Diagnostic value of bright spotty lesions on MRI after a first episode of acute myelopathy.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: To determine the diagnostic value of bright spotty lesions (BSLs) for aquaporin-4 antibody-positive neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSDAQP4+), the predictive value of axial-BSLs for AQP4-IgG seropositivity, and the radio-clinical differences in NMOSDAQP4+ patients with and without axial-BSLs. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retrospective study that included patients aged≥16 years, with a first acute spinal cord syndrome between 2005 and 2018 and abnormal spinal cord MRI with axial and sagittal T2 sequences. Patients with MRI findings consistent with compressive myelopathy were excluded. All spinal cord MRI were retrospectively evaluated for the presence of BSLs by 2 radiologists blinded to the diagnosis of acute myelopathy. RESULTS: A total of 82 patients were included; 15 aquaporin-4 antibody-positive neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder patients (NMOSDAQP4+), and 67 other patients, considered as the other causes of myelopathy (OM) group. The specificity of axial-BSLs for NMOSDAQP4+ patients was 94.0% (95% CI [85.6 to 97.7]). The sensitivity was 40.0% (95% CI [19.8 to 64.3]). In the multivariable analysis, the only MRI characteristic associated with AQP4-IgG positivity was the presence of axial-BSLs (OR: 9.2, 95% CI [1.2 to 72.9]; P=0.022). In NMOSDAQP4+ patients, the median of cord expansion ratio was higher with axial-BSL (1.2, IQR [1.1-1.3]) than without axial-BSL (1.1, IQR [1.0-1.2]; P=0.046). CONCLUSION: After a first acute spinal cord syndrome, the presence of axial-BSLs on spinal cord MRI seems very specific for NMOSDAQP4+ and seems to be a predictor radiological marker of AQP4-IgG positivity.

Evaluation of virtual surgical planning systems and customized devices in fibula free flap mandibular reconstruction.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of virtual planning using customized surgical devices (VP3D) in fibula free flap mandibular reconstruction. METHODS: Fourteen patients received VP3D and 16 patients underwent conventional surgery (CS). Virtual planning was compared to postoperative scans using cephalometric and three-dimensional (3D) measurements. Operative times of both VP3D and CS groups were compared. RESULTS: Comparisons of cephalometric measurements revealed no significant difference between virtual planning and postoperative scans. 3D analysis demonstrated a high level of virtual planning accuracy. In the VP3D group, total operative time gain was 88 min (p < 0.001) and total ischemia time gain was 36 min (p = 0.04). CONCLUSION: Virtual surgical planning using customized devices enables 'tailored' surgery that is accurate and reliable and results in operative and ischemia time gain. CLINICAL TRIAL: NCT03869723.