Correlation between depth of myocardial bridging and coronary angiography findings.

BACKGROUND: Myocardial bridging (MB) is a congenital anomaly in which a segment of coronary artery is surrounded by myocardium. PURPOSE: To investigate the correlation between muscle thickness over the tunneled coronary artery (depth) in MB and the presence of milking effect (ME) and systolic narrowing ratio in catheter angiography (CA). MATERIAL AND METHODS: The records of 36 patients who underwent a coronary computed tomography angiography (CTA) and following CA examination for suspicious ischemic coronary artery disease, between March 2005 and September 2007, were retrospectively evaluated. According to the depth of MB on CTA, patients were grouped into four groups: group 1, <1 mm; group 2, 1- <2 mm; group 3, 2- <4 mm; group 4, >or=4 mm. The presence of milking effect, systolic narrowing ratio, and atherosclerotic stenosis at CA were recorded. CTA and CA results were then compared to evaluate the correlation. RESULTS: In total, ME was found in 15 arteries at CA (42%). There was no ME in group 1; it was present in 11% of group 2, 67% of group 3, and 100% of group 4. Starting from group 3, the percentage of likelihood of seeing the milking effect was 77%, and the percentage of systolic narrowing was between 30 and 70%. There was a significant correlation between depth of MB and systolic narrowing (P<0.01), while no significant correlation between length of MB and systolic narrowing was found (P=0.32). In seven of the 36 patients (group 1, 0; group 2, 1; group 3, 3; group 4, 3), clinical findings were related to pure MB. CONCLUSION: The depth of MB is positively related to coronary narrowing and clinical ischemic findings.

Spondylometaphyseal dysplasia, type VII.

Spondylometaphyseal dysplasia was first described by Kozlowski et al. in 1967 as a new dysplastic bone disease, characterized by metaphyseal dysplasia associated with generalized platyspondyly in the vertebral column [1]. Kozlowski et al. have pointed out the autosomal dominant transmission of this disorder at that time. However, later reports showed that the manner of genetic transmission and the degree of the manifestation of the radiological findings could be variable and accordingly seven types of spondylometaphyseal dysplasia were described [2]. In this article, three cases displaying one of the rare forms of spondylometaphyseal dysplasia, "type VII" are presented and the diagnostic findings as well as the differential diagnostic criteria are discussed.

Computed tomography in agenesis of the right lobe of the liver.

Congenital agenesis of the right lobe of the liver is a rare anomaly. In a case report the diagnosis was made by computed tomography. A retro- or suprahepatic location of the gallbladder and compensatory hypertrophy of the left liver lobe and/or caudate lobe may give support to the diagnosis. Before diagnosing congenital agenesis of the lobe, lobar atrophy due to cirrhosis, cholangiocarcinoma or any other predisposing conditions should be eliminated.

The Hajdu-Cheney syndrome: a case report and review of the literature.

Hajdu-Cheney syndrome which is also known as type VI idiopathic osteolysis is a rare disease transmitted autosomal dominantly. In this syndrome, osteolysis involves primarily the terminal phalanges. We describe here a 18-year-old boy with typical clinical and radiological signs of Hajdu-Cheney syndrome.

Unilocular orbital, cerebral and intraventricular hydatid cysts: CT diagnosis.

A 10-year-old girl with surgically proven unilocular hydatid cysts within the frontal horn of the right lateral ventricle, in the right orbit and another the left frontal region is reported. The intraventricular cyst was diagnosed on CT examination with intrathecal contrast medium injected via lumbar puncture.

Primary hypertrophic osteoarthropathy.

In this article a family with five members suffering from primary hypertrophic osteoarthropathy (PHO) is reported. Our cases are characterized by swollen and painful joints and clubbing of distal phalanges of hands and feet. The diagnosis made upon on radiological and clinical findings.

Bilateral split-hand with bilateral tibial aplasia.

The familial type of congenital split-hand associated with aplasia of the tibia is a very rare anomaly. Moreover, bilateral involvement of the hands and legs of the individual case is much rarer. In this paper, a case showing bilateral split-hand associated with bilateral tibial aplasia is presented, being the fourth case reported in the literature. The relevant literature is also reviewed.