[A case of idiopathic mesenteric phlebosclerosis].

Idiopathic mesenteric phlebosclerosis, rare disease entity causing chronic mesenteric ischemia is a member of non-thrombotic, non-inflammatory stenosis or occlusion of the mesenteric veins. The histologic hallmark is marked fibrous mural thickening and sclerosis of the vessel wall. It is frequently accompanied by calcification in the vessel wall. We report the case of a 61-year-old woman with idiopathic mesenteric phlebosclerosis. To our knowledge, this is the first case reported in Korea.

Effect of transforaminal epidural polydeoxyribonucleotide injections on lumbosacral radiculopathy: A case report.

RATIONALE: Transforaminal epidural glucocorticoids administration is widely performed for the management of lumbosacral radiculopathy. However, it may worsen the condition of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM). Polydeoxyribonucleotide (PDRN) was recently noted as a substitute for glucocorticoids. PATIENT CONCERNS: A 44-year-old male patient was admitted to our pain clinic with symptoms of low back pain with severe pain and tingling sensation of left posterolateral leg. He had type 2 DM medicated with Glimepiride and Metformin. Blood glucose level was 367 mg/dL. He declined to use glucocorticoid. DIAGNOSES: He was diagnosed as left foraminal disc protrusion at L4-5, left subarticular disc protrusion at L5-S1. INTERVENTIONS: Fluoroscopically guided transforaminal epidural PDRN injections were carried out. OUTCOMES: The patient was followed up for more than 6 months and demonstrated good improvement in lumbosacral radiculopathy without any complications. LESSONS: This is the first successful report on epidural injection of PDRN.

Dural sac area is a more sensitive parameter for evaluating lumbar spinal stenosis than spinal canal area: A retrospective study.

Narrowing of the dural sac cross-sectional area (DSCSA) and spinal canal cross-sectional area (SCCSA) have been considered major causes of lumbar central canal spinal stenosis (LCCSS). DSCSA and SCCSA were previously correlated with subjective walking distance before claudication occurs, aging, and disc degeneration. DSCSA and SCCSA have been ideal morphological parameters for evaluating LCCSS. However, the comparative value of these parameters is unknown and no studies have evaluated the clinical optimal cut-off values of DSCSA and SCCSA. This study assessed which parameter is more sensitive.Both DSCSA and SCCSA samples were collected from 135 patients with LCCSS, and from 130 control subjects who underwent lumbar magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) as part of a medical examination. Axial T2-weighted MRI scans were acquired at the level of facet joint from each subject. DSCSA and SCCSA were measured at the L4-L5 intervertebral level on MRI using a picture archiving and communications system.The average DSCSA value was 151.67 ±â€Š53.59 mm in the control group and 80.04 ±â€Š35.36 mm in the LCCSS group. The corresponding average SCCSA values were 199.95 ±â€Š60.96 and 119.17 ±â€Š49.41 mm. LCCSS patients had significantly lower DSCSA and SCCSA (both P < .001). Regarding the validity of both DSCSA and SCCSA as predictors of LCCSS, Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis revealed an optimal cut-off value for DSCSA of 111.09 mm, with 80.0% sensitivity, 80.8% specificity, and an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.87 (95% confidence interval, 0.83-0.92). The best cut off-point of SCCSA was 147.12 mm, with 74.8% sensitivity, 78.5% specificity, and AUC of 0.85 (95% confidence interval, 0.81-0.89).DSCSA and SCCSA were both significantly associated with LCCSS, with DSCSA being a more sensitive measurement parameter. Thus, to evaluate LCCSS patients, pain specialists should more carefully investigate the DSCSA than SCCSA.