Trigeminal neuralgia in a patient with Marfan syndrome: case report

Clinical Application of Diffusion Tensor Imaging in Diagnosis and Prognosis of Hemifacial Spasm

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to test the application of diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) in patients with hemifacial spasm (HFS), to make more accurate diagnoses before surgery and to judge the degree of recovery more accurately after surgical microvascular decompression. To our knowledge, this is the first study to test the validity of DTI for diagnosis and postsurgical evaluation of HFS.

METHODS

We included 40 patients with HFS who underwent DTI scanning before microvascular decompression. They were followed up with DTI 6 months and 1 year after surgery. Fractional anisotropy (FA) and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) were obtained and compared.

RESULTS

In patients with HFS, the FA value of the affected side (mean FA, 0.46 ± 0.03) was significantly lower than that of the healthy side (mean FA, 0.43 ± 0.04; P < 0.05), and the ADC value of the affected side (mean FA, 1.60 ± 0.14) was significantly higher than that of the healthy side (mean ADC, 1.50 ± 0.12; P < 0.05). Compared with those before surgery, the FA values of both follow-up patients increased significantly, whereas their ADC values decreased significantly.

CONCLUSIONS

The use of DTI improves diagnosis and treatment of HFS.

Marfan syndrome with type 2 diabetes mellitus: A case report from China

RATIONALE

Marfan syndrome (MFS) is a genetic disorder of the connective tissue. MFS has an incidence of about 2 to 3 persons per 10,000 population. MFS is characterized majorly by the involvement of the eyes, skeletal muscles, and cardiovascular system. There are limited case reports of co-existence of MFS and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

PATIENT CONCERNS

A 16-year-old male patient who got admitted to our hospital with complaints of loss of vision from left eye for the last 3 days.Diagnosis of MFS along with luxation of left eye lens, and T2DM were made according to the patient's symptoms, signs, biochemical results, and ultrasonography.

INTERVENTIONS

The patient received "vitrectomy (posterior approach (left eye)) + cataract extraction (left eye) + intraocular lens implantation (left eye) surgery" for luxation of left eye lens. The patient received "Bentall Operation" for MFS, and was prescribed warfarin 5 mg qod and spironolactone 20 mg bid during the follow-up period. The patient received continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII) during hospitalization, and then changed to insulin glargine preparation during the follow-up period.

OUTCOMES

The vision was restored after the eye surgery and the patient also recovered well after the Bentall Operation. Additionally, there were no obvious complications during hospitalization and the follow-up period. Blood glucose levels were within normal range.

LESSONS

There is a need to improve the recognition of MFS among school and community doctors. Early detection, diagnosis, and treatment of this rare disease can improve the quality of patient's life.