Appropriate interslice gap for screening coronal paranasal sinus tomography for mucosal thickening.

The objective of this study was to establish the appropriate interslice gap for screening coronal paranasal sinus tomography to identify sinus mucosal thickening. We reviewed 100 coronal paranasal sinus tomographic scans (interslice gap, 2 mm) that had been performed at our institution between January 2004 and November 2004 to evaluate rhinosinusitis. Digital photographs of all slices from each tomographic scan were taken. The intervening slices were eliminated to form six different sets of interslice gaps of 4, 6, 8, 10, 16, and 20 mm. The remaining slices for each set were moved to corresponding folders created on a computer to catalog each interslice gap. The same specialist evaluated each folder of interslice gap. The paranasal sinuses, the ethmoid infundibulum, and the frontal recess were evaluated for mucosal thickening. The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of each interslice gap in detecting mucosal thickening were calculated by accepting the results of 2-mm-thick slices as the gold standard. The interslice gap of 2 mm was compared with that of other interslice gaps using the chi-square test for dependent groups (the McNemar test). The value of 20 mm interslice gap in detecting sinus mucosal thickening was found to be significantly low when compared with the interslice gap of 2 mm (P = 0.022). Using coronal paranasal sinus tomography, an interslice gap up to 16 mm may be used to detect sinus mucosal thickening.

Unilateral inferior turbinate agenesis: a case report.

Many common anatomic variations in the nasal cavity have been observed, including paradoxical turbinates and pneumatization of the inferior, middle, and superior turbinates. We describe a case of a rare anomaly-unilateral inferior turbinate agenesis-in a 65-year-old man who had presented with epistaxis. During evaluation, anterior rhinoscopic examination revealed the absence of the right inferior turbinate; this finding was confirmed on computed tomography. The patient had never undergone nasal or sinus surgery, and he denied ever having expelled anything of significance from his nasal cavity. This case merits attention because of the rarity of reports on turbinate agenesis.

The role of standing flexion-extension radiographs for spondylolisthesis following single level disk surgery.

OBJECTIVES: Spondylolisthesis is the forward displacement of a lumbar vertebra relative to the adjacent vertebra, occurs as result degeneration or surgery and is a special type of lumbar instability. There is no consensus about which radiologic modality or findings truly reflect the lumbar instability and the exact incidence after single level disk surgery is unknown. METHODS: In this prospective study, we have included 90 patients who were operated by the same surgeon with single level disk herniation. We aimed at evaluating the post-operative lumbar spondylolisthesis, with flexion and extension lateral radiographs in addition to standard magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). RESULTS: We have seen spondylolisthesis in six of 90 cases with standing lateral flexion-extension radiographs, which were undefinable with MRI. Pain intensity and functional-economic rating scale (Prolo scale) were unremarkable. DISCUSSION: We have concluded that standing flexion-extension radiographs should be routinely combined in patients with failed back surgery syndrome and even if lumbar instability is clinically suspected, especially when conventional MR examination is normal. When the MR examination showed spondylolisthesis, standing flexion-extension radiographs could not give additional information.

CT and MRI findings in calvarial non-infectious lesions.

Differential diagnosis of the calvarial lesions is important in order to decide whether biopsy, surgical intervention, or follow-up is required for further management. In this pictorial essay on calvarial lesions, lytic or sclerotic patterns, contours of the lesions, calcifications, soft tissue components, inner and outer table localizations were evaluated with computed tomography (CT). On magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) signal characteristics and contrast enhancement of the lesion, relation to brain parenchyma and soft tissue were evaluated. CT scan is considered to be the best examination to characterize bone alterations whereas MRI depicts bone marrow abnormalities and invasion of adjacent tissues.

Successful medical treatment of intracranial abscess caused by Brucella spp.

An unusual presentation of unilateral cerebellar abscesses due to neurobrucellosis observed in a patient is reported. He gave a history of fever, headache, vomiting and had unilateral cerebellar signs. The abscess was detected on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and analysis of cerebrospinal fluid revealed neurobrucellosis. Patient treated by only antibiotics therapy, evolving to complete clinical and radiological resolution, without neurosurgical intervention. We are presenting a case of cerebellar abscess due to neurobrucellosis diagnosed by MRI, treated medically, and had both radiologic and clinical follow-up. We also made a review of the literature concerning the cerebellar abscess due to neurobrucellosis.

Cavernous hemangioma of the middle turbinate: a case report.

Most cavernous hemangiomas present at birth or soon after. Cavernous hemangiomas of the nasal cavity, which are rare, usually do not present until adulthood; their incidence peaks in the fourth decade of life. Most affected patients experience epistaxis or hemoptysis and an enlarging lesion in the nose. Histologically, cavernous hemangiomas appear as closely packed, dilated vascular channels lined with a layer of flattened endothelial cells. We describe the case of a 32-year-old man who was admitted to our clinic with the complaint of a nasal obstruction. On anterior rhinoscopy, he was found to have a hypervascularized and hypertrophied left middle turbinate and septal deviation. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging of the paranasal sinuses demonstrated a well-defined cystic lesion that had arisen within the bony left middle turbinate and caused deviation of the septum to the right. The lesion was excised via endoscopic surgery with general anesthesia. No complications occurred during the postoperative period. Histologic examination identified the tumor as a cavernous hemangioma. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case reported in the English-language literature of a cavernous hemangioma appearing as a cystic mass in the middle turbinate.

Three-slice computerized tomography for the diagnosis and follow-up of rhinosinusitis.

Plain sinus radiography is the imaging technique most frequently used to investigate suspected rhinosinusitis, but it has low diagnostic sensitivity. Contiguous paranasal computerized tomography (CT) gives detailed information about the pathology, anatomy and anatomical variations of the paranasal sinuses, but this method also has limitations. The cost of using this technique for all cases of suspected rhinosinusitis is prohibitive, and complete CT scans involve considerable radiation exposure. The aim of this study was to devise a CT protocol for diagnosing and following rhinosinusitis that is more economical and involves much less radiation exposure than contiguous CT. In this retrospective study, three physicians independently reviewed the contiguous coronal paranasal CT studies of 136 patients. The study population comprised the adult patients who were investigated for suspected chronic rhinosinusitis. All scans had been obtained at the second visit, after the patient had completed a 3-week course of medical treatment. For each case, the same three slices were selected to form the "three-slice CT" exam, and the same physicians independently evaluated this set. Using the results from the contiguous set as the gold standard, we calculated the sensitivity and specificity of three-slice CT for identifying rhinosinusitis. The sensitivity and specificity of three-slice CT for identifying inflammatory sinus disease were 95.1 and 92.6%, respectively. Three-slice CT is a valuable method for diagnosing and following rhinosinusitis cases, and would be cheaper and involve less radiation exposure than contiguous coronal CT. However, despite the high cost and greater radiation exposure, contiguous CT remains the gold standard for evaluating detailed sinus anatomy and disease progression.

Management of fronto-orbital sphenoidal and facial osteosarcoma: a case with uncommon localization.

Osteogenic sarcomas of the head and neck are rarely seen; approximately 6% to 13% these tumors occur in the head and neck, and less than 2% occur in the cranium. Not only eradication of the tumor but reconstruction to achieve satisfactory esthetic and functional results are the main issues regarding these tumors. In this report, a case of osteogenic sarcoma that invaded the infratemporal area, fronto-orbital region, and sphenoid wing is presented. The surgical results of eradication and reconstruction are also presented.

[Subcapsular fatty infiltration of the liver in peritoneal dialysis patients treated with intraperitoneal insulin: US and CT features (case report)]. / Intraperitoneal insülin uygulanan periton diyaliz hastalarinda karacigerde subkapsüler yaglanma: US ve BT bulgulari.

In recent years a characteristic subcapsular and periligamentous fatty infiltration of the liver has been reported in diabetic patients on intraperitoneal insulin treatment by continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis. The finding is unique to these patients on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis and has not been defined in diabetics using subcutaneous insulin. We present characteristic US and CT findings in two such patients with focal subcapsular fatty infiltration of the liver.

Color Doppler analysis of vertebral arteries: correlative study with angiographic data.

OBJECTIVE: Color Doppler ultrasonography is the most widespread diagnostic procedure in obstructive disease of the arteries supplying the brain. To our knowledge, there are only a few correlative color Doppler ultrasonographic and angiographic studies of the vertebral arteries, especially in patients who have flow-restrictive stenosis at the carotid bifurcation. The main purpose of this prospective study was to evaluate diameter, flow volume, and time-averaged mean velocities of angiographically verified normal vertebral arteries without collateral flow. The second purpose was to try to establish a threshold value for the flow volume of the vertebral artery. METHODS: One hundred twenty patients referred for carotid angiography with a normal vertebrobasilar system and with no patent posterior communicating arteries were investigated with color Doppler ultrasonography. Luminal diameter, time-averaged mean velocity, peak systolic velocity, and flow volume values were calculated for each patient. The parameters were compared between sexes, in different age groups, in patients with carotid stenosis of 50% or less and greater than 50%, and in patients who had clinical signs of vertebrobasilar insufficiency versus those who had not. RESULTS: We have found no significant difference in evaluated parameters with the degree of associated carotid stenosis or vertebrobasilar insufficiency. Diameter and flow volume values on the left side were higher than on the right side. CONCLUSIONS: We found similar flow volume values of vertebral arteries in both sexes and both groups of patients with carotid stenosis of 50% or less and greater than 50%. All parameters did not differ in patients with stenosis of 50% or less and greater than 50% and in patients with and without clinical signs of vertebrobasilar insufficiency.