Effects of temperature and humidity on peritonsillar abscess volume of emergency patients.

Climate and temperature have long been considered in relation to human diseases and mortality. In this study, we investigated whether daily temperature and humidity and patients' personal history affect the volume of peritonsillar abscesses (PTAs). We included 52 patients with PTAs who were admitted to the emergency department of the study hospital; their computed tomography data were analyzed, and PTA volume was measured. We investigated the possible correlation between PTA volume and mean/minimum/maximum temperature and humidity. Furthermore, we obtained personal history data, including information on drinking status, smoking status, dental problems, and patients' treatment experiences at local clinics before visiting the emergency department. The mean PTA volume was 3.93 mL, which was significantly correlated with temperature differences between 1 and 2 days before hospitalization and the day of hospitalization (P < .05) and also with a lack of treatment experience at local clinics (P < .001). However, no significant correlation was noted between PTA volume and the mean/minimum/maximum temperature and humidity on the day of hospitalization (P > .05). Similar findings were obtained for drinking status, smoking status, and dental problems (P > .1). PTA volume appears to be strongly associated with temperature differences between 1 and 2 days before hospitalization and the day of hospitalization. Patients with treatment experience at local clinics exhibited substantial increases in PTA volume. Thus, an increased PTA volume may be observed in patients who visit the emergency department without any treatment experience at local clinics or from environments that differ considerably from their current environment in terms of temperature.

Patterns of failure after postoperative intensity-modulated radiotherapy for locally advanced buccal cancer: Initial masticator space involvement is the key factor of recurrence.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to determine failure patterns and clinicopathologic prognostic factors in patients with locally advanced buccal cancer after postoperative intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT). METHODS: Eighty-two patients with locally advanced (American Joint Committee on Cancer [AJCC] stage III/IV) buccal cancer who underwent surgery followed by postoperative IMRT between January 2007 and October 2012 were retrospectively analyzed. RESULTS: Eighteen patients had local recurrences as the first recurrent site and 11 had supramandibular notch recurrences; the majority of recurrences were classified as marginal failures. The median time from the first local or regional recurrence to death was 5.9 months. In multivariate analyses of survivals, the initial masticator space involvement was the most important prognostic factor. Masticator space involvement, N classification, and maxillectomy were the significant prognostic predictors for supramandibular notch recurrences. CONCLUSION: Postoperative IMRT for buccal cancer should not include the surgical beds alone, rather, it should be based on the potential patterns of spread.

Diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging and apparent diffusion coefficient mapping for diagnosing infectious spondylodiscitis: a preliminary study.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Though diffusion-weighted (DW) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is useful for diagnosing many pathologies, its use in infectious spondylodiscitis is unclear. We aimed to evaluate the use of DW MRI and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) mapping for the diagnosis of infectious spondylodiscitis. METHODS: In this retrospective study, 17 patients with confirmed infectious spondylodiscitis were matched by age and level of infected disc with 17 patients with degenerative disc disease (DDD) and 17 healthy controls. All patients received conventional MRI and diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) in the same imaging session. ADC values of the 3 groups of patients were compared. RESULTS: The mean age of each group was 67.4 ± 11.6 years. The mean ADCs of the normal control, DDD, and infectious spondylodiscitis groups were 1.76 ± 0.19 × 10(-3) , 1.12 ± 0.22 × 10(-3) , and 1.27 ± 0.38 × 10(-3) mm2 /second, respectively. The ADCs of the DDD and infectious spondylodiscitis groups were both significantly lower than that of the normal control group (both, P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: These data suggest that DWI/ADC MRI may be useful in the early diagnosis of infectious spondylodiscitis.

Effect of carotid artery aberrancy on the distance between the vessel and nasopharyngeal subsites.

BACKGROUND: Life-threatening hemorrhaging due to nasopharyngeal internal carotid artery (ICA) aberrancy may occur during routine nasopharyngeal surgery. To understand better the potential adverse effect of nasopharyngeal ICA aberrancy on routine nasopharyngeal surgery, we classified aberrant nasopharyngeal ICAs and analyzed the differences in mean distances from the ICA to nasopharyngeal subsites between aberrant and nonaberrant vessels. METHODS: The courses of nasopharyngeal ICAs were examined and classified for an aberrant pathway. Various distances were measured on magnetic resonance brain scans. The mean values of the measured variables were compared using an unpaired two-sample t test. RESULTS: The mean distances to the torus tubarius, the opening of Rosenmuller's fossa, and the posterior nasopharyngeal wall were 19.6 mm, 15.8 mm, and 16.7 mm, respectively, in the aberrant case group, and 23.1 mm (p < 0.001), 19.8 mm (p < 0.001), and 20.7 mm (p < 0.001) in the nonaberrant control group. CONCLUSION: The mean distances between the ICA and nasopharyngeal subsites were significantly shortened (by 15-21%) in the presence of aberrant nasopharyngeal segments, which may increase the risk of severe complications in common and uncomplicated nasopharyngeal surgery, such as adenoidectomy, eustachian tuboplasty, and nasopharyngeal biopsies. However, the mean distances were not shortened by the severity (kinking and coiling) of the aberrant nasopharyngeal carotid arteries.

Risk factors for internal carotid artery injury in adults during simple nasopharyngeal surgeries.

The purpose of this study attempted to analyze the potential risk factors for internal carotid artery injury during simple nasopharyngeal surgeries with or without an endoscopic aid. One hundred and seventy magnetic resonance imaging scans (340 halves) of the brain were retrospectively reviewed and studied. Anatomic variations of carotid arteries were classified, and various distances from the internal carotid arteries to the nasopharyngeal subsites were directly measured on the scans. The mean distances between the internal carotid arteries and nasopharyngeal subsites were significantly shortened in patients with nasopharyngeal internal carotid artery aberrancy, female gender, and lower body weight. The distance to the posterior nasopharyngeal wall was also shortened with age. However, the severity of nasopharyngeal carotid artery variations (kinking and coiling) did not reflect the shortening of mean distances to nasopharyngeal subsites. In conclusion, from multiple linear regression analysis, we found that the risk of an internal carotid artery injury during simple nasopharyngeal surgeries with or without an endoscopic aid is greatest in adult patients with nasopharyngeal carotid artery aberrancy, followed by female gender, lower body weight, and increasing age.

Arterial spin-labeling in routine clinical practice: a preliminary experience of 200 cases and correlation with MRI and clinical findings.

We described our experience with a heterogeneous collection of 200 arterial spin-labeling (ASL) perfusion cases. ASL imaging was performed on a 1.5-T magnetic resonance imaging unit with a receive head coil using a second version of quantitative perfusion imaging. Sixty-four (32%) patients exhibited normal perfusion, 107 (53.5%) patients exhibited hypoperfusion, and 29 (14.5%) exhibited hyperperfusion. This ASL study illustrates the usefulness of ASL perfusion studies in a number of pathological conditions and that perfusion imaging can be implemented successfully in a routine clinical neuroimaging protocol.

Rebleeding of aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage in computed tomography angiography: risk factor, rebleeding pattern, and outcome analysis.

OBJECTIVE: For patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), computed tomography angiography (CTA) has been the first imaging modality for aneurysm detection. We evaluate the rate, time distribution, risk factors, and clinical outcome of aneurysmal rebleeding by CTA findings. METHODS: Consecutive patients with SAH presenting to our hospital, a tertiary care hospital, were retrospectively included. We reviewed images for all patients receiving an initial noncontrast computed tomography scan and further CTA for nontraumatic SAH surveillance with focus on rebleeding evidence. RESULTS: A total of 12 patients with early aneurysmal rebleeding (12/110 patients [10.9%]) within 6 hours after emergency room arrival were found with dismal outcome (50% mortality) and 3 rebleeding patterns: pattern 1 of rapid active bleeding with contrast extravasation, pattern 2 of slow active bleeding with contrast leakage in the delayed venous phase, and pattern 3 of hematoma enlargement. The risk factor and poor prognostic sign include larger aneurysm diameter (≧7 mm) and contrast extravasation during CTA. CONCLUSIONS: Rebleeding rate of aneurysmal SAH in the hyperacute stage at less than 6 hours is 10.9% with poor prognosis in this study, especially in patients with active bleeding demonstrated in CTA.

Intracranial dural metastatic prostate cancer can mimic meningioma: a report of two cases.

Cerebral metastases from any malignancy, including prostate carcinoma, may present as a meningeal mass, and differentiating the lesion from a meningioma can be challenging. We report the clinical and neuroimaging features of two patients with dural metastases from prostate carcinoma and discuss differentiation of metastatic lesions from meningioma. In both patients, it appeared that the prostate carcinoma had been successfully treated, and neither patient was found to have any other metastases at the time of diagnosis of the dural lesions.

Malignant transformation of a benign oncocytoma of the submandibular gland: a case report.

Oncocytic carcinoma arising in the submandibular gland is an extremely rare tumor and only 11 cases have been reported previously. We report on a 51-year-old man with a previously benign oncocytoma in the submandibular gland that transformed from a benign morphology to malignant cellular atypia and mitosis. To our knowledge, the current report is the first published case of a malignant transformation from benign oncocytoma to oncocytic carcinoma of the submandibular gland. The proliferative activity of the tumor cells was evaluated immunohistochemically using antibodies against Ki-67.

Pituitary macroadenoma co-existent with supraclinoid internal carotid artery cerebral aneurysm: a case report and review of the literature.

With improved angiographic techniques and magnetic resonance angiography available today, an increasing number of incidental aneurysms are being detected. Occurrence of an intracranial aneurysm together with a pituitary adenoma presents tremendous risk to the patient, particularly when the aneurysm lies near the operative field.A 61-year-old woman presented with a progressive visual field defect. Neurological examination revealed bi-temporal haemianopia. Cerebral magnetic resonance imaging and angiography revealed a pituitary macroadenoma co-existent with a cerebral aneurysm near the sellar region. The patient underwent an endovascular procedure for aneurysm embolisation and then underwent surgery for removal of the pituitary adenoma via a trans-sphenoidal approach.We report our experience and emphasize the need for critical evaluation of neuroradiological examinations for precise diagnosis for avoiding a possible life-threatening situation.