Versatility of Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation in the Treatment of Poststroke Dysphagia.

Various techniques and courses of treatment have been researched, proposed, and implemented to evaluate and treat poststroke dysphagia (PSD) which is one of the main medical conditions affecting not only elderly people, as previously assumed, but also in recent years younger populations as well. The effectiveness of therapeutic methods depends mainly on the expertise of an interdisciplinary team of therapists, as well as on the timely application of the treatment. The present review discusses the therapeutic benefits of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) in patients suffering from PSD regardless of the location of the lesion. The use of rTMS directly manipulates cortical brain stimulation to restore neuroplasticity in the affected brain areas. This review presents a synopsis of the available literature on the patient along with a discussion on the effectiveness of rTMS as a safe and easy to use promising technique in the rehabilitation of dysphagic patients. Although the results from the studies so far have been largely positive in that direction, the question still remains whether larger scale and longitudinal studies will be able to corroborate the aspiring future of rTMS. Therefore, research questions to advance further investigation on the application and future of this technique are much in need.

Twin left circumflex arteries in a patient undergoing aortic valve replacement.

We present the case of a patient with severe symptomatic aortic valve (AV) stenosis in whom preoperative coronary angiography revealed two separate left circumflex (LCx) arteries, one arising from the left main coronary artery and the other from the right aortic sinus following thereafter a retroaortic course to the left. The pattern of LCx artery anatomy revealed was recognized as one of bilaterally arising twin LCx arteries that is a rare coronary anomaly with only 7 reported cases in the English literature. We discuss the importance of preoperative identification of this anomaly in patients undergoing AV surgery and describe simple clues in order to easily identify it.

Appendiceal diverticulitis in a femoral hernia causing necrotizing fasciitis of the right inguinal region: report of a unique case.

De Garengeot's hernia--a rare finding occurring mostly in women--is defined by the presence of the vermiform appendix within the sac of a femoral hernia. The incidence of appendicitis is rarer still, with less than a 100 cases reported to date. We present a unique case of an 84-year-old male patient with perforated appendiceal diverticulitis within a De Garengeot's hernia causing abscess and necrotizing infection of the overlying soft tissues.

Skeletal muscle disease: patterns of MRI appearances.

Although the presumptive diagnosis of skeletal muscle disease (myopathy) may be made on the basis of clinical-radiological correlation in many cases, muscle biopsy remains the cornerstone of diagnosis. Myopathy is suspected when patients complain that the involved muscle is painful and tender, when they experience difficulty performing tasks that require muscle strength or when they develop various systemic manifestations. Because the cause of musculoskeletal pain may be difficult to determine clinically in many cases, MRI is increasingly utilised to assess the anatomical location, extent and severity of several pathological conditions affecting muscle. Infectious, inflammatory, traumatic, neurological, neoplastic and iatrogenic conditions can cause abnormal signal intensity on MRI. Although diverse, some diseases have similar MRI appearances, whereas others present distinct patterns of signal intensity abnormality. In general, alterations in muscle signal intensity fall into one of three cardinal patterns: muscle oedema, fatty infiltration and mass lesion. Because some of the muscular disorders may require medical or surgical treatment, correct diagnosis is essential. In this regard, MRI features, when correlated with clinical and laboratory findings as well as findings from other methods such as electromyography, may facilitate correct diagnosis. This article will review and illustrate the spectrum of MRI appearances in several primary and systemic disorders affecting muscle, both common and uncommon. The aim of this article is to provide radiologists and clinicians with a collective, yet succinct and useful, guide to a wide array of myopathies.

Isolated single coronary artery with dual right coronary artery distribution. A rare anatomical variation.

We present the case of a 76-year-old patient in whom coronary angiography, performed due to non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction, revealed an isolated single coronary (SCA) artery with dual right coronary artery (RCA) distribution. One RCA arose from the mid segment of the left anterior descending (LAD) artery and followed a prepulmonic course to the right, while the other RCA arose as the terminal extension of the left circumflex artery beyond the crux cordis. This is the second reported case of the combination of these two variants of SCA and the first such case in which the LAD-derived RCA originated as a single branch. Furthermore, this is the first report presenting a sinus node artery with origin from an ectopic LAD-connected RCA. The clinical implications of this rare coronary artery pattern are discussed.

Wegener granulomatosis masquerading as pneumonia.

We report a case of an elderly patient with a limited form of Wegener granulomatosis, which simulated the clinical and imaging features of organizing pneumonia. Here we call attention to this atypical case presentation that eloquently illustrates the many faces of Wegener granulomatosis.

Intrahepatic venous continuation associated with inferior vena cava hypoplasia: evaluation with sonography, MR imaging and MR angiography.

A 17-year-old Asian girl was admitted to our hospital because of acute onset of abdominal pain. Abdominal imaging work-up revealed an unusual pattern of congenital vascular anomalies, including a hypoplastic IVC and large intrahepatic venous collaterals along with an atypical, accessory hepatic vein. Congenital or acquired abnormalities of the inferior vena cava (IVC) can lead to formation of collateral pathways that help bypass the blood flow obstacle.

Imaging findings in symptomatic patients with femoral diaphyseal stress injuries.

PURPOSE: To assess the imaging findings seen in symptomatic patients with stress injuries of the femoral diaphysis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Seven patients (5 F, 2 M, age range 16 to 56 years, mean 38 years) underwent imaging evaluation of the symptomatic lower extremity due to an insidious onset of thigh or groin pain unrelated to trauma. Imaging studies included radiography and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in seven patients, bone scintigraphy in five, and computed tomography (CT) in three. RESULTS: Radiographs depicted three frank fractures in two patients, and revealed findings of stress injury in six patients. Available scintigraphic and CT findings were abnormal. On MR images, a solitary fracture was seen in two patients; two patients presented with bilateral stress fractures of the femoral diaphysis; and all seven patients had the imaging features of stress injury. Femoral diaphyseal stress fractures (n = 6) appeared as linear regions of T1- and T2-weighted low signal intensity, surrounded by diffuse bone marrow edema. Three of the six frank fractures, with an evident fracture line, were longitudinal and parallel to the cortical surface. CONCLUSION: Femoral diaphyseal stress fractures are often inconspicuous with conventional radiography. MRI depicts the changes of stress injury in the femoral diaphysis, and is particularly useful in documenting the presence, morphology, and extent of fracture(s), information valuable for definitive diagnosis and appropriate management.

Magnetic resonance imaging of para-acetabular insufficiency fractures in patients with malignancy.

AIM: To describe the characteristic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings of para-acetabular insufficiency fractures in patients with malignancy, and compare the MRI appearance of these fractures with that of metastatic bone disease. MATERIALS AND METHODS: MRI examinations were reviewed in 16 patients with a known malignant tumour and severe hip pain that raised the possibility of local recurrence or metastatic disease. Six patients had received pelvic irradiation, and three patients were receiving steroid medication. RESULTS: The total number of fractures detected was 21: a solitary fracture was present in 11 patients and five patients had bilateral para-acetabular fractures. Two patients had associated sacral insufficiency fractures, and one of them had stress fractures involving both acetabular columns. Conventional radiography allowed the diagnosis of 14 (67%) fractures; six (28%) radiographic examinations were negative; and one (5%) examination was equivocal for fracture. Available scintigraphic and computed tomography (CT) studies revealed typical findings of fracture. Using MRI, insufficiency fractures appeared as linear regions of low signal intensity on T1- and T2-weighted images. Marked marrow oedema was evident in all cases. Fractures characteristically were parallel to the superior acetabulum in a curvilinear fashion in 18 (86%) instances, and were oblique in three (14%) instances. The fractures demonstrated considerable enhancement after intravenous gadolinium administration. No associated soft tissue masses were documented. CONCLUSION: Para-acetabular insufficiency fractures are a cause of hip pain, which may mimic skeletal metastasis in the patient with malignancy and pelvic irradiation. Recognition of the characteristic MRI findings of these fractures can preclude misdiagnosis and unnecessary bone biopsy.

Motor neurone excitability in back muscles assessed using mechanically evoked reflexes in spinal cord injured patients.

OBJECTIVE: The clinical and functional assessment of back muscles in human spinal cord injury (SCI) has received little attention. The aim of this study was to develop a method to assess the level of a thoracic spinal cord lesion based on the reflex activation of back muscles. METHODS: In 11 control subjects and in 12 subjects with clinically complete thoracic SCI (T2-T12), either a spinous process or an erector spinae muscle was prodded to elicit short latency reflexes recorded electromyographically at the spinal level of stimulation. An electromagnetic servo, attached to a blunt probe, applied stimuli at a frequency of 1 Hz and amplitude of 3 mm. Two trials of 50 mechanical prods were conducted at each site. RESULTS: Reflexes were evoked in control subjects in 82% of trials when the spinous process was prodded, and in 80% of trials when the muscle was prodded. In contrast, reflexes in SCI subjects could be elicited in 90-100% of trials two segments either above or below the lesion. Reflex responses in control subjects had a mean (SEM) latency of 5.72 (0.53) ms when the spinous process was prodded, and 5.42 (0.42) ms when the muscle was prodded. In the SCI subjects, responses had slightly (but insignificantly) longer latencies both above and below the lesion to either stimulus. The amplitude of reflex responses, expressed as a percentage of the background EMG, was on average 2-3 times larger at the three vertebral levels spanning the lesion in SCI subjects than at sites above or below the lesion or at any level in control subjects. CONCLUSION: We propose that the size of these mechanically evoked reflexes may be useful in determining the level of thoracic SCI. Furthermore, the reflexes might provide a valuable tool with which to monitor recovery after an intervention to repair or improve function of a damaged spinal cord.

Posterolateral complex knee injuries: magnetic resonance imaging with surgical correlation.

PURPOSE: To describe the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings of injuries of the posterolateral aspect of the knee and to evaluate the diagnostic capabilities of MRI in the assessment of these injuries. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The MRI studies of 14 patients (mean age 33 years) with trauma to the posterolateral aspect of the knee were retrospectively reviewed, and the imaging findings were correlated with those of surgery. RESULTS: In all patients, MRI showed an intact iliotibial (ITB) band. MRI showed injury to the biceps tendon in 11 (79%), the gastrocnemius tendon in 1 (7%)), the popliteus tendon in 5 (36%), and the lateral collateral ligament (LCL) in 14 (100%) patients. Tear of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) was seen in 11 (79%) patients and tear of the posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) in 4 (29%) patients. With routine MRI, visualization of the popliteofibular or fabellofibular ligaments was incomplete. On MRI, the lateral meniscus and the medial meniscus were torn with equal frequency (n = 4; 29%). Osteochondral defects were seen in 5 (36%) cases and joint effusion in all 14 (100%) cases on MRI. Using surgical findings as the standard for diagnosis, MRI proved 86% accurate in the detection of injury to the ITB band, the biceps tendon (93%), the gastrocnemius tendon (100%), the popliteus tendon (86%), the LCL (100%), the ACL (79%), the PCL (86%), the lateral meniscus (90%), the medial meniscus (82%), and the osteochondral structures (79%). Surgical correlation confirmed the MRI findings of joint effusion in all cases. CONCLUSION: MRI is well suited for demonstrating the presence and extent of injuries of the major structures of the posterolateral complex of the knee, allowing characterization of the severity of injury.

Late Perthes disease after satisfactory treatment of congenital dislocation of the hip.

Late Perthes disease in children treated conservatively for congenital dislocation of the hip with good results seems rare. To our knowledge 14 cases have been reported in the literature. Three new cases, found among 2500 children with congenital dislocations of the hip, treated during the last 35 years are presented. The ages of the patients at admission were 14, 3, and 18 months, and late Perthes disease was seen 24, 26, and 36 months, respectively, after successful conservative treatment of congenital dislocation of the hip. This condition has differences from other types of ischemic necrosis of the proximal end of the femur. The changes are severe and involvement of the acetabulum contributes significantly to acetabular deficiency and subluxation. Severe deformities of the proximal end of the femur and the acetabulum are responsible for failure of reconstructive procedures such as shelf and Chiari's operations in two of our patients. The cause of this condition is unknown.

Towards improved clinical and physiological assessments of recovery in spinal cord injury: a clinical initiative.

Clinical practice and scientific research may soon lead to treatments designed to repair spinal cord injury. Repair is likely to be partial in the first trials, extending only one or two segments below the original injury. Furthermore, treatments that are becoming available are likely to be applied to the thoracic spinal cord to minimise loss of function resulting from damage to surviving connections. These provisos have prompted research into the improvement of clinical and physiological tests designed (1) to determine the level and density of a spinal cord injury, (2) to provide reliable monitoring of recovery over one or two spinal cord segments, and (3) to provide indices of function provided by thoracic spinal root innervation, presently largely ignored in assessment of spinal cord injury. This article reviews progress of the Clinical Initiative, sponsored by the International Spinal Research Trust, to advance the clinical and physiological tests of sensory, motor and autonomic function needed to achieve these aims.

Challenging Alexis Carrel: a study in alternate microvascular techniques.

INTRODUCTION: Alexis Carrel pioneered the full-thickness triangulated vascular repair technique, which led to a Nobel Prize in 1912. However, microvascular anastomotic techniques that do not violate the intima, such as the VCS microclip repair and partial-thickness suturing, limit trauma to the intima, thus minimizing the potential for thrombosis. Our study compares such techniques with the standard full thickness-anastomotic repair. METHODS: Thirty-two end-to-end anastomotic repairs were performed in rat femoral arteries 1 mm or less in diameter. Group I: thirteen full-thickness repairs were completed using 10-0 nylon on a BV75 microm needle. Nineteen extraluminal repairs were performed using either a partial thickness technique with an 11-0 nylon BV50 microm needle (Group II, n = 12) or VCS nonpenetrating clip (Group III, n=7). Casted samples, injected with methylmethacrylate, were harvested at 1 and 3 weeks for histopathological evaluation. The presence of thrombosis, inflammation, endothelialization, angiogenesis and intimal hyperplasia were described for each repair. RESULTS: Statistical analysis revealed no difference between the intraluminal and extraluminal techniques. Patency rates were similar between both groups: 92% (12/13) for Group I and 94% (17/18) for the extraluminal Groups II and III combined. One-hundred per cent of partial thickness suture repairs were patent. Histology revealed localized inflammation to the adventitia and media, as well as endothelialization at 1 week for anastomoses in Groups II and III. The intima of Group I demonstrated proliferative characteristics in contrast to the extraluminal groups, where secretory myofibroblasts were prevalent. The anastomotic microcirculation did not originate from the repaired artery in any of the groups. CONCLUSION: Patency rates with end-to-end anastomotic repairs using a partial thickness technique are comparable to the standard full-thickness technique. Repairs that do not include the intima revealed focal inflammatory responses to the outer layers and more rapid endothelialization, while neighboring vessels perfuse the healing anastomosis.

Avulsion fractures of the medial and lateral malleoli of the ankle in cadavers: new radiographic projections for improved diagnosis.

The malleolar attachment sites of the tibionavicular (TN), tibiocalcaneal (TC), posterior tibiotalar (PTT), anterior talofibular (ATF), and calcaneofibular (CF) ligaments of 3 cadaveric ankles were dissected. Standard and new radiographic projections of the ankle were obtained with the foot in different positions and various degrees of beam angulation. Simulated avulsion injuries related to these ligaments were created, and the visibility of these structures was assessed. Avulsion injuries of the TN ligament were better assessed in the plantar-flexed radiographs with lateral beam angulation. Standard projections were found to adequately depict avulsion fractures related to the TC and CF ligaments. Radiographs in external ankle rotation were best for evaluating injuries of the PTT ligament. Avulsion injuries related to the ATF ligament were best visualized in the plantar-flexed views with medial beam angulation. Modified radiographic projections of the ankle improve visualization of ligamentous structures of the malleoli and avulsion injuries related to those.

MR imaging of uncommon recurrence of fibrolipomatous hamartoma of the ulnar nerve.

We present the MR and histopathologic findings of fibrolipomatous hamartoma (FLH) of the ulnar nerve in a 54-year-old woman, a lipomatous process that rarely affects the ulnar nerve. The case illustrated is further unusual as a local soft tissue recurrent mass developed over a remarkably long course of the disease.

Vena cava filter placement using a cutdown of the superficial epigastric vein.

Percutaneous placement of vena cava filters through the femoral vein has been associated with insertion site venous thrombosis. Reported incidence varies from 2% to 41%. In the majority of placements, sequential dilators are used to create the venotomy and subcutaneous tract. This technique disrupts all layers of the vein wall. The injured area may extend as far proximal as the dilator or sheath is placed. The authors present their experience with placement of vena cava filters using a cutdown of the superficial epigastric vein. During a 5-year period, 27 patients underwent placement of the LGM-Vena Tech vena cava filter via a femoral approach. A cutdown of the superficial epigastric vein was performed. The guidewire, dilator, and introducer sheath were inserted under direct fluoroscopic examination. After removal of the dilator, the LGM-Vena Tech filter was placed through the introducer. There were no wound infections and no clinical signs of insertion site venous thrombosis in the postoperative period. Insertion site venous thrombosis is a well-documented complication of percutaneous filter placement. Superficial epigastric vein cutdown is a reasonable alternative technique, which allows gentle atraumatic manipulation of the femoral vein. It is a simple, safe procedure that can be performed without any significant increase in operative time and no additional morbidity.