceived utility was 1.5 (1 = most useful, 5 = least useful). CONCLUSIONS: This simple learning program was a useful adjunct to the training of fellows in diagnostic cervicocerebral angiography, resulting in quantitative improvements in knowledge.

Lesión renal aguda en pacientes embarazadas menores de 20años con preeclampsia severa. Experiencia 2018-2019 de un hospital de alta especialidad de la ciudad de México / Acute kidney injury in pregnant patients under 20years of age with severe pre-eclampsia. Experience in a high specialty hospital in Mexico City in 2018-2019

Objetivo: Determinar la frecuencia, la evolución clínica, el tratamiento y el desenlace de la lesión renal aguda (LRA) en pacientes embarazadas con preeclampsia severa (PS) menores de 20años de edad. Material y método: Estudio observacional, transversal, retrospectivo y analítico en una serie de 23 pacientes embarazadas menores de 20años de edad con PS atendidas en la UCI de un hospital de alta especialidad de la ciudad de México durante los años 2018 y 2019. Se consultaron los expedientes para conocer la frecuencia de enfermas que desarrollaron LRA (creatinina sérica ≥1,1mg/dl), complicaciones, diuresis, tratamiento con fármacos, terapia de reemplazo, desenlace (recuperación, hemodiálisis) y mortalidad. Los resultados se compararon con los de enfermas de la serie que no presentaron LRA. Se utilizó estadística descriptiva, prueba U de Mann Whitney y prueba exacta de Fisher con el programa SPSS versión 20. Resultados: Veintidós enfermas tenían riñones nativos y una portaba injerto renal. La frecuencia de pacientes con LRA fue del 43,47% (n=10) con media de la creatinina sérica de 1,59±0,63mg/dl (límites 1,1 a 3,2) y diuresis de 0,91±0,74ml/kg/h. Las 23 enfermas recibieron furosemida como fármaco individual intravenoso (60,87%; n=14) o posterior a la infusión de solución NaCl 0,9% (39,13%; n=9). La LRA se recuperó en el 39,13% (n=9) y se precisó hemodiálisis en la paciente trasplantada (4,34%), con muerte materna del 0%. Conclusiones: La frecuencia de LRA fue elevada, con un solo caso que requirió hemodiálisis, sin mortalidad materna. El uso irrestricto de furosemida en todos los casos resultó relevante.(AU)

Objective: To determine the frequency, clinical course, treatment and outcome of acute kidney injury (AKI) in pregnant patients under 20years of age with severe preeclampsia (SP). Material and method: Observational, cross-sectional, retrospective and analytical study in a series of 23 pregnant patients under 20years of age with SP attended in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of a high specialty hospital in Mexico City during the years 2018 and 2019. Records were consulted to determine the frequency of patients that developed AKI (serum creatinine ≥1.1mg/dL), complications, diuresis, drug treatment, replacement therapy, outcome (recovery, haemodialysis), and mortality. The results were compared with those of the patients in the series that did not present with an AKI. Descriptive statistics, Mann Whitney U test and Fisher's exact test, using SPSS version 20, were used. Results: Twenty-two patients had native kidneys and one had a kidney graft. The frequency of patients with AKI was 43.47% (n=10) with mean serum creatinine 1.59±0.63mg/dL (range 1.1 to 3.2) and urine volume 0.91±0.74ml/kg/hour. All 23 patients received furosemide, as an individual drug intravenously 60.87% (n=14), and 39.13% (n=9) after the infusion of 0.9% NaCl solution. AKI recovered in 39.13% (n=9), and haemodialysis was performed in the transplanted patient (4.34%), with 0% maternal death. Conclusions: The frequency of AKI was high with only one case requiring haemodialysis, and no maternal mortality. The unrestricted use of furosemide in all cases was relevant.(AU)

Prevalence of hippocampal malrotation in a population without seizures.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Hippocampal malrotation (HIMAL) is a failure of hippocampal inversion that occurs during normal fetal development and has been seen on MR imaging examinations of people with epilepsy, but it has not been studied in patients without epilepsy. We intended to evaluate the prevalence of HIMAL in MR imaging examinations of patients without seizures to better understand the significance of HIMAL in the population with seizure. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 497 MR imaging examinations with thin-section imaging through the temporal lobes of patients referred for conditions other than seizures were reviewed. The examinations were performed on 1.5T magnets. Sagittal T1-weighted and coronal T2-weighted images were used to evaluate each MR image for the distinctive features of HIMAL. As previously described in the literature, the criteria for HIMAL include unilateral involvement and incomplete rotation of a hippocampus that is normal in size and signal intensity but abnormally rounded in shape, with blurred inner structure. In addition, ipsilateral findings of an atypical collateral sulcus angle and atypical position and size of the fornix were noted. The corpus callosum is normal, and the temporal lobe remains normal in size, though the temporal horn may appear enlarged. RESULTS: None of the patients' examinations fulfilled all of the HIMAL criteria. Six studies satisfied 2 or more criteria, which included an abnormally rounded hippocampus and a vertical collateral sulcus. These HIMAL findings were all seen on the left. Forniceal asymmetry was the most prevalent abnormality, with 289 patients manifesting a low position of 1 fornix. CONCLUSIONS: Hippocampal malrotation is a rare finding in patients without seizures. HIMAL is therefore likely to be a pathologic finding.

Medical students' view on the methods of teaching pharmacology at the Lagos State University College of Medicine, Nigeria.

OBJECTIVE: This study was aimed at determining the perception of the medical students of a relatively new medical school in Nigeria about the teaching of Pharmacology, the best way of learning and retaining the subject. Suggestions on the ways of making pharmacology more interesting to them were also sought. METHODS: A total of forty eight 400 level medical students of the Lagos State University College of Medicine (LASUCOM), who were due to write 2nd Professional M.B; B.S degree examinations in 2007 and 26 successful older students that had passed the 2nd Professional M.B; B.S degree examinations in 2006, were interviewed with a structured questionnaire. Some of the questions were close-ended but the ones related to suggestion on impaired teaching of the subject were open-ended. The pharmacology lecturers were also interviewed with another questionnaire, different from the one used in interviewing the students, to assess their views on the non-inclusion of clinical pharmacology topics to the curriculum and to suggest ways of improving the teaching of the subject. RESULTS: Sixteen (41.02%) respondents and 26 (92.86%) successful older students wanted audiovisual aids teaching and inclusion of clinically oriented pharmacology lectures. Fourteen (35.89%) respondents respectively and all the successful older students wanted seminars and group discussions introduced into their programme. Over half (58.97%) of the respondents and all the successful older students wanted case studies and treatment as part of the regular teaching schedule, 20 (51.28%) respondents and 20 (76.92%) successful older students preferred inclusion of clinical pharmacology. Most of the students (respondents and older successful students) felt that special topics in clinical pharmacology should be taught both in the lectures and practical. CONCLUSION: Medical students are very willing to learn pharmacology from both clinical and therapeutic angles that encompass both theoretical and practical approaches. It is therefore imperative to modify the Pharmacology programme of the LASUCOM in line with the global trend.