Influence of patient age on angioarchitecture of brain arteriovenous malformations.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The imaging characteristics and modes of presentation of brain AVMs may vary with patient age. Our aim was to determine whether clinical and angioarchitectural features of brain AVMs differ between children and adults. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A prospectively collected institutional data base of all patients diagnosed with brain AVMs since 2001 was queried. Demographic, clinical, and angioarchitecture information was summarized and analyzed with univariable and multivariable models. RESULTS: Results often differed when age was treated as a continuous variable as opposed to dividing subjects into children (18 years or younger; n = 203) versus adults (older than 18 years; n = 630). Children were more likely to present with AVM hemorrhage than adults (59% versus 41%, P < .001). Although AVMs with a larger nidus presented at younger ages (mean of 26.8 years for >6 cm compared with 37.1 years for <3 cm), this feature was not significantly different between children and adults (P = .069). Exclusively deep venous drainage was more common in younger subjects when age was treated continuously (P = .04) or dichotomized (P < .001). Venous ectasia was more common with increasing age (mean, 39.4 years with ectasia compared with 31.1 years without ectasia) and when adults were compared with children (52% versus 35%, P < .001). Patients with feeding artery aneurysms presented at a later average age (44.1 years) than those without such aneurysms (31.6 years); this observation persisted when comparing children with adults (13% versus 29%, P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: Although children with brain AVMs were more likely to come to clinical attention due to hemorrhage than adults, venous ectasia and feeding artery aneurysms were under-represented in children, suggesting that these particular high-risk features take time to develop.

Management of severe reflux in the patient with cyclophosphamide cystitis.

Cyclophosphamide cystitis with a high grade of vesicoureteral reflux can lead to rapid renal deterioration. Conventional ureteral reimplantation is inadvisable and urinary diversion, although providing a temporary solution, could lead to long-term complications, particularly in children. We present a case of cyclophosphamide cystitis with vesicoureteral reflux and upper tract deterioration managed successfully with ileocecocystoplasty. This method of management should be considered early in such a patient.

Fertility after ectopic pregnancy.

In the period July 1983 to March 1985, 264 women had surgery for ectopic pregnancy at Grady Memorial Hospital; 76 had postoperative hysterosalpingograms. Of these, 55 (76.4%) women were followed up for 3 to 41 months (mean, 23.8) to determine subsequent fertility. During the follow-up period, 30 pregnancies occurred among the 55 patients; 24 were intrauterine and 6 were repeat ectopic pregnancies. In the surgical group of 39 patients with salpingectomy, 60.8% of those desiring pregnancy achieved an intrauterine pregnancy. Of the 12 patients with salpingostomy, the three who desired pregnancy achieved it (100%). In the tubal abortion group, the two women desiring pregnancy conceived (100%). There were six repeat ectopic pregnancies (10.9%). Of the ectopic pregnancies, one occurred in the salpingectomy group (2.6%), four in the salpingostomy group (33.3%), and one in the tubal abortion group (25%). Five of the six ectopic gestations were found in the contralateral fallopian tube. Hysterosalpingographic evidence of contralateral tubal patency was a good prognostic indicator for subsequent intrauterine pregnancy. By contrast, one half of study patients with findings suggesting tubal occlusion still achieved an intrauterine pregnancy.

Hysterosalpingographic evaluation of tubal patency after ectopic pregnancy.

In the period 1983 to 1985, hysterosalpingography was performed in 76 women after laparotomy to manage ectopic gestations. Clinical characteristics of these women, including their operative findings, were then correlated with the follow-up hysterosalpingography. Study participants were classified into five groups according to surgical management of the ectopic gestation. In each of the five groups, a substantial percentage of those women with a nonpatent fallopian tube (contralateral to the tube bearing the ectopic gestation) on hysterosalpingography had a normal-appearing fallopian tube at laparotomy. Approximately 50% of women with a history of previous pelvic inflammatory disease were found to have nonpatent contralateral fallopian tubes on follow-up hysterosalpingography.