Cerebrovascular accident (CVA) in association with a Taser-induced electrical injury.

Various adverse outcomes related to the use of electrical weapons such as the stun gun or the Taser have been described in the literature over the years. Examples include cardiac arrhythmias, blunt and penetrating injuries, seizure activity, and altered mental status. Imaging findings related to electrical injuries have become more frequent with advancing imaging technologies, such as CT or MRI. However, imaging findings and pathophysiology of electrical injuries that result in significant neurological events remain largely unexplored. We report the case of a patient who developed an ischemic stroke following Taser discharge, raising the possibility of association between the electrical injury and the ischemic stroke.

Accidental cell phone ingestion with pharyngeal impaction.

BACKGROUND: 35 year old intoxicated male ingested an unusual, large foreign object (cell phone). OBJECTIVE: To report the ingestion of an unusual large foreign object with hypopharyngeal impaction, complications, and treatment. DISCUSSION: Foreign body ingestion in the adult population is more prevalent in those who engage in drug or alcohol abuse. Impaction and perforation of the upper aerodigestive tract can lead to significant and potentially fatal complications including parapharyngeal/retropharyngeal abscess, mediastinitis, and aortoesophageal fistula. The treatment of foreign object ingestion is dependent on the type of foreign object ingested, its location, and potential for perforation. Endoscopic removal under general anesthesia is the treatment method recommended for foreign bodies impacted at the cricopharyngeus or esophagus. CONCLUSIONS: We report the only case of the accidental ingestion of an entire cell phone with casing. A plain film x-ray of the neck can be used in the assessment of the location of radiopaque foreign objects and in diagnosing potential complication.

Angiosarcoma of the scalp.

Cutaneous angiosarcoma of the scalp is a rare malignant neoplasm of endothelial cells which occurs predominantly in elderly Caucasian males. The etiology is unknown; however the most common association is prior radiation exposure. The diagnosis is often delayed due to misinterpretation for other lesions, including trauma-related bruising and infectious processes such as abscess. Radiologic imaging is non-diagnostic but can be helpful in defining the extent of local disease, as well as distant metastases. Prognosis is poor with a five-year survival rate of less than 30 percent. Treatment guidelines are not well established; however the mainstay is surgical resection with wide margins followed by adjuvant radiation therapy. Prognosis remains poor with a local recurrence rate of greater than 80 percent. Adjuvant chemotherapy is also controversial but may play a role in short term palliation of metastatic or locally advanced disease. Current investigations using molecular targeted therapy are underway with the goal of eliminating systemic side effects.

3D computed tomography of an unusual triple ended xiphoid process.

The sternum is the site of frequent variations and anomalies. Knowledge of the plain film and CT appearance of these variations and anomalies is useful in differentiating from pathologic conditions and in surgical planning. We present a rare case of an unusual triple ended xiphoid process with its plain film and 3D CT volume rendered reconstructed imaging.

Syndrome of the trephined (sinking skin flap syndrome) with and without paradoxical herniation: a series of case reports and review.

Decompressive craniectomy is gaining an increasing role in the neurosurgical treatment of intractable intracranial hypertension in patients with head injury, acute stroke, and severe brain edema. The conversion of the cranium from a "closed box" to an "open box" alters the barometric pressure, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), and cerebral blood flow (CBF) and may or may not lead to syndrome of the trephined (sinking skin flap syndrome).

Clinical applications of computed tomography angiography in neuroimaging.

Recent technical advances in multidetector computed tomography angiography (CTA) now allow for the noninvasive evaluation of the neurovascular tree. In the evaluation of intracranial aneurysms, stroke imaging, and other vascular abnormalities, CTA compares favorably with conventional angiography. Several illustrative case reports are presented and the advantages of CTA over conventional angiography are discussed.