Ultrasonographic biometry in congenital glaucoma

Method 'A' ultrasonographic biometry was performed on 23 patients with congenital glaucoma. The axial lengths of these eyes were significantly greater as compared to the 7 fellow eyes with normal intraocular pressures of the same patients and 10 eyes of 5 patients with megalocornea of the same age. Some of the borderline cases showed an increase of axial length during follow-up not attributable to normal growth. After successful surgery an early decrease of the axial length up to 0.8 mm could be seen. The change occurred in post-equatorial measurements. It is concluded that ultrasonographic biometry is a very valuable additional technique for the diagnosis and postoperative follow-up of congenital glaucomas.

Difficulties in the diagnosis of four repeats (4R) tauopathic parkinsonian syndromes

Corticobasal Degeneration Degeneration (CBD) and Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP) are types of four repeats (4R) tauopathies, which are associated to parkinsonian syndromes. The aim of the work is to analyze cases of patients of the Department of Neurology, overlapping of syndromes related to both pathologies and to show that most likely CBS and PSP are not lineary related to their commonly associated syndromes i.e. adequately corticobasal syndromes and progressive supranuclear palsy syndromes. In the context of each patient factors in favor of most likely CBS, PSP or both diseases are discussed and analyzed using contemporary criteria. This work discusses multidimensional aspect of the examination of five patient aged 64 to 83 - 4 females and 1 male with 4R tauopathies and difficulties in distinguishing both diseases. The duration of the disease varied from 1 to 5 years. Each patient after neurological examination was assessed using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and psychological test. Examination of all patients was extended using single photon emission computer tomography (SPECT) to reveal the usefulness of this tool in differentiation of diseases was done. The outcome of this examination was verified with prior clinical manifestation of patients and morphological abnormalities in magnetic resonance imaging. Autopsies were not conducted.

The evaluation of articular cartilage in magnetic resonance imaging

MR imaging is now the method of choice in the evaluation of articular cartilage, revealing its structure and thickness, as well as any changes occurring within the cartilage in all joint surfaces and bones, and in the soft tissues of the joints. The present study describes a method for examining cartilage and examples of pathological images.

MR examinations in the diagnostics of disorders in the cervical segment of the vertebral canal

MR imaging technology has made it possible to detect and characterize a number of pathological changes in the vicinity of the vertebral canal a noninvasive manner. The method is characterized by high sensitivity and specificity. It has two basic advantages in comparison to computer-assisted X-ray tomography (CT):<br /> - the ability to image the structure of the vertebral canal directly along planes selected by the operator.<br /> - signal intensity in the constituent structures of the vertebral canal, structures adjacent to the vertebral canal, and pathological changes sufficiently differentiated that the injection of contrasting media into the fluid spaces is not necessary.<br /> These two features of the MR technique have made it the technology of choice in the diagnostics of disorders in the vertebral canal.

Bilateral absolute phakolytic glaucoma. A clinical and ultrasonographic case study

We describe an unusual case of absolute bilateral phakolytic glaucoma. On admission for cataract surgery the 75-year-old patient was found to be totally blind, no light perception in either eye. The ocular tensions were about 75 mmHg in both eyes, corneas hazy, the fundi could not be seen. The swollen lens of the right eye had slightly subluxated downwards. In the left eye the ultrasound showed a luxated swollen lens in the vitreous space. The ultrasound also revealed totally excavated optic discs. This patient had been on the waiting list for 8 months. Information of the stage of the cataracts of patients on the waiting lists for operation is of paramount importance in the prevention of lens induced problems which may lead to irreversible visual deterioration.

MRI evaluation of pathological changes taking place in the hand in patients with rheumatoid arthritis

The aim of this study was to use magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to evaluate the pathological changes taking place in the hands of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and to attempt to characterize early and persistent changes. 42 patients were examined, including 31 women and 11 men in age from 23 to 75, the duration of illness ranged from 1 month to 27 years (average 7.1 years). The MRI examination was performed using a 1,5 T Magnetom 63 SP whole body system. The SE sequence was used in T1-weighted (TR600, TE15) and fat-suppressed images (A-250, TR1155, TE22), obtained with 3 mm scans, matrix 256 x 512. A knee coil was used. In 30 patients erosion was detected on the joint surfaces of the bones, including 7 patients whose erosion was not visible in plain ordinary x-ray photos. In 31 patients bone marrow edema was detectable, including 6 patients in whom advanced pathological changes were absent. In all patients signs were discovered of thickening of the synovial membrane with (30 of 42) or without (12 of 42) the presence of pannus. Periarticular effusion was observed in all patients, and in 6 patients it occurred together with bone marrow edema. Tendonitis was visible in 25 patients who were in an advanced stage of the disease. For 7 patients, the MR examinations prompted an upgrading of the diagnosed phase of rheumatoid arthritis to a more advanced stage, due to the detection of erosion. In patients with a less advanced stage of the disease, MR examination revealed 11 more joints with pathological changes (periarticular effusion) than were detected by ordinary physical examination. Magnetic Resonance Imaging seems to be the examination of choice in patients with rheumatoid arthritis at an unclear or early stage.

Radioisotope examination in the evaluation of complications followed the implantation of joint prostheses

Advances in orthopedic reconstructive and reparative techniques have resulted in a new population of patients suffering complications from these surgical procedures. Radionuclide examinations play an important role in the diagnosis of various types of complications following prosthesis implantation. Orthopedists can now choose from among several different radiopharmaceutic media: diphosphonates, gallium or labeled leukocyte. Diphosphonate radionuclide bone scintigraphy is quite sensitive in detecting changes in osseous metabolism. Gallium or leukocyte scans are best suited for the evaluation of inflammatory processes. Nuclear medicine techniques are generally accepted as complementary methods in the evaluation of complications after prosthesis implantation.