No abstract available.
Diagnosis* ; Infant, Newborn ; Meconium Aspiration Syndrome* ; Meconium*

PURPOSE: We performed this study to describe the findings of MR Myelography(MRM) of herniated disc disease, spinal stenosis and spinal tumor and to evaluate the usefulness of the MRM in comparison to MRI. MATERIALS AND METHODS: MRI and MRM were performed in 31 patients with herniated disc disease(12 patients), spinal stenosis(11 patients) and spinal tumor(8 patients). MRI and MRM were done with 1.5-T Signa MR, using fat suppressed heavily T2-weighted fast spin echo technique. We retrospectively analyzed MRM images about the thecal sac indentation, compression or displacement of the nerve root, extent and degree of narrowing of spinal canal, relationship between spinal tumor and spinal cord. MRM findings were compared with MRI in all cases. RESULTS: In 18 herniated disc cases of 12 patients, focal filling defect with cutoff or displacement of the nerve root in eight cases of paracentral herniated disc was seen. Cutoff and displacement of the nerve root were more clearly delineated on MRM than rvlRI. In the patients of spinal stenosis(11 cases), hourglass deformity of the thecal sac or complete spinal block of the subarachnoid space was clearly demonstrated. The extent and severity of spinal stenosis were more accurately evaluated on MRM than MRI. MRM finding of intramedullary tumor(3 cases) was enlargement of spinal cord. Five cases of intradural extramedullary tumor showed intradural filling defect, which caused contralateral displacement of the spinal cord with meniscus sign on inferior margin of the mass. CONCLUSION: MRM shows characteristic findings of herniated disc disease, spinal stenosis and spinal tumor. MRM yields excellent definition of the thecal sac, nerve roots and nerve root sleeves in relation to herniated disc and may be more accurate in evaluation of the degree and extent of spinal stenosis than MRI.
Congenital Abnormalities ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Humans ; Intervertebral Disc Displacement ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Myelography* ; Retrospective Studies ; Spinal Canal ; Spinal Cord ; Spinal Diseases ; Spinal Stenosis ; Subarachnoid Space

PURPOSE: To assess the efficacy of three-dimensional CT angiography (3D-CTA) using multi-detector row computed tomography (MDCT) in the evaluation of intracranial aneurysms in patients with non-traumatic acute subarachnoid hemorrhage and to describe those aneurysms which were not found 3D-CTA. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 3D-CTA was done in 40 patients with non-traumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage by using a 16-slice MDCT; conventional digital subtraction angiography (DSA) was done in 36 of those patients within 12 hours. The CT and DSA images were reviewed by two radiologists and the site, size and neck of the aneurysms were evaluated. The results from these two modalities were then compared with the operative findings. We calculated the detection rates by 3D-CTA and DSA and evaluated the size differences of aneurysms dignosed with 3D-CTA and those found at surgery. We also analyzed the locations and sizes of aneurysms missed by 3D-CTA and attempted to explain these false negatives. RESULTS: A total of 55 aneurysms were surgically confirmed in 40 patients. 48 of these were detected pre-operatively by 3D-CTA. Thus, the detection rate by 3D-CTA was 87%. The size difference of aneurysms as calculated by 3-D CTA and found operatively was as follows: less than 1 mm in 17 cases, within 1-2 mm in 15 cases, and more than 2 mm in 16 cases. Seven aneurysms were not detected by 3D-CTA. The major cause of these missed aneurysms was their small size. The undetected aneurysms were less than 2 mm in size, except for 2 instances of PCoA aneurysms. One case was not detected due to difficult image evaluation. A possible explanation of the one remaining missed aneurysm was the filling of the aneurismal sac by thrombosis. CONCLUSION: Though there were some limitations in the detection of aneurysms, 3D-CTA using 16-channel MDCT may provide sufficient pre-operative information for the management of patients with intracranial aneurysms in cases of emergency operations or DSA-failure.
Aneurysm ; Angiography ; Angiography, Digital Subtraction ; Emergencies ; Humans ; Intracranial Aneurysm* ; Neck ; Subarachnoid Hemorrhage ; Thrombosis

Brachycephaly is a kind of craniosynostosis. Because of premature closure of the coronal suture, the skull is shorter in the anteroposterior diameter but is widened with a high vault and the occiput and forehead are flattened. Diabetes insipidus had been reported in oxycephaly. We have experienced a case of central diabetes insipidus associated with brachycephaly. A brief review of related literatures is included in this report.
Craniosynostoses* ; Diabetes Insipidus ; Diabetes Insipidus, Neurogenic* ; Forehead ; Skull ; Sutures

OBJECTIVE: Similar to back pain, neck pain has recently shown to have increasing prevalence. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is useful in identifying the causes of neck pain. However, MRI shows not only pathological lesions but also physiological changes at the same time, and there are few Korean data. The authors have attempted to analyze the prevalence of disc degeneration in highly selective asymptomatic Korean subjects using MRI. METHODS: We performed 3 T MRI sagittal scans from C2 to T1 on 102 asymptomatic subjects (50 men and 52 women) who visited our hospital between the ages of 14 and 82 years (mean age 46.3 years). All images were read independently by three observers (two neurosurgeons and one neuroradiologist) who were not given any information about the subjects. We classified grading for cervical disc herniation (HN), annular fissure (AF), and nucleus degeneration (ND), using disc degeneration classification. RESULTS: The prevalence of HN, AF, and ND were 81.0%, 85.9%, and 95.4%, respectively. High prevalence of HN, AF, and ND was shown compared to previous literature. CONCLUSION: In asymptomatic Korean subjects, the abnormal findings of 3 T MRI showed a high prevalence in HN, AF, and ND. Several factors might play important roles in these results, such as population-specific characters, MRI field strength, and disc degeneration grading system.
Back Pain ; Humans ; Intervertebral Disc Degeneration ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Neck Pain ; Prevalence ; Spine

No abstract available.
alpha-Fetoproteins* ; Infant, Newborn ; Jaundice, Neonatal* ; Plasma*

No abstract available.
Eosinophilic Granuloma* ; Eosinophils* ; Meningitis, Bacterial*

The purpose of this study was to analyze the effect of single-fraction stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) for the treatment of 15 cases of cerebral arteriovenous malformations (AVMs). Between 2002 and 2009, of the 25 patients who had SRS for the treatment of cerebral AVM, 15 patients (6 men, 9 women) taken a digital subtraction angiography (DSA) over 12 months after SRS were included. We retrospectively evaluated the size, location, hemorrhage of nidus, angiographic changes on follow-up on the MR angiography and DSA, and clinical complications during follow-up periods. At a median follow-up of 24 months (range 12-89), complete obliteration of nidus was observed in all patients (100%) while residual draining veins was observed in 3 patients (20%). There was no clinical complication during the follow-up period except seizure in 1 patient. The mean nidus volume was 4.7cc (0.5~11.7 cc, SD 3.7 cc). The locations of nidus were in cerebral hemisphere in 11 patients, cerebellum in 2 patients, basal ganglia in 1 patient, and pons in 1 patient respectively. 9 cases were hemorrhagic, and 6 cases were non-hemorrhagic AVMs. The SRS with LINAC is a safe and effective treatment for cerebral AVMs when the follow up period is over 4 years. However, it is recommended to continue to follow up until the draining vein on arterial phase of follow up DSA disappears completely.
Angiography ; Angiography, Digital Subtraction ; Basal Ganglia ; Brain ; Cerebellum ; Cerebrum ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Intracranial Arteriovenous Malformations ; Male ; Pons ; Radiosurgery ; Retrospective Studies ; Seizures ; Veins

OBJECTIVES: Radiation therapy has multiple roles in the treatment of meningioma although surgery remains the primary treatment of choice. In this retrospective study, we report the results of radiation therapy for meningioma as definitive, postoperative or salvage therapies. METHODS: Seventeen patients diagnosed with meningioma were treated with radiation therapy in our institute from May 2000 to October 2009. Radiation therapies were performed as definitive therapies in 8 patients, as postoperative therapies in 5 and as salvage therapies in 4. Nine patients received stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS), 2 patients fractionated stereotactic radiotherapy (FSRT), and 5 patients 3-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3DCRT). Radiation dose were 12 to 20 Gy for SRS, 36 Gy in 9 fractions for FSRT and 50.4 Gy in 28 fractions for 3DCRT. Follow-up imaging study of computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging was performed at 6 to 12 months intervals and neurologic exam was performed with an interval less than 6 months. RESULTS: The median follow-up duration was 38 months (range, 12 to 85 months). Tumor progression after radiation therapy developed in one patient. The reduction of tumor volume measured on follow-up images were more than 20% in 4 patients and minimal change of tumor volume less than 20% were observed in 12 patients. Peritumoral edema developed in 4 patients and disappeared without any treatment. One patient had radiation necrosis. CONCLUSION: Our experience is consistent with the current understanding that radiotherapy is as an effective and safe treatment modality for meningiomas when the tumor cannot be resected completely or when recurred after surgery.
Brain Edema ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Meningioma* ; Radiosurgery ; Radiotherapy* ; Radiotherapy, Conformal ; Retrospective Studies ; Salvage Therapy ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Tumor Burden

No abstract available.
Panniculitis*