Umesh C Parashari

Diagnostic and prognostic role of MRI in spinal trauma, its comparison and correlation with clinical profile and neurological outcome, according to ASIA impairment scale.

Aims and objectives: To evaluate the role of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) as a non-invasive diagnostic tool in patients with acute and chronic spinal trauma and to compare and correlate the MRI findings with those of patients’ clinical profile and neurological outcome according to ASIA impairment scale to assess prognostic and clinical value of MRI. Materials and Methods: Sixty two patients of spinal trauma formed the study group in a prospective fashion. The patients undergoing MR imaging and magnetic resonance images were analyzed and correlated with findings on neurological examination according to American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) impairment scale (AIS) at the time of MRI examination and subsequently at sub-acute interval to assess neurological outcome. Statistical Analysis: Sample profile was described in terms of 95% confidence limit and proportion. To describe strength of association between extent of spinal cord injury and outcome, odds ratio, bivariate and multi variant analysis, was used. Pearsons chi square (χ) 2 statistics was applied to test the association between two categorical variables. Data were analyzed using statistical software package, STATA 9.2 and the difference was considered to be significant if ‘P’ value was <0.05. Observation and Results: The cord edema without hemorrhage was the most common MR finding (41.5%). The others were sizable focus of hemorrhage within the cord (33%), epidural hematoma (5.0%), and normal cord (26%). Majority of MR findings correlated well with clinical profile of the patient according to ASIA impairment scale. This study demonstrated that patients with presence of sizable focus of haemorrhage had larger cord edema and more severe grade of initial ASIA impairment scale( AIS) with poor recovery at follow up (P=0.032).Improvement in upper extremity was more than lower extremity. Severe cord compression was also associated with poor neurological outcome; however it was not statistically significant (P=0.149). Conclusions: With this study the authors concluded that various MRI findings in acute spinal cord injury correlated well with the initial clinical findings and on follow-up according to ASIA impairment scale. MRI is useful for initial diagnosis of acute spinal cord injury and its prognostication for predicting neurological recovery.

Imaging Spectrum in Soft Tissue Sarcomas

Imaging plays an important role in detection, diagnosis as well as pre and post operative management of patients with soft tissue sarcomas. Soft tissue sarcomas are generally a diagnostic dilemma needing the complimentary use of both radiology and pathology for their accurate diagnosis. In this review article, we have tried to highlight the important facts about the various imaging modalities available as well as the recent advances in the field of radiology.

MRI in congenital duplication of urethra.

Congenital urethral duplication is a rare anomaly, with less than 200 cases described in the literature. The investigations that are usually performed are micturating cystourethrography (MCU) and retrograde urethrography (RGU), which can diagnose the presence of duplication but cannot diagnose the precise relationship of the duplicated urethra with other pelvic structures. MRI, because of the excellent tissue contrast that it provides and its multiplanar ability, can demonstrate with precision, the size, shape and position of the two urethras. We describe below a case where MRI was able to show this exquisitely.

Diagnostic role of magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography in evaluation of obstructive biliopathies and correlating it with final diagnosis and clinical profile of patients

Aims and Objective: We assessed the utility of magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) as a noninvasive diagnostic tool in patients with obstructive biliopathies. Materials and Methods: A prospective study was conducted on 54 patients with clinically suspected biliary obstruction. MRCP in these patients was compared and correlated with final diagnosis and their clinical profile. Statistical Analysis: Sample profile was described in terms of sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values, and diagnostic accuracy. Pearsons Chi-square statistics was used to assess the strength of association between diagnostic accuracy of MRCP and final diagnosis. Results: Out of the 54 patients, 50 had biliary obstruction. The cause of biliary obstruction was finally identified on the basis of direct cholangiography/surgery/histopathology. In 52 of the 54 patients, MRCP agreed with final diagnosis in identifying the level of block. MRCP agreed with final diagnosis in identifying the cause of obstruction in 48 of the 54 patients (89%). Sensitivity of MRCP in identifying the level of obstruction in comparison with final diagnosis was 100%, while diagnostic accuracy of MRCP in identifying the level of obstruction in comparison with final diagnosis was 96.29%. The correlation between MRCP and final diagnosis in diagnosing cause of obstruction was 0.95 (Pearsons correlation coefficient, P = 0.017). Conclusion: MRCP is a safe ionizing radiation and iodinated contrast free modality which has the ability to display the biliary tree by combining the advantages of projectional and cross-sectional imaging.

Radiologic and pathologic correlation of aneurysmal bone cysts at unusual sites

Aneurysmal bone cyst (ABC) is a benign solitary lesion. It usually occurs in the long bones but uncommonly in the calcaneum, mandible, femur and clavicle. Its frequency of occurrence in skull and mandible is 4%, clavicle and ribs is 5%, femur is 13% and foot is 3%. Only a few cases of ABC of these unusual sites have been reported till date. Here we report four cases of ABC at unusual sites namely the calcaneum, mandible, femur and clavicle diagnosed primarily on the basis of different imaging modalities and later confirmed on histopathology.

A Rare Case of Renal Cell Carcinoma in Left Renal Ectopia with CervicalSpine Metastasis Presented as Quadriparesis

We present a rare case of renal cell carcinoma in left renal ectopia presented with bilateral upper limb weakness due to cervical metastasis. The incidence of renal cell carcinoma with renal ectopia has been described in very few cases.

Diagnostic dilemma in a neglected case of fetus-in-fetu solved with Magnetic Resonance Imaging and MDCT - a case report and review of literature

Fetus-in-fetu (FIF) is a rare anomaly in which a vertebrate fetus is enclosed within the body of its twin in diamniotic monochorionic pregnancy. To the best of our knowledge, fewer than 100 cases have been reported in literature. Although a wide variety of presentations have been described in clinical reports, the characteristic features on MRI which distinguish FIF from teratoma have not been well delineated. Here we present a case of fetus-in-fetu in which characteristic MDCT and MR findings were used to diagnose FIF preoperatively and successfully differentiate it from teratoma. Although both CT and MRI can be used for definitive preoperative diagnosis of FIF, MRI is an ideal imaging modality due to inherent high tissue contrast and spatial resolution. Furthermore, MRI obviates the need for iodine contrast and eliminates the risk of ionizing radiation. We emphasize that MRI is an ideal valuable diagnostic tool for definite preoperative diagnosis of FIF and surgical planning.

Case report: MR spectroscopy in pantothenate kinase-2 associated neurodegeneration

We report a case of a 13-year-old girl with Hallervorden-Spatz disease (HSD) or pantothenate kinase-2 associated neurodegeneration (PKAN). HSD is a rare neurodegenerative disorder, which is characterized by a rapidly progressive extrapyramidal syndrome, dementia with optic atrophy, and retinal degeneration. It is associated with accumulation of cysteine-iron complex in the globus pallidi and substantia nigra. The MRI “eye of the tiger” sign is the characteristic. MRI spectroscopy is also characteristic. It shows markedly decreased NAA/Cr values in the globus pallidi and substantia nigra with increased mI/Cr values that suggest of gliosis.

Ascariasis of gallbladder: a rare case report and a review of the literature.

Ascariasis of the gallbladder is a very rare presentation. We report a case of a 15-year-old boy who presented with complaints of pain in the abdomen, vomiting, pruritus, and fever on-and-off for 10 days. On radiological examination, an ultrasonography of the abdomen showed a dilated gallbladder with multiple linear echogenic, tubular, parallel lines inside the lumen of the gallbladder, common bile duct and intrahepatic biliary radicles. The zigzag and coiling movement of a worm was noted in the lumen of the gallbladder on real time B-mode ultrasonography. The patient was successfully treated with an anthelminthic drug. On follow up no evidence of the worm was noted in the gallbladder or common bile duct lumen.

MRI in isolated dextrogastria with eventration of the right hemidiaphragm with associated mesentero-axial volvulus

Isolated dextrogastria is the rarest of all visceral transpositions and usually coexists with eventration of the right hemidiaphragm. We herein report a unique case of isolated dextrogastria with eventration of the right hemidiaphragm along with mesentero-axial volvulus. Such a case has not been reported in young children. As the barium study was suboptimal, MRI helped by exquisitely depicting the anomaly without radiation risk to the child.