Puneet Mittal

ASSOCIATION BETWEEN PORTAL VEIN COLOR DOPPLER FINDINGS AND THE SEVERITY OF DISEASE IN CIRRHOTIC PATIENTS WITH PORTAL HYPERTENSION

Background Doppler ultrasound is the accepted gold standard for assessing direction of flow in the portal vein (PV). Moreover, it is non-invasive; therefore, it is well accepted by the patients and does not interfere with flow hemodynamics. Objectives The present study was aimed to evaluate the association between color Doppler findings and the severity of portal hypertension in patients with cirrhosis. Patients and Methods The study group included 50 patients referred for ultrasound (US) evaluation over a period of six months from March to August, 2007. The patients were divided into three groups (Child’ A, B and C) based on Child Pugh classification. The direction of flow in the main portal vein (hepatopetal or nonhepatopetal) and peak venous velocity (PVV) in the main portal vein were measured and correlated with the presence or absence of ascites, splenomegaly, splenic and esophageal varices (assessed by Doppler US). These findings were correlated with clinical features and laboratory findings (using Child Pugh’s criteria). Results There was significant association between the decrease of peak portal venous velocity (PVV) and the increase in Child Pugh score. Hepatofugal flow was seen only in patients with more advanced disease. There was also significant association between PVV and splenic varices and ascites, while PVV was not affected by the presence or absence of esophageal varices or splenomegaly. Presence of a recanalized umbilical vein (UV) was associated with increased PVV even in advanced disease. Conclusions Color Doppler is an excellent modality for detecting and characterizing the complex hemodynamics of portal hypertension in cirrhosis and they correlate with the clinical stage of disease.

Hemichorea-hemiballism syndrome: A look through susceptibility weighted imaging.

Hemichorea-hemiballism syndrome (HCHB) is a relatively rare cause of unilateral chorea in diabetic patients and is due to non ketotoic hyperglycaemia. Characteristic magnetic resonance (MR) findings include T1 hyperintensity in the contralateral putamen without any significant signal alteration on other conventional MR sequences. We report susceptibility weighted imaging (SWI) findings in a case of HCHB syndrome.

Correlation of qualitative and quantitative MRI parameters with neurological status: a prospective study on patients with spinal trauma.

INTRODUCTION Spinal trauma is relatively more common in young active individuals. Although its mortality is low, it is an important cause of long term disability. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can accurately depict presence and extent of spinal cord injury (SCI) in these patients. This study was aimed to look for various qualitative and quantitative MRI findings which are predictive of initial neurological deficit in patients with spinal trauma and final outcome on follow-up. MATERIALS AND METHODS The present study was conducted on 50 patients with suspected acute cervical or dorsal spinal trauma presenting for MRI study. American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) motor score was used for assessing neurological status at the time of presentation, at the time of discharge/2weeks and at 3-6 months follow up. Various MRI qualitative and quantitative parameters were evaluated for correlation with severity of spinal injury. RESULTS Normal baseline MRI (pattern 0) was seen in 12 subjects and was associated with incomplete SCI in 4 subjects (ASIA grade D) followed by complete recovery in all patients on follow-up examination. Pattern I (haemorrhage) was associated with complete spinal cord injury. Pattern II (oedema) was associated with incomplete SCI and good functional recovery on follow up.Pattern III (contusion) was associated with intermediate severity of injury. Compression and transection patterns were associated with complete neurological deficit at presentation and increased mortality at subsequent follow-up. All the three quantitative parameters i.e. lesion length,maximum (bony) canal compromise (MCC), maximum spinal cord compression (MSCC) were significantly increased in patients with complete SCI as compared to those with incomplete SCI. The best predictors for baseline ASIA score were MCC, cord oedema and cord haemorrhage. For the final ASIA score, the best predictors were baseline ASIA score and cord haemorrhage. CONCLUSION MRI is excellent imaging modality for detecting and assessing severity of spinal trauma. In our study, presence of cord haemorrhage, MCC and cord oedema were best predictors of baseline neurological status at presentation, whereas baseline ASIA score and cord haemorrhage were best predictors of final neurological outcome.

Pictorial essay: Susceptibility-weighted imaging in cerebral ischemia

The susceptiblity effect in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has been recognized for long and often has been considered undesirable, producing unnecessary noise. Susceptibility-weighted imaging (SWI) aims at exploiting this effect to provide a different type of contrast that is suited for vascular imaging. We describe five different cases in which SWI was found useful to delineate the underlying ischemia or to arrive at the corect diagnosis.

Magnetic resonance findings in sellar and suprasellar tuberculoma with hemorrhage.

Background: Tuberculosis is endemic in many counteries like India. It can infect any site in the central nervous system. However, islolated involvement of the sellar and suprasellar region is rare. Sellar tuberculoma with hemorrhage is even more rare. We present magnetic resonance (MR) findings in case of sellar and suprasellar tuberculoma with hemorrhage. Case Description: A 40-year-old female patient presented with a 1-month history of persistent headache and blurred vision on the left side. A contrast-enhanced MR study revealed peripherally enhancing sellar and suprasellar mass with hemorrhage with compression of the left half of the optic chiasma. There was also evidence of infundibular thickening and enhancement of the adjacent dura. The mass was approached through a transphenoidal approach and was partially resected. Subsequent histopathology was suggestive of tuberculosis. The patient was put on anti-tubercular therapy. Patient reported significant improvement in symptoms. Follow-up MR done 8 months later confirmed complete regression of the mass. Conclusion: Because of its rarity, sellar tuberculoma is seldom considered in the differential diagnosis and is often mistaken for pituitary macroadenoma, which is the most common tumor in this region. Although rare, presence of infundibular thickening and enhancement of the adjacent dura should suggest the presence of a granulomatous lesion like tuberculoma.

Intraventricular and subarachnoid racemose cysticercosis

Cysticercosis is endemic in India. Neurocysticercosis most commonly affects the brain parenchyma, which presents as focal lesions with the surrounding edema which later calcify. Rarely, it may affect the ventricular system and subarachnoid spaces and this form is known as racemose cysticercosis. We present magnetic resonance findings in a case of racemose cysticercosis.

Case report: Acute calcific discitis with intravertebral disc herniation in the dorsolumbar spine

Acute calcific discitis is a rare but well-known condition of unknown etiology. In symptomatic cases, the most common site is the cervical spine. We describe the CT scan and MRI findings in a symptomatic patient, with a lesion in the dorsolumbar spine.

Cystic adventitial disease of popliteal artery with significant stenosis.

Cystic adventitial disease of popliteal artery is a rare condition of unknown etiology which usually presents in middle-aged men. We present Doppler and computed tomography angiography findings in a case of cystic adventitial disease with significant obstruction of popliteal artery, with secondary narrowing of popliteal vein.

Magnetic resonance demonstration of gall bladder ascariasis

A 40-year-old man presented with right hypochondrial and epigastric pain and tenderness. There was no history of jaundice or vomiting. Serum alkaline phosphatase was mildly elevated (170 IU/L). His ultrasound was suggestive of gall bladder worms or stones. MRI revealed curvilinear hypointense structure in the gall bladder (Fig. 1); this suggested the diagnosis of gall bladder ascariasis. Common hepatic and bile ducts were normal. Stool examination revealed ova of Ascaris lumbricoides. The patient was given analgesics and albendazole (400 mg single dose). Three days later, he reported relief of symptoms and passage of worm in the stools. Ultrasound done 4 days later showed no worm in the gall bladder. The adult worm of ascariasis usually resides in the small bowel. It can occasionally migrate into biliary system. Involvement of gall bladder is rare because of the small size of cystic duct [1]. Ultrasound is the usual imaging modality for diagnosing gall bladder ascariasis which demonstrates it as curvilinear echogenic structure [1]. In cases which are inconclusive on sonography, MRI may show curvilinear hypointense structure in the gall bladder lumen, while gall stones typically appear as rounded objects of signal void [2]. MRI also allows simultaneous visualization of common hepatic and common bile ducts. Gall bladder ascariasis is usually treated by surgery and endoscopy. Occasionally, medical therapy may lead to spontaneous passage of worm, as happened in our case.

Painful tic convulsif syndrome due to vertebrobasilar dolichoectasia

Combined clinical presentation of hemifacial spasm and ipsilateral trigeminal neuralgia is also known as painful tic convulsif (PTC). It is a rare condition and the most common cause is vascular compression. Vertebrobasilar dolichoectasia (VBD) is characterized by dilated and tortuous vertebral and basilar arteries. VBD is an uncommon and rarely reported cause of PTC. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), due to its inherent excellent contrast resolution, is an excellent modality for demonstrating the nerve compression by dilated and tortuous vessels seen in this condition. For this purpose, 3D MRI sequences are especially useful like constructive interference in steady state (CISS) and MR angiography. Both of these have been reported to be helpful in the diagnosis of this condition. We report a case of PTC in which we were able to document facial and trigeminal nerve compression by VBD on MRI, using CISS and time-of-flight MR angiography.