Experimental and human brain neoplasms: detection with in vivo sodium MR imaging

Elevations of intracellular sodium concentration have been observed in rapidly proliferating cells and malignant neoplasms. Sodium magnetic resonance (MR) imaging (with repetition times of 133 msec and echo times of 13, 26, 39, and 42 msec) was performed in ten patients and three dogs with central nervous system neoplasms. In all instances the neoplasms were associated with an increased sodium signal compared with that of normal brain. Unfortunately, the available echo times did not enable discrimination of intracellular sodium from extracellular sodium, which was present in high concentrations in adjacent vasogenic edema fluid. Further study is necessary to establish the utility of sodium MR imaging for the investigation of malignant neoplasms.

Clinical and experimental vasogenic edema: in vivo sodium MR imaging. Work in progress

To investigate the sodium magnetic resonance (MR) imaging characteristics of acute vasogenic edema, an experimental canine model was developed. Vasogenic edema was produced in the hemisphere of the dogs by the intraarterial infusion of hypertonic mannitol (25%). This solution opens the blood-brain barrier, allowing the influx of water, electrolytes, and proteins into the brain. The main advantage of this model over the established "cold injury" model is the lack of associated brain necrosis. Two patients with chronic vasogenic edema secondary to well-circumscribed meningiomas also underwent MR imaging. The sodium signal was markedly elevated in both clinical and experimental studies of vasogenic edema fluid compared with signal in healthy brain tissue. Extracellular sodium associated with vasogenic edema displayed MR imaging characteristics similar to that of sodium in serum. There was a trend toward a shortened T2 in edema fluid secondary to the presence of serum macromolecules.

Adverse reactions to intravenous cholangiography with Biligram

During the seven year period 1976-82 3937 intravenous cholangiographies were performed with thirty-three adverse reactions to the contrast medium Biligram considered to require treatment. One patient died. The frequency of adverse reactions to intravenous cholangiography with Biligram is no reason for abandoning the method.

Features resisting primary treatment of congenital club foot

The aims of this study were: (1) to see whether the number of relapses of hindfoot deformity in congenital club foot in the first year of life could be reduced by operative treatment, and (2) to try by surgery to pinpoint features of congenital club feet that make them resistant to treatment. As compared to treatment of 95 feet with manipulation and plaster cast only or with heel cord tenotomy added, early tenotomy of both the heel cord and the tibialis posterior tendon in 23 feet markedly reduced the number of relapses of hindfoot deformity, and the need for additional treatment. The results indicate that the achilles and the tibialis posterior tendons, and their corresponding muscles, are the main dynamic features that need to be dealt with when treating the hindfoot deformity in congenital club foot.