Ranjana Gupta

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.

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.

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.

Imaging findings in incomplete annular pancreas in adults with crocodile jaw appearance: Report of two cases

Annular pancreas is a well-known developmental anomaly. It usually presents in neonatal period with duodenal obstruction due to pancreatic tissue enveloping the second part of duodenum. It is associated with other anomalies such as Down′s syndrome, duodenal atresia, and Hirschsprung disease. Presentation in adults can be due to pancreatitis or obstruction. While complete annular pancreas is well described in literature, imaging appearance of incomplete annular pancreas is only described recently. We present imaging findings in two cases of partial annular pancreas.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) Depiction of Robert’s Uterus: A Rare Müllerian Duct Anomaly Presenting with Cyclical Pain in Young Menstruating Woman

Summary Background Robert’s uterus is a very rare müllerian duct anomaly which is characterised by septate uterus with obstruction of a one-sided cavity and formation of hematometra. Therefore, patients present with cyclical abdominal pain during menstruation along with normal menstrual flow. Case Report We present magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings in a case of Robert’s uterus in a young woman. Conclusions Robert’s uterus is a very rare anomaly which can be very well characterized by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). MRI can also show any associated hematometra and endometriomas complicating this condition and aid in the institution of appropriate management in such cases.

Acute post traumatic portal venous thrombosis associated with shattered spleen: A case report

Post-traumatic portal venous thrombosis is a rare event, and is usually seen in association with penetrating injuries. Portal venous thrombosis following blunt abdominal trauma is extremely rare with only few reports in the literature, some associated with underlying coagulation disorders. We report multidetector computed tomography findings in a case of blunt abdominal trauma with otherwise normal coagulation profile, which showed shattered spleen and MDCT evidence of acute thrombosis in the right branch of the portal vein. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first documented report of acute portal venous thrombosis in association with shattered spleen.

MRI findings in a case of spinal cord Wallerian degeneration following trauma

Wallerian degeneration is a well-known entity which represents distal axonal degeneration and myelin disintegration following interruption of any axon from its cellular connection. It was first described by Weller in 1850 and is named after him.1 It is well described entity on imaging in brain but is less well described in spinal cord with only few reports in radiological literature and in post mortem pathological studies.1-4 We described sequential magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings in a case of spinal cord injury with development of changes of Wallerian degeneration in delayed scan.

Spectrum of MDCT Findings in Bowel Obstruction in a Tertiary Care Rural Hospital in Northern India.

INTRODUCTION Multidetector Computed Tomography (MDCT) provides clinically and surgically important information in bowel obstruction. It can depict the severity, level and cause of obstruction. AIM To depict the spectrum of MDCT findings in cases of small and large bowel obstruction. MATERIALS AND METHODS Contrast enhanced MDCT examination of 50 patients were retrospectively included in the study who had evidence of clinical as well as MDCT evidence of bowel obstruction and in whom surgical/clinical follow-up for final diagnosis was available. CT scan was done in all the patients with Ingenuity CT (128 slice MDCT, Philips Medical Systems). The axial sections were reconstructed in coronal and sagital planes to determine site and cause of bowel obstruction. RESULTS There were 34 males and 16 females patients in this study with mean age of 28.4 years. The level of obstruction was in small bowel in 39 patients (76.67%) and large bowel in 11 patients (23.33%). Adhesive bands were the cause of Small Bowel Obstruction (SBO) in 17 patients (43.5% of SBO patients). The most common CT signs in adhesive band SBO were beak sign (seen in 70.6% patients) and fat notch sign (52.9% patients). Five cases of SBO were secondary to benign stricture. Matted adhesions were the cause of obstruction in 3 patients. All these patients showed transition zone in pelvis with positive small bowel faeces sign. Two patients with SBO due to adhesive band had evidence of closed loop obstruction with evidence of gangrenous gut on surgery. Large Bowel Obstruction (LBO) was seen in 11 patients. Most common cause of LBO was primary colonic malignancy, accounting for 7 patients (63.6%). In one patient, the cause was direct invasion of hepatic flexure by carcinoma of gall bladder. Other causes of LBO were pelvic adhesions, faecal impaction and ischaemic stricture. CONCLUSION SBO is more common than LBO with adhesive bands being the most common cause of SBO. MDCT is very useful for depicting site and cause of obstruction and any associated complications.

Role of GRE imaging in cerebral diseases with hemorrhage: A case series

Gradient recalled echo (GRE) T2 weighted imaging is more widely used as a standard magnetic resonance (MR) pulse sequence because of its exquisite sensitivity for detection of cerebral hemorrhages. Signal loss on GRE sequence is due to increased sensitivity of this sequence to magnetic susceptibility induced by static field inhomogeneities arising from paramagnetic blood breakdown products. T2 FNx01 signal intensity loss seen in GRE sequence is greater with longer TE, smaller flip angle, and larger magnetic field strength. The purpose of this review is to discuss the role of GRE imaging in cerebral disorders with bleed. Because of the sensitivity of this sequence to microbleeds, we describe its edge over baseline imaging sequences to provide insight in the etiology of certain diseases.