The purpose of this study is to evaluate MRI findings for the shoulder pain in hemiplegic stroke patients in relation to clinical characteristics. We studied 18 hemiplegic patients with first-ever stroke presenting with shoulder pain in the affected side (mean age±SD=67.6±10.1years ; 8 men and 10 women ; 12 right and 6 left hemiplegia). All patients had shoulder pain during passive movements and 4 also had pain at rest. The mean duration from stroke onset to MRI was 67±42 days. MRI revealed abnormal findings in all patients. Tendinosis of the long head of the biceps and supraspinatus tendon injuries were most frequently found. The tendinosis of the long head of the biceps was related to hemihypesthesia and a reduced range of motion for external rotation of the shoulder. The supraspinatus tendon injuries were related to older age and lower Fugl-Meyer (FM) and Functional Independence Measure (FIM) scores. The mean number of abnormal findings per patient was 3.2±1.4. The patients with more than 3 abnormal findings were significantly older, had shorter duration from stroke onset and lower FM and FIM scores than those with less findings. It was suggested that those patients with more severe paresis might have more abnormal findings on their MRIs for shoulder pain.

Narrow-band imaging (NBI) is a new imaging technology that was developed in 2006 and has since spread worldwide. Because of its convenience, NBI has been replacing the role of chromoendoscopy. Here we review the efficacy of NBI with/without magnification for detection, characterization, and management of colorectal polyps, and future perspectives for the technology, including education. Recent studies have shown that the next-generation NBI system can detect significantly more colonic polyps than white light imaging, suggesting that NBI may become the modality of choice from the beginning of screening. The capillary pattern revealed by NBI, and the NBI International Colorectal Endoscopic classification are helpful for prediction of histology and for estimating the depth of invasion of colorectal cancer. However, NBI with magnifying colonoscopy is not superior to magnifying chromoendoscopy for estimation of invasion depth. Currently, therefore, chromoendoscopy should also be performed additionally if deep submucosal invasive cancer is suspected. If endoscopists become able to accurately estimate colorectal polyp pathology using NBI, this will allow adenomatous polyps to be resected and discarded; thus, reducing both the risk of polypectomy and costs. In order to achieve this goal, a suitable system for education and training in in vivo diagnostics will be necessary.
Adenomatous Polyps ; Capillaries ; Classification ; Colonic Polyps ; Colonoscopy ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; Diagnosis ; Education ; Mass Screening ; Narrow Band Imaging ; Pathology ; Polyps*