PURPOSE: To evaluate potential usefulness of dynamic Gd-DTPA enhanced MRI in the diagnosis of HgCI2 induced acute tubular necrosis of rabbits. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixteen rabbits were used as control group, and 14 rabbits and 12 rabbits were used as acute tubular necrosis groups of 24 hours and 48 hours after HgCI2 injection, respectively. Sequential dynamic MR imagings were acquired using Gd-DTPA(0.25mmol/kg), and time-signal intensity curves were obtained from cortex, outer medulla and inner medulla. RESULTS: In control group, a dark band, which reflects concentrated Gd-DTPA, migrated from cortex to inner medulla of the kidney, and the ratio of the signal intensity of post Gd-DTPA injection to the signal intensity of pre Gd-DTPA injection(RSI) decreased below 1 at 13sec and 26sec (mean:17 +/- 6.2sec) in cortex, at 52sec (mean :52sec) in outer medulla, and after 117sec(mean :112 +/- 33.9sec) in inner medulla of the kidney. In acute tubular necrosis group of 24 hours after HgCI2 injection, the dark band did not appear and signal intensity in cortex and medulla increased diffusely, and RSI increased above 1 in all locations. In acute tubular necrosis group of 48 hours after HgCI2 injection, the dark band appeared only in the cortex and no sign of migration was observed, and RSI is little changed except in cortex at 13sec(0.76 +/- 0.05) and 26sec(0.86 +/- 0.06). There were statistically significant differences in the time-RSI curves among cortex, outer medulla, and inner medulla in study groups, respectively (p<0.0001). CONCLUSION: Dynamic Gd-DTPA enhanced MRI of the kidney could be utilized to evaluate both renal structure and functional changes.
Diagnosis ; Gadolinium DTPA* ; Kidney ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Necrosis* ; Rabbits*

PURPOSE: To measure the size of normal corpus callosum in each portion using objective and reproducible method with MRI and evaluation of morphological change of corpus callosum by grade of hydrocephalus. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Midsagittal Tl-weighted MR imaging of the corpus callosum was investigated in 41 volunteers of normal Korean adults and 19 patients with hydrocephalus. Corpus callosum was measured for the anteroposterior length(A), height(B), and the thickness of genu(C), body (D), splenium(E), and the narrowest portion of body(F). And the analysis of morphology and signal intensity of the corpus callosum were also evaluated. Hydrocephalus was graded as mild, moderate, and severe, and comparision of thickness with normal corpus callosum in each portion was done. RESULTS: The mean length and height were 72.3mm, 28.6mm in male, and 70.7ram, 28.9mm in female. And the mean dimention for C, D, E, and F were 13.1 ram, 8ram, 13.2mm, 5.2ram in male, and 12.8mm, 7.5ram, 12.3 ram, 5mm in female. The morphology of normal corpus callosum was "hook" shaped on midline sagittal Tl-weighted image. Narrowing at posterior third portion of body were present on 30 cases(73.2%) and even in thickness of the body in 11 cases(26.8%). The signal intensity of the corpus callosum on midsagittal Tl-weighted spin echo image of normal cases was homogeneous hyperintense as compared with cerebral gray matter. In hydrocephalus, A and B were increased and other portions were decreased in thickhess. Genu and the narrowest portion of body showed significant difference of thickness according to the grade of hydrocephalus. CONCLUSION: The mean dimention of all portion of corpus callosum were larger in male than female except for callosal height but not significant statistically with the exception of splenium. Hydrocephalus lead to morphological change of the corpus callosum. Among the portion of corpus callosum, genu and the narrowest portion of the body were thought to be the most sensitive indicators of degree in hydrocephalus.
Adult* ; Corpus Callosum* ; Female ; Humans ; Hydrocephalus* ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Male ; Volunteers

PURPOSE: To determine the usefulness of fluid attenuated inversion recovery(FLAIR) imaging for the in detection of high signal intensity of hippocampus or amygdala in mesial temporal sclerosis (MTS), compared with that of turbo spin-echo T2-weighted imaging. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Two neuroradiologists independently analyzed randomly mixed MR images of 20 lesions of 17 patients in whom MTS had been diagnosed, and ten normal controls. All subjects underwent both who performed both FLAIR and turbo spin-echo T2-weighted imaging, in a blind fashion. In order to determine hippocampal morphology, oblique coronal images perpendicular to the long axis of the hippocampus were obtained. The detection rate of high signal intensity in hippocampus or amygdala, the radiologists 'preferred imaging sequence, and intersubject consistency of detection were evaluated. Signal intensity in hippocampus or amygdala was considered high if substantially higher than signal intensity in the cortex of adjacent temporo-parietal lobe. RESULTS: In all normal controls, FLAIR and spin-echo T2-weighted images showed normal signal intensity in hippocampus or amygdala. In MTS, the mean detection rate of high signal intensity in hippocampus or amyg-dala, as seen on FLAIR images was 93%, compared with 43% on spin-echo T2-weighted images. In all cases in which signal intensity on FLAIR images was normal, signal intensity on spin-echo T2-weighted images was also normal. The radiologists preferred the contrast properties of FLAIR to those of spin-echo T2-weighted images. CONCLUSION: In the diagnosis of MTS using MRI, FLAIR images are more useful for the detection of high signal intensity of hippocampus or amygdala than are spin-echo T2-weighted images. In the diagnosis of MTS, FLAIR imaging is therefore a suitable alternative to spin-echo T2-weighted imaging.
Amygdala ; Axis, Cervical Vertebra ; Diagnosis ; Hippocampus ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Sclerosis

Kallmann's syndrome is characterized by hypogonadotrophic hypogonadism resulting from insufficient release of GnRH and associated with anosmia or hyposmia, which has been related to agenesis of olfactory bulbs. We experienced a case of 17 year-old Kallmann's syndrome woman and a case of successful pregnancy of 29 year-old Kallmann's syndrome woman with hMG and hCG treatment and present two cases with a review of literatures.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Female ; Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone ; Humans ; Hypogonadism ; Kallmann Syndrome* ; Olfaction Disorders ; Olfactory Bulb ; Pregnancy*

The authers describe a case of huge tentorial meningioma in 32 year old female patient. Her clinical complaints were bifrontal headache and visual impairment. CT scan revealed huge supratentorial and infratentorial enhanced tumor mass. The tumor mass was removed in one stage.
Adult ; Female ; Headache ; Humans ; Meningioma* ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Vision Disorders

PURPOSE: To evaluate the MR findings of brain damage in cerebral palised patients and to correlate it with gestational age and the time of damage. MATERIALS AND METHOD: A retrospective analysis was performed in 40 patients who underwent MR scanning for evaluation of brain lesion in clinically diagnosed cerebral palsy. Authors classified the patients into two groups as premature and full-term and compared MR findings of the two groups. RESULTS: Abnormal MR findings were noted in 28 cases (70%). Five out of 6 patients who had been born prematurely showed isolate periventricular white matter lesions. Twenty-three out of 34 patients who had been born at full-term showed abnormal MR findings. Of these 23 patients, migration anomalies in 7 patients, isolate periventricular white matter lesions in 3 patients, and other combined periventricular subcortical white matter and deep gray matter lesions in 14 patients were seen. At least, 10 patients(43%) of full term group showed abnormal MRI findings reflecting intrauterine brain damage and all 5 patients of premature group showed isolate periventricular white matter lesions suggesting immaturity of brain. CONCLUSION: MRI is thought to be very useful in the assessment of brain damage for the patients with cerebral palsy by recognizing the location of the lesion and estimating the time of damage.
Brain ; Cerebral Palsy* ; Gestational Age ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Retrospective Studies

Patients with pain syndromes resulting from recurrent or metastatic cancer should be evaluated carefully to determine the cause of their pain and the need for appropriate antitumor treatment. The most effective ablative pain control procedure at the current time is cordotomy, which is indicated in patients with unilateral pain. The authors results of 12 antero-lateral thoracic cordotomies performed for intractable cancer pain between 1996-1998. The follow-up of these patients was continued for at least 12 months or until death to determine the late success of this procedure. Excellent surgical results were obtained in 100% after one week and in 50% in 6 months after operation. The operation was considered to be successful for patients with malignant disease of short life expectancy.
Cordotomy* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Life Expectancy

Malignant peripheral nerve sheath spinal tumours are relatively rare. A primary spinal location at the first onset is rarely reported in the literature, thus the clinical features and therapeutic results of these spinal malignant tumours are not defined. We describle three patients with primary spinal malignant schwannomas and stress the surgical mananement of these cases.
Humans ; Neurilemmoma* ; Peripheral Nerves

The purpose of this study was to set the guidelines for selection of patients to do early surgery in ruptured intracranial aneurysm. We assessed 706 patients with single rupture and without large hematoma, who underwent aneurysm surgery from 1985 to 1995. The male and female ratio was 1:1.5. Among the 706 patients, early surgery was performed in 214 cases. The results of early surgery were good in 193 cases(90.2%), fair in 13 cases(6.0%), poor in 1 case(0.5%) and dead in 7 cases(3.3%). The rate of dead outcome in the early surgery group was higher compared to other timing groups. The Fisher group 1, 2 and 3 reveale good outcome in early surgery group;92.6%, 96.3%, 88.8% respectively. The incidence of delayed ischemic deficits(DID) of early surgery group was same as other groups. However, in Fisher group 3, the incidence of DID was significantly low, 32.5%, in early surgery group. It is suggested that the criteria of selection of early surgery in patients with ruptured intracranial aneurysm would include as follows:1) patients with good clinical grade, 2) poor grade patients with marked irritability, acute hydrocephalus, and poorly controlled hypertension, 3) none-complex aneurysm requiring less brain retraction, dissection and brief temporary clipping, 4) age under 60 or over 60 with good physical status, and 5) Fisher group 3 requiring cisternal larvage and anticipated triple-H therapy.
Aneurysm ; Brain ; Female ; Hematoma ; Humans ; Hydrocephalus ; Hypertension ; Incidence ; Intracranial Aneurysm* ; Male ; Patient Selection* ; Rupture

BACKGROUND: Postoperative pain after a spinal laminectomy has very harmful effects on human physiology, and many people are trying to control it more easily and safely. There are controversies in methods used for controlling postoperative pain after a spinal laminectomy. The purpose of this study was to examine an effective way to control postoperative pain after a spinal laminectomy. METHODS: Ninety patients (ASA I-II, aged 40 to 70) scheduled for a spinal laminectomy were divided into three groups. In group A, we administered fentanyl 1,000 microgram and morphine 5 mg (mixed in 0.9% normal saline) using the continuous epidural infuser; in group B, we administered fentanyl 500 microgram and morphine 5 mg and 0.25% bupivacaine (mixed in 0.9% normal saline) using the continuous epidural infuser; in group C, we administered fentanyl 1,500 microgram and morphine 10 mg (mixed in 0.9% normal saline) using the continuous IV infuser. We compared effects between the continuous epidural infusion and the continuous intravenous infusion by using the visual analogue scale and side effects. RESULTS: There was no significant difference between continuous epidural infusion groups. When the continuous epidural infusion groups and the continuous IV infusion group were compared, there were significant differences in 3 hr, 6 hr, and 12 hr VAS scores (P < 0.01). The incidence of side effects was very low, and there was no significant difference in side effects between the continuous epidural infusion and the continuous IV infusion groups. CONCLUSIONS: It was found that continuous epidural infusion methods were more effective than the continuous IV infusion method, but none of them showed satisfactory postoperative pain control in the early periods.
Bupivacaine ; Fentanyl ; Humans ; Incidence ; Infusions, Intravenous ; Laminectomy* ; Morphine ; Pain, Postoperative ; Physiology