Ruth G. Ramsey

The pattern of vertebral involvement in metastatic vertebral breast cancer.

The spine is a common site of bony metastasis. To date, studies have not identified the initial site and pattern of vertebral metastasis in a homogeneous group of patients. Twenty-seven magnetic resonance imaging studies performed on 25 patients with metastatic vertebral breast cancer were reviewed retrospectively. The location and extent of metastatic vertebral involvement were determined. The vertebral body is the most frequent initial site of metastatic seeding. Although radiographically an absent pedicle is often the first sign of metastatic disease, involvement of the pedicle is by direct extension from either the vertebral body or the posterior elements and is therefore a late occurrence in the disease process.

Computed Tomography in the Diagnosis of Pseudotumor Cerebri

The authors reviewed 17 patients with the clinical diagnosis of benign intracranial hypertension (pseudomotor cerebri). All of these patients underwent CT scans of the head which were interpreted as normal. Comparison of mean ventricular size with that of a group of control subjects showed no significant difference. On the basis of this study and others cited, there would appear to be almost no instances in which invasive neuroradiological procedures would be required to confirm the diagnosis of pseudotumor cerebri.

Pachygyria in a neonate with prenatal cocaine exposure : MR features

Clinical and MR findings of a neonate with diffuse severe pachygyria and prenatal exposure to cocaine are presented. The teratogenicity of cocaine is reviewed.

Computed tomography of porencephaly and other cerebrospinal fluid-containing lesions.

The EMI head scanner was used to review a large number of cases of porencephaly; computed tomographic scanning was found to be the most satisfactory method of evaluating these lesions. The nuclide brain scan has not usually been of significant value for diagnosis, and although angiography and pneumoencephalography were used for correlation in some cases, the CT scan is often the only neuroradiological procedure necessary to achieve the correct diagnosis. Porencephalic areas usually have a well-defined border, have the density of cerebrospinal fluid, and do not change in density following the use of contrast medium enhancement.

The magnetic resonance hypointense spine of AIDS

The T1-weighted magnetic resonance examinations in 11 acquired immunodeficiency syndrome patients showed substantial reduction in signal intensity of vertebral bodies. Review of bone marrow aspirates and biopsies that were available in eight patients suggested that the abnormality resulted from markedly increased amounts of storage iron within the bone marrow, probably secondary to the anemia of chronic disease.

Safety and efficacy of sodium and meglumine ioxaglate (Hexabrix) and hypaque M60%® in contrast-enhanced computed cranial tomographic scanning: A double-blind clinical study

The safety and efficacy of sodium and meglumine ioxaglate (Hexabrix, Mallinckrodt, Inc., St. Louis, MO), a new low-osmolality contrast agent, and Hypaque Meglumine 60% (Wintrop-Breon, Inc., New York, NY) were compared for contrast-enhanced computed cranial tomographic scanning. Fifty-two patients with possible enhancing lesions of the brain received a total of 59 injections of either Hexabrix or Hypaque M60 in a double-blind, randomized fashion. Hexabrix was superior to Hypaque M60 in both subjective and objective patient tolerance. A lower incidence of heat and pain in patients receiving Hexabrix was believed to be related to its lower osmolality. Lesion enhancement with both Hexabrix and Hypaque M60 was excellent. There was a statistically significant increase in the degree of enhancement immediately after injection with Hexabrix. Hexabrix had less effect on the cardiovascular system than Hypaque M60. No neurologic complications or adverse reactions requiring treatment occurred in either group. Hexabrix is a suitable agent for intravenous contrast-enhancement for cranial CT.