Magnetic resonance imaging as a first-choice imaging modality in carpal tunnel syndrome: new evidence.

BACKGROUND: Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is the most common type of peripheral nerve compression. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is becoming more popular in practice in the evaluation of CTS. PURPOSE: To evaluate the diagnostic value of MRI in CTS. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study of 39 wrists was conducted. Clinical and nerve conduction study findings were evaluated and graded according to the Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire (BCTQ) and the American Association of Neuromuscular and Electrodiagnostic Medicine. MRI was performed using a 1.5-T scanner. MRI parameters included cross-sectional area (CSA) of the median nerve and the ratio change in CSA at four levels: distal radioulnar joint (DRUJ-CSA); pisiform (p-CSA); middle of the carpal tunnel (i-CSA); and hook of hamate. The ratio change in CSA was expressed as p-CSA/DRUJ-CSA and ΔCSA (difference between iCSA and DRUJ-CSA), the flattening ratio of the median nerve, the thickness of the flexor retinaculum, flexor retinaculum bowing ratio, signal intensity ratio of the median, nerve and hypothenar muscle signal intensity. RESULTS: With a cutoff point of 10.9 mm2 of the p-CSA, MRI had a sensitivity and specificity of 97.4% and 80% for diagnosis of CTS, respectively. There was a significant association between the clinical and electrophysiological stage with MRI findings (P < 0.001). There was a positive correlation between the BCTQ score and MRI parameters (0.5 < r < 0.7, P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: MRI has good diagnostic value in evaluating CTS. We recommend using p-CSA ≥10.9 mm2 and ΔCSA ≥2.3 mm2 as MRI diagnostic criteria of CTS.

Complicated breast augmentation via self-injection of ultrasound gel and shoe glue: A case report.

Various types of dermal fillers have been developing for soft tissue augmentation. Even though many fillers have been approved and strictly regulated by authorities, homemade products for body contouring procedures are widely available and easily purchased on websites without prescriptions. It is challenging for radiologists to interpret radiological findings of complicated breast augmentation of unknown origin. While ultrasound is the modality of choice for initial work-up, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) plays a role as the gold standard in evaluating the integrity of prosthetic implants. Using silicone or water-only MRI sequences may also be able to distinguish them. We report a rare case of breast abscess of a young female patient after self-injection of the mixture of ultrasound gel and shoe glue. The clinical and imaging aspect, especially MRI imaging, will be discussed.

Quantitative parameters of diffusion tensor imaging in the evaluation of carpal tunnel syndrome.

Background: To explore the value of diffusion tensor imaging (DTI)-derived metrics in quantitative evaluation of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). Methods: This prospective cross-sectional study included 39 wrists from 24 symptomatic CTS patients, who underwent clinical, electrophysiological, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) evaluations. In addition, 10 wrists of 6 healthy participants were included as controls. Clinical and nerve conduction study (NCS) findings were evaluated and graded according to the Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire (BCTQ) and the American Association of Neuromuscular and Electrodiagnostic Medicine (AANEM), respectively. We performed MRI using a 1.5 Tesla scanner. Mean diffusivity (MD), fractional anisotropy (FA), axial diffusivity (AD), and radial diffusivity (RD) of the median nerve at the distal radioulnar joint (DRUJ) (d), the inlet of the carpal tunnel (CT) at the pisiform level (i), the middle of the CT (m) and the outlet of the CT at the level of the hook of hamate (o), cross-sectional area at the inlet of the CT (iCSA), and the difference between MD and FA of the DRUJ and the outlet of CT (Delta MD and Delta FA) were measured. Results: The CTS patients had significantly lower FA [for example, oFA: mean difference 0.09, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.05 to 0.12] and significantly higher MD than healthy participants (for example, iMD: mean difference 0.3, 95% CI: 0.03 to 0.57). There was a negative correlation between iCSA with iFA and between mFA and oFA (-0.5

Rasmussen's encephalitis with persistent epilepsy in a young man.

Rasmussen's encephalitis (RE) is an uncommon cause of the seizure. Important key findings of RE include intractable seizure activity in children, progressive atrophy of the involved hemisphere, and small hemisphere with the large ventricle.

Giant lumbar spinal schwannoma: a case report and literature review.

We report a case of a 40-year-old female patient admitted to the hospital due to lumbar pain that spread to both legs and was associated with weakness of the lower extremities. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed an intradural - extramedullary tumor at the level of the T12 - L2 vertebra. The lesion was over 7 cm in greatest diameter and compressed the conus medullaris. The patient underwent surgery to remove the entire tumor. Postoperative pathology confirmed the diagnosis of schwannoma. The symptoms resolved almost completely without significant complications.

The value of sonographic quantitative parameters in the diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome in the Vietnamese population.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the value of ultrasound (US) in the diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) in the Vietnamese population. METHODS: This prospective cross-sectional study involved 42 wrists of 25 patients with idiopathic CTS evaluated by US. In addition, 38 wrists of 22 healthy volunteers were included as the control group. RESULTS: Significant differences in the median nerve cross-sectional area (CSA) at different levels were found between patients with CTS and controls. Using a cut-off value of 9.5 mm2 for the median nerve CSA at the pisiform (p-CSA), US had a sensitivity and specificity of 95.2% and 97.4%, respectively, for the diagnosis of CTS. Area under the curve analysis revealed a sensitivity and specificity of 100% and 95.4%, respectively, for the prediction of severe CTS using a p-CSA of >15.5 mm2. CONCLUSIONS: The median nerve CSA is a highly accurate parameter in the diagnosis of CTS. We recommend using a p-CSA of >9.5 mm2 as a diagnostic criterion for CTS and a p-CSA of >15.5 mm2 as a marker for severe CTS in the Vietnamese population.Research Registry number: 7261.

Herlyn-Werner-Wunderlich syndrome: A report of three cases in adolescents and adult woman.

We report three cases with Herlyn-Werner-Wunderlich syndrome in adolescents and young female. The objective of this report was to describe the clinical presentation, ultrasound (US) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings of Herlyn-Werner-Wunderlich syndrome. The three patients were 12, 13 and 34 years old, respectively. The reason for admission and clinical symptoms varied between the 3 patients, including menstrual cramps, vaginal bleeding, and dull pain in the hypogastric region. Nevertheless, the sonographic and MRI findings of all three cases were typical for HWWS, including didelphys uterus, obstructed hemivagina, and ipsilateral renal agenesis.

Toothpick-a rare cause of bowel perforation: case report and literature review.

Bowel perforation is an emergency condition. Common causes of bowel perforation include infection, infarction, radiation enteritis, Crohn's disease, and cancer. Ingested foreign body causing bowel perforation is rare. Wooden toothpick-related injuries are uncommon. We report a case of ileal perforation caused by ingested wooden toothpick preoperatively diagnosed by ultrasound and computed tomography.

The focal hepatic hot spot sign with lung cancer in computed tomography.

The focal hepatic hot spot sign appears as an area of intense focal wedge-shaped enhancement of the quadrate lobe (segment IVa) of the liver in the arterial and venous phase. If this sign appears on enhanced computed tomography of the abdomen, obstruction of thoracic central venous must be considered, especially when clinical symptoms are unclear.