Background: There is supportive evidence that multiple sclerosis (MS) could potentially affect the peripheral nervous system. We assessed peripheral sensory and motor nerve involvement in patients with MS by a nerve conduction velocity test. Methods: We studied 75 patients who had a relapsing-remitting or secondary progressive pattern. We measured amplitude, latency, conduction velocity, Hoffmann reflex (H-Reflex), and F-Waves. Results: The amplitude of the right tibial, right proneal, left tibial, left proneal, and left median motor nerves was less than the mean for the normal population. Right ulnar sensory conduction in the patients showed an amplitude that was less than that of the normal population; there was no significant change in the amplitude of other sensory nerves. Latencies of the right and left median and right proneal motor nerves and left ulnar sensory nerves were statistically less than that of the normal population. Mean motor conduction velocity and F-wave conduction did not differ significantly from the normal population. H-reflex latencies of the right and left lower limbs were significantly more prolonged than those of the normal population. Conclusion: Our results suggest possible peripheral motor nerve abnormalities in MS patients, especially with the amplitude of the motor nerves; however, our results do not demonstrate any significant difference among the nerve conduction velocity parameters of sensory nerves between MS patients and the normal population.
Demyelinating Diseases ; Multiple Sclerosis ; Peripheral Nervous System Diseases

The external carotid plexus is a combination of postganglionic sympathetic fibers derived from the superior cervical ganglion. This plexus travels along the external carotid artery and continues onto the artery’s branches. The external carotid plexus plays an important role in innervating the mid and lower face. Therefore, implications to the plexus may result in facial abnormalities. Herein, we review the anatomy, function, and review its clinical applications.

We present a rare case of external carotid artery-vertebral artery anastomosis via the ascending pharyngeal artery, diagnosed upon cadaveric dissection. The ascending pharyngeal artery gave rise to a branch to the hypoglossal canal, which is a variation of a true persistent fetal hypoglossal artery. Knowledge of persistent carotid-vertebrobasilar anastomoses is important as these fetal vessels can contribute significantly to the posterior cerebral circulation. Only 10 cases of external carotid artery-vertebrobasilar artery anastomoses have been reported to our knowledge, and our case presents the first cadaveric dissection of this rare variation.

The external carotid plexus is a combination of postganglionic sympathetic fibers derived from the superior cervical ganglion. This plexus travels along the external carotid artery and continues onto the artery’s branches. The external carotid plexus plays an important role in innervating the mid and lower face. Therefore, implications to the plexus may result in facial abnormalities. Herein, we review the anatomy, function, and review its clinical applications.

We present a rare case of external carotid artery-vertebral artery anastomosis via the ascending pharyngeal artery, diagnosed upon cadaveric dissection. The ascending pharyngeal artery gave rise to a branch to the hypoglossal canal, which is a variation of a true persistent fetal hypoglossal artery. Knowledge of persistent carotid-vertebrobasilar anastomoses is important as these fetal vessels can contribute significantly to the posterior cerebral circulation. Only 10 cases of external carotid artery-vertebrobasilar artery anastomoses have been reported to our knowledge, and our case presents the first cadaveric dissection of this rare variation.

We report a case of an 81-year-old woman with extensive pelvic lymphadenopathy that caused severe stenosis and occlusion of the right common and external iliac veins and proximal common femoral vein. Pelvic lymphadenopathy resulted from the recurrence of a previous right ovarian epithelial tumor. The patient had severe right lower extremity edema, consistent with severe venous insufficiency.She was treated with high-pressure balloon angioplasty (12-14 mm in diameter) and four self-expanding stents (14-10 mm diameter, 80-40 mm length). The postoperative response was dramatic to a near-complete resolution of the edema. The venous clinical severity scores were 10 and 2 at presentation and 6 months after the follow-up, respectively. Balloon angioplasty and stenting are safe and effective methods for providing symptomatic relief for lower extremity venous insufficiency in patients with extensive and unresectable pelvic masses.

We report a case of an 81-year-old woman with extensive pelvic lymphadenopathy that caused severe stenosis and occlusion of the right common and external iliac veins and proximal common femoral vein. Pelvic lymphadenopathy resulted from the recurrence of a previous right ovarian epithelial tumor. The patient had severe right lower extremity edema, consistent with severe venous insufficiency.She was treated with high-pressure balloon angioplasty (12-14 mm in diameter) and four self-expanding stents (14-10 mm diameter, 80-40 mm length). The postoperative response was dramatic to a near-complete resolution of the edema. The venous clinical severity scores were 10 and 2 at presentation and 6 months after the follow-up, respectively. Balloon angioplasty and stenting are safe and effective methods for providing symptomatic relief for lower extremity venous insufficiency in patients with extensive and unresectable pelvic masses.