No abstract available.
Myasthenia Gravis*

PURPOSE: This study is for the evaluation of low tesla(0.064T) MR imaging diagnostic accuracy in the internal derangement of the knee. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively analysed the MR images of 36 injured knees of 35 patients. The presence of tear was determined by arthroscopy or surgery in all cases. RESULTS: The sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive predictive value, negative predictive value of low tesla MRI for the diagnosis of anterior cruciate ligament injury were 83%, 88%, 86%, 77%, 91%, for the posterior cruciate ligament 75%, 95%, 86%, 92%, 83%, for the medial collateral ligament 83%, 96%, 92%, 91%, 92%, for the lateral collateral ligament 67%, 97%, 94%, 67%, 97%, for the menisci 75%, 93%, 89%, 75%, 93%. CONCLUSION: The low tesla MRI is an accurate method in detection and evaluation of the internal derangement of the knee.
Anterior Cruciate Ligament ; Arthroscopy ; Collateral Ligaments ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Knee* ; Lateral Ligament, Ankle ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Posterior Cruciate Ligament ; Retrospective Studies ; Sensitivity and Specificity

No abstract available.
Child* ; Endoscopy* ; Humans

No abstract available.
Coronary Vessels* ; Fistula*

Gottron's acrogeria syndrome is a rare genetic disease of unknown etiology with some features suggestive of accelerated aging. The typical clinical presentation consists of premature aging of the skin with atrophy of the cutis and the subcutis. After a brief review of the literature available on this syndrome, we report a case of Gottron s acrogeria syndrome in a 19 year-old man whose right rectus femoris muscle had a fibrotic contracture.
Aging ; Aging, Premature ; Atrophy ; Contracture ; Humans ; Quadriceps Muscle ; Skin ; Young Adult

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effects and usefulness of fiuroscopy guided celiac ganglion block after marking of needle path with CT scan. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Celiac ganglion block with 100% ethyl alcohol was performed in 50 cancer patients who were inoperable and had intractable abdominal pain. Duration and degree of pain relief after the procedure and its complication were analyzed. RESULTS: Early pain relief was observed in 98% and long term relief in 68% without serious complication. CONCLUSION: Fluoroscopy guided celiac ganglion block after marking of needle path with CT scan was a safe and valuable procedure in relieving intractable pain in terminal cancer patients and reduced the time in the CT room.
Abdominal Pain ; Ethanol ; Fluoroscopy* ; Ganglia, Sympathetic* ; Humans ; Needles ; Pain, Intractable ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Pulmonary embolism of lipiodol or ethanol may occur inadvertently during the procedure of diagnostic or therapeutic embolization. We studied the nature of pulmonary damage, and its relation to the amount of lipiodol and ethanol embolized into the lung. Various doses of embolic agents(lipiodol 0.4cc/kg, 0.08cc/kg, absolute ethanol 0.4cc/kg, 0.03cc/kg and normal saline 0.4cc/kg)were injected intravenously through femoral vein in 50 rats(10 rats in each group). Pulmonary pathologic changes were analyzed on the 3rd and 28th days subsequent to injection. On the 3rd day, three of 10 lipiodol cases and all(10) ethanol cases showed multifocal pulmonary hemorrhages. Accompanying inflammatory cell infiltration was found only in lipiodol cases. On the 28th day, one of 10 lipiodol cases and four of 10 ethanol cases showed non-specific pneumopathy suggesting mild focal pulmonary fibrosis. The degree of pulmonary damage appeared to depend on the amount of injected embolic agents although their safety doses could not be clarified exactly. Therefore, we suggest careful injection of embolic agents, especially ethanol, during the embolization procedure to prevent possible pulmonary damage by inadvertent pulmonary embolism.
Animals ; Embolization, Therapeutic ; Ethanol* ; Ethiodized Oil* ; Femoral Vein ; Hemorrhage ; Lung ; Pulmonary Embolism* ; Pulmonary Fibrosis ; Rats

STUDY DESIGN: A review of literature including definition, diagnosis and treatment of neuropathic pain. OBJECTIVES: To review and discuss the treatment guideline for neuropathic pain. SUMMARY OF LITERATURE REVIEW: Neuropathic pains are characterized by partial or complete somatosensory change caused by various disorders affecting central and peripheral nervous system, and are especially problematic because of their severity, chronicity and resistance to simple analgesics. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Review of literature. RESULTS: Tricyclic antidepressants and the anticonvulsants gabapentin and pregablin were recommended as first-line treatments for neuropathic pain. Opioid analgesics and tramadol were recommended as second-line treatments that can be considered for first-line use in selected clinical circumstances. Other medications such as dual reuptake inhibitors of both serotonin and norepinephrine would be used in severe cases. More invasive interventions (e.g., spinal cord stimulation) may sometimes be helpful. CONCLUSIONS: Treatment must be individualized for each patient and aggressive, combinatory pharmacotherapy and multidisciplinary approach are recommended for the treatment of neuropathic pain.
Amines ; Analgesics, Opioid ; Anticonvulsants ; Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic ; Cyclohexanecarboxylic Acids ; gamma-Aminobutyric Acid ; Humans ; Neuralgia ; Norepinephrine ; Peripheral Nervous System ; Serotonin ; Spinal Cord ; Tramadol

STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective study. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the canal encroachment of fractured bony fragments and neurological deficits of pedicle screw instrumentation for the treatment of unstable thoracolumbar burst fractures with pedicle screws inserted into the fractured vertebrae. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The authors evaluated 18 patients treated surgically with posterior fusions using pedicle screws for unstable thoracolumbar burst fractures, from March 2000 to September 2004. The ratios of the areas occupied by the fractured bony fragments in the canals were analyzed, before and after pedicle screw insertion, by computed tomography scans of the fractured vertebrae. The kyphotic angles, anterior vertebral heights, and neurological deficits were evaluated. RESULTS: The areas occupied by the fractured fragments in the canals were improved significantly after surgery and there were no neurological complications resulting from the placement of pedicle screws or fragment displacements. The kyphotic angles and anterior vertebral heights at the last follow-up visits were improved significantly compared with the preoperative radiographs. The neurological deficits were not aggravated after pedicle screw insertion. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that pedicle screw instrumentation in fractured vertebrae is safe and effective for the treatment of unstable thoracolumbar burst fractures.
Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Retrospective Studies ; Spine*

PURPOSE: To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of MR imaging in posterior cruciate ligament(PCL) injuries, to describe the variety of these injuries and to assess the type and frequency of associated knee injuries. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospetively analysed 75 cases with knee injuries. In all cases, the prescence of a PCL tear was determined by arthroscopy or surgery and the type of tear and patterns of associated knee injuries were described. RESULTS: Twenty-eight PCL tears were identified with arthroscopy or surgery. Figures for the sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of MR diagnosis for the PCL injury were 86%, 94% and 91% respectively. Twenty-one cases(75%) had complete PCL tears and seven (25%) had partial tears. The commonest tear site was midsubstance(18 cases, 64.3%). Twenty-seven cases(96%) had associated knee injuries ; the remaining patient(4%) had isolated PCL injuries. There were 19 cases(68%) of ligamentous injuries, ten (36%) of meniscal tear, ten (36%)of bony injuries, and 20 (71%) of joint effusions. Of the ligamentous injuries, those involving the medialcollateral ligament were most often seen(10 cases, 36%). CONCLUSIONS: MR imaging is an accurate method for the detection and evaluation of PCL injury and associated knee abnormalities.
Arthroscopy ; Diagnosis ; Joints ; Knee ; Knee Injuries ; Ligaments ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Posterior Cruciate Ligament* ; Sensitivity and Specificity