Role of high resolution ultrasound complementary to digital mammography.

Background: Breast carcinoma is a major cause of mortality among women worldwide. Early detection and cure is the key to reduce the mortality of the disease. This article studied the role of high resolution ultrasound in detection and characterization of lesions to complement mammographic diagnosis and improve patient management. Aims and Objectives: To evaluate the role of complementary high resolution ultrasound, BIRADS scoring and to correlate it with histological diagnosis. Results and Observations: HRUS is excellent in detecting microcalcifications, malignant features of solid masses, differentiating focal asymmetry from masses, differentiating between solid and cystic lesions, simple and complex cysts and detecting satellite lesions and mammographically inaccessible areas for which special views can be done. Conclusions: Every case referred for digital mammography should undergo ultrasound irrespective of the age, symptoms and density of the breast parenchyma and a combined final BIRADS grading should be done. Ultrasound is an excellent imaging modality for breast lesions in expert hands.

RésuméContexte: Le cancer du sein est une cause majeure de mortalité chez les femmes du monde entier. La détection précoce et la guérison sont la clé pour réduire la mortalité de la maladie. Cet article a étudié le rôle de l'échographie à haute résolution dans la détection et la caractérisation des lésions pour compléter le diagnostic mammographique et améliorer la prise en charge des patients. Buts et objectifs: Évaluer le rôle de l'échographie à haute résolution complémentaire, notation de BIRADS et la corréler avec le diagnostic histologique. Résultats et observations: Le HRUS est excellent pour détecter les microcalcifications, les malignités des masses solides, différencier l'asymétrie focale des masses, différencier les lésions solides et kystiques, les kystes simples et complexes et détecter les lésions satellites et les zones mammographiquement inaccessibles. Conclusions: Chaque cas référé pour la mammographie numérique devrait subir une échographie indépendamment de l'âge, des symptômes et de la densité du parenchyme mammaire et un classement final combiné de BIRADS devrait être fait. L'échographie est une excellente modalité d'imagerie pour les lésions mammaires chez les mains expertes.

Utility of magnetic resonance imaging in the differential diagnosis of tubercular and pyogenic spondylodiscitis.

AIM: We evaluated the potential of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the diagnosis of spinal infections and specifically its accuracy in differentiating tubercular and pyogenic spondylodiscitis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Totally, 50 patients referred for MRI scans with the clinical diagnosis of spinal infections were included in our study. The patients were classified as tubercular (TS), pyogenic (PS), and indeterminate spondylodiscitis on the basis of imaging findings and were correlated with the final diagnosis made by histopathology/cytology/culture/biochemistry or with successful therapeutic outcome. Imaging findings were subsequently analyzed for differentiating tubercular and pyogenic spondylodiscitis using the Chi-square test. RESULTS: The most common pattern of spinal infection was spondylodiscitis (78% incidence rate) with epidural extension (86%) and cord compression (64%) being most common complications observed. Imaging (postcontrast study) and final diagnosis correlated in 93.7% tubercular (sensitivity of 75% and specificity of 90%) and 75% pyogenic (sensitivity of 90% and specificity of 83.3%) spondylodiscitis. The patients with tubercular spondylitis had a significantly (P < 0.05) higher incidence of following MRI findings: A well-defined paraspinal abnormal signal (80% in TS vs. 40% in PS), a thin and smooth abscess wall (84.2% in TS vs. 10% in PS), presence of intraosseous abscess (35% in TS vs. 0% in PS), focal and heterogenous enhancement of the vertebral body (75% in TS vs. 20% in PS), vertebral destruction more than or equal to grade 3 (71.8% in TS vs. 0% in PS), loss of cortical definition (75% in TS vs. 20% in PS), and spinal deformity (50% in TS vs. 5% in PS). CONCLUSION: Contrast-enhanced images improve the sensitivity and specificity of detection and differentiation of tubercular and PS.

Torsion of a wandering spleen: acute abdominal presentation.

Torsion of a wandering spleen is a rare but fulminant condition and is part of the differential diagnosis in patients presenting with acute abdominal pain. It results due to absence or laxity of the various ligaments supporting the spleen. Patients may be asymptomatic or may present with acute abdominal pain. It may occur in people of all ages, with a predilection for male patients under 10 years of age and for female patients in older age groups, being most common in multiparous women. Early intervention is necessary to reduce the risk of splenic infarction and other complications. An awareness of the condition together with use of appropriate medical imaging can lead to the correct diagnosis.

Correlation of qualitative and quantitative MRI parameters with neurological status: a prospective study on patients with spinal trauma.

INTRODUCTION: Spinal trauma is relatively more common in young active individuals. Although its mortality is low, it is an important cause of long term disability. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can accurately depict presence and extent of spinal cord injury (SCI) in these patients. This study was aimed to look for various qualitative and quantitative MRI findings which are predictive of initial neurological deficit in patients with spinal trauma and final outcome on follow-up. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The present study was conducted on 50 patients with suspected acute cervical or dorsal spinal trauma presenting for MRI study. American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) motor score was used for assessing neurological status at the time of presentation, at the time of discharge/2weeks and at 3-6 months follow up. Various MRI qualitative and quantitative parameters were evaluated for correlation with severity of spinal injury. RESULTS: Normal baseline MRI (pattern 0) was seen in 12 subjects and was associated with incomplete SCI in 4 subjects (ASIA grade D) followed by complete recovery in all patients on follow-up examination. Pattern I (haemorrhage) was associated with complete spinal cord injury. Pattern II (oedema) was associated with incomplete SCI and good functional recovery on follow up.Pattern III (contusion) was associated with intermediate severity of injury. Compression and transection patterns were associated with complete neurological deficit at presentation and increased mortality at subsequent follow-up. All the three quantitative parameters i.e. lesion length,maximum (bony) canal compromise (MCC), maximum spinal cord compression (MSCC) were significantly increased in patients with complete SCI as compared to those with incomplete SCI. The best predictors for baseline ASIA score were MCC, cord oedema and cord haemorrhage. For the final ASIA score, the best predictors were baseline ASIA score and cord haemorrhage. CONCLUSION: MRI is excellent imaging modality for detecting and assessing severity of spinal trauma. In our study, presence of cord haemorrhage, MCC and cord oedema were best predictors of baseline neurological status at presentation, whereas baseline ASIA score and cord haemorrhage were best predictors of final neurological outcome.

Case report: Acute calcific discitis with intravertebral disc herniation in the dorsolumbar spine.

Acute calcific discitis is a rare but well-known condition of unknown etiology. In symptomatic cases, the most common site is the cervical spine. We describe the CT scan and MRI findings in a symptomatic patient, with a lesion in the dorsolumbar spine.