PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to describe Magnetic Resonance(MR) findings of two epidural cavernous malformations of the spine. MATERIALS AND METHODS: MR imaging was performed in 2 patients(29-year-old man and 54-year-old woman). Sagittal T1 -, T2-weighted images and Gadolinium (Gd)-enhanced axial and sagittal images were acquired. Two patients had surgery and MR findings were compared with surgical and histopathological findings. RESULTS: MR imaging showed high- and low-signal intensity components of these lesions that were characteristic of an epidural cavernous malformation in one case. The other case showed a high signal intensity on T2- and strong enhancement on Gd-enhanced T1 -weighted images. We think that the former may be due to mixed subacute and chronic hemorrhage and the latter may be due to blood within the endotheliumlined sinusolds without hemorrhage. CONCLUSION: These findings were well correlated with the surgical and histo-pathological findings of cavernous malformation.
Gadolinium ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Middle Aged ; Spine*

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to describe the findings of the transligamnetous type of the herniated lumbar disc (HLD) with magnetic resonance MR imaging. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the MR images of surgically proven 20 cases of transligamentous type of HLD from January 1, 1992 to August 20, 1992. The MR imaging was performed with 1. 0T MR unit, using sagittal spin echo (SE) and axial gradient echo (GE) techniques. RESULTS: The results were as follows;1) the interruption of black line of the posterior longitudinal ligament (PLL) was identified in 19 levels and 17 levels in sagittal SE and axial GE images, retrospectively;2) the widening of adjacent epidural fat space was demonstrated in 16 cases of central or posterolateral HLD. The herniated disc material, as compared with the parent intervertebral disc, showed intermediate signal intensity (SI) in 19 and low SI in 1 level on T1WI, high SI in 10, intermediate SI in 7, low SI in levels on T2WI, and high SI in 10, intermediate SI in 9, low SI in 1 level on GE images. CONCLUSION: The most important sign of the transligamentous type HLD on MRI was the interruption of the black line with additional finding of the widening of adjacent epidural fat space. The MR signal intensity of the herniated disc was variable. Axial GE image was valuable for the evaluation of the direction of HLD and it relationship with neural structure, but had no addiational information for the degree and biochemical change of HLD over SE image.
Financial Management* ; Humans ; Intervertebral Disc ; Intervertebral Disc Displacement ; Longitudinal Ligaments ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Parents ; Retrospective Studies

Median raphe cyst is known as congenital lesion of the perineum and genitalia, but its etiology is unclear. Most investigators believe that the median raphe cyst represent defects in the embryologic developenient bf the male genitalia. Simple surgical excision is effective in most cases. We report our experience with two cases of median raphe cyst without specific symptoms. Even though median raphe cyst is asymptomatic, surgical therapy is worth applicable because it relieve a patient from cosmetic and psychotic problem.
Genitalia ; Genitalia, Male ; Humans ; Male ; Perineum ; Research Personnel

PURPOSE: This retrospective study was conducted to evaluate the value of adminstration of IV gadopentetate dimeglumine for MR imaging of tuberculous spondylitis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The authors reviewed MR images both with and without contrast enhancement of 22 patients with tuberculous spondylitis. Evaluation of signal characteristics, enhancement patterns, and difference of delineation between pre- and postcontrast enhancement was made on 4 compartments the vertebral body, intervertebral disc, paravertebral space, and extradural space. RESULTS: The spinal tuberculous lesions revealed relatively low or isosignal intensity on T1-weighted image and high signal intensity on T2-weighted image. The tuberculous lesions of vertebral body showed enhancement of mixed pattern, and rim enhancement pattern was predominant in the other 3 compartment, suggesting abscess. The contrast enhanced MR image showed better demarcation of the extents of tuberculous lesions comparing with noncontrast image, especially at the vertebral body and intervertebral disc. The nature of tuberculous involvement was better visualized at the extradural space and paravertebral space on postcontrast image. CONCLUSION: We conclude Gd-DTPA enhanced MR image can give informations for more detailed delineation, extents, and nature of involvement in the tuberculous spondylitis.
Abscess ; Gadolinium DTPA ; Humans ; Intervertebral Disc ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Retrospective Studies ; Spondylitis*

No abstract available.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging*

BACKGROUND: During a 1-month period in 2005 , a series of 4 Leclercia adecarboxylata and 8 Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteremias were reported from patients admitted to the emergency room. METHODS: An outbreak of L. adecarboxylata and P. aeruginosa bacteremia that occurred from February to March 2005 was investigated. The infection control nurse reviewed medical records and observed the procedures of blood cultures at the clinical microbiology laboratory. Specimens were obtained for investigational cultures from alcohol sponge, tray, sink, water of sink, saline cotton, microscope, computer, and telephone. RESULTS: L. adecarboxylata was isolated from 4 patients and P. aeruginosa from 8 patients during a 1-month period. Observation of the culture procedure revealed that saline cotton was used to prevent betadin skin discoloration. The culture of the saline solution yielded a heavy growth of P. aeruginosa, which was not isolated from any other specimens. CONCLUSIONS: This was a pseudoepidemic caused by contaminated saline cotton. The use of the saline cotton was stopped, and during the follow-up period of 3 months, no additional L. adecarboxylata or P. aeruginosa bacteremia were reported.
Bacteremia ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; Enterobacteriaceae* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Infection Control ; Medical Records ; Porifera ; Pseudomonas aeruginosa ; Skin ; Sodium Chloride ; Telephone ; Water

BACKGROUND: Scabies outbreaks have been reported in long-term care facilities, but less commonly in acute care facilities. We experienced an outbreak of scabies that occurred in neurosurgery-intensive care unit of a general hospital, Seoul, Korea. METHODS: An outbreak of scabies was noticed on September 2006 when hospital staffs of NICU were diagnosed with scabies. The infection control nurse reviewed medical records and interviewed all of patient in NICU and health care workers. The epidemic spread of scabies from a patient to other patient, hospital employees and their families and associates was identified from historical, clinical, and microbiologic skin preparation data. RESULTS: Forty-three NICU patients and 22 health care workers were investigated. Five scabies cases were identified in total of 42 cases who are exposed to index case with attack rate of 11.9%. The attack rate of scabies in health care workers and NICU patients were 10% and 13.6%, respectively. Tertiary cases also occurred among the family members of workers, with a tertiary attack rate of 44%. CONCLUSION: The patient of acute care facilities also have chances of being exposed to scabies outbreak, since sensorimotor deficits or cognitive disorders make it difficult for individuals to communicate and understand the implication of risky contacts.
Delivery of Health Care ; Disease Outbreaks ; Hospitals, General ; Humans ; Infection Control ; Long-Term Care ; Medical Records ; Scabies ; Skin

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the utility of contrast-enhanced MRI with first-pass and delayed images in prediction of myocardial viability after acute myocardial infarction. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ten patients (M:F=:4, mean age =6 5 years) with acute myocardial infarction underwent first-pass image after bolus injection of gadolinium (one image/sec for 120sec)and delayed image (7 2 minutes later). According to 60 segments on midventricular level, the assessment of MRI were concerned about location of lesion, depth of lesion, enhancement on first-pass image and enhancement pattern on delayed image. MRI findings were compared with wall motion on resting echocardiography and stress or follow-up echocardiography. RESULTS: 1) MRI findings were classified into 4 types: normal enhancement on first-pass and delayed images (type 1), normal enhancement on first-pass image and nontransmural hyperenhancement on delayed image (type 2), non-transmural enhancing defect on first-pass image and transmural enhancement with endocardial non-enhancing defect on delayed image (type 3), and transmural enhancing defect on first-pass image and transmural hyperenhancement on delayed image (type 4).2) Type 2 suggested viable myocardium and type 3 had high porbability of viability. Type was compatible with non-viable myocardium. CONCLUSION: Enhancing defect on first-pass image and involving thickness on both the first-pass image and delayed image in contrast enhanced MRI may predict myocardial viability.
Echocardiography ; Follow-Up Studies ; Gadolinium ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Myocardial Infarction* ; Myocardium

Congenital diverticulum of the left ventricle is a very rare disease. Ventricular diverticulum is usually associated with other anomalies including intracardiac and midline thoracoabdominal defect. We describe a case with congenital left ventricular diverticulum presenting as an isolated lesion. A 37-year-old man presented with 4-year history of chest pain. Diverticulum was diagnosed by echocardiography and left ventriculogram.
Adult* ; Chest Pain ; Diverticulum* ; Echocardiography ; Heart Ventricles ; Humans ; Rare Diseases

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