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Tuberculosis of the metacarpals and phalanges of the hand

Skeletal tuberculosis (TB) is less common than the pulmonary form. Involvements of the metacarpals and phalanges of the hand are infrequent. The authors report their experience with treatment and outcome of TB of the metacarpals and phalanges of the hand in 7 patients. There were 4 women and 3 men in the study who ranged in age from 3 to 60 years (average age, 22.7 years). The duration of complaints at presentation ranged from 4 to 17 months (average, 9 months). The most common presentation was pain and swelling. The presumptive preoperative diagnoses were bone tumor in 4 patients, spina ventosa in 2, and chronic pyogenic osteomyelitis in 1 patients. The results of the laboratory examination showed a mild increase in the erythrocyte sedimentation rate. No patient had an active tubercular lesion or history of pulmonary disease. The diagnosis was based on the clinical picture and radiographic features, and was confirmed by open biopsy. No patient had bony debridement or arthrodesis to control the infection. The treatment of all patients began with a 4-drug regimen for 2 months, followed by a 2-drug regimen for 10 months. The mean follow-up was 30.28 months (range, 16–52 months). At the time of the last follow-up, all lesions had healed with no recurrence. The functional results were satisfactory in all patients. One patient with thumb metacarpophalangeal TB had joint irregularity and thumb metacarpal shortening. Arthrodesis was not needed in any patient. TB of the metacarpals and phalanges of the hand can be difficult to diagnose during the early stages. TB should be suspected in cases of long-standing pain and swelling in the metacarpals and phalanges. It is necessary to keep TB in mind when making the differential diagnosis of several osseous pathologies.

Extrahepatic abdominal hydatid disease caused by Echinococcus granulosus: imaging findings.

OBJECTIVE The classical findings in hydatid disease caused by Echinococcus granulosus with liver or lung involvement are well known. However, diagnosing hydatid disease at unusual locations may be challenging because of variable imaging appearances depending on the host reaction. The purpose of this pictorial essay is to review the sonographic, CT, and MRI features of extrahepatic abdominal hydatid disease including intraperitoneum, retroperitoneum, diaphragma, bone, and soft tissue of the abdomen. CONCLUSION Extrahepatic abdominal hydatid lesions have nearly identical imaging features, including the presence of cyst wall calcification, daughter cysts, and membrane detachment. The combinations of radiologic and serologic tests especially in patients living in the endemic areas contribute to the diagnosis. Despite their rarity, being familiar with the spectrum of radiologic findings in these unusual sites is helpful to improve diagnostic accuracy.

Median arcuate ligament syndrome: multidetector computed tomography findings.

Objective: We aimed to describe the clinical and multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) angiography findings of celiac, mesenteric, and renal artery entrapment by the median arcuate ligament. Materials and Methods: Patients (n = 453) who underwent MDCT abdominal aorta angiography in a period of 3 years were retrospectively reviewed for vascular compression by median arcuate ligament known as median arcuate ligament syndrome. The MDCT examinations were performed with 16-slice (n = 292) and 64-slice scanners (n = 161). The median arcuate ligament itself and adjacent vascular branches of abdominal aorta were assessed for compression by 2 different radiologists who are experienced on MDCT angiography more than 3 years. Both axial, multiplanar reformatted images and 3-dimensional angiographies were used for interpretation. Results: Twelve patients were found to have clinically significant vessel entrapments by median arcuate ligament; 6 of them with celiac artery, 4 of them with renal artery, and 2 of them with both celiac and mesenteric artery involvement. Patients with celiac and mesenteric vessel entrapments presented with epigastric pain. All patients with renal artery entrapment had resistant hypertension. The MDCT showed the proximal narrowing caused by compression of median arcuate ligament. The proximal portions of renal arteries pulled down and in toward the aorta, with mild to moderate narrowing. Conclusions: The MDCT exanimation with multiplanar images and 3-dimensional angiography is a noninvasive imaging technique that can be used with high accuracy in the diagnosis of median arcuate ligament syndrome.

Timing of Shunt Surgery in Childhood Tuberculous Meningitis with Hydrocephalus

Hydrocephalus is a common complication of tuberculous meningitis (TBM) in children. The aims of this study are to review our experience of hydrocephalus in childhood TBM and to evaluate the effect of the timing of ventriculoperitoneal shunting (VPS) on the final outcome. In this study, 156 patients with TBM and hydrocephalus were reviewed retrospectively between 1990 and 2000. Patients’ ages ranged from 6 months to 15 years, with a mean age of 4.1 years. There were 85 boys, and the male-to-female ratio was 1.19:1.0. Sixty-two percent of the children were younger than 6 years old. VPS was performed 2 days after the diagnosis in 100 patients, and in the remaining 56 patients, 3 weeks after the diagnosis. The average follow-up period was 8.5 months. Good recovery or minor sequelae was seen in 82 patients (52.6%), and 51 died (12.3%). The timing of the VPS procedure and cerebral complications had an effect on the final outcome. Early VPS gave a better outcome in mild and moderate hydrocephalus (p = 0.040). This study has shown that early surgical procedure for mild/moderate hydrocephalus has a positive effect on the morbidity and mortality of hydrocephalus in childhood TBM (p = 0.014, p = 0.040, respectively). In severe hydrocephalus, there was a tendency for early shunting to have a positive effect on morbidity, although this did not reach statistical significance.

Visceral leishmaniasis with multiple nodular lesions of the liver and spleen

Visceral leishmaniasis is a severe disease caused by the intracellular protozoa Leishmania donovani. Diagnosis is based on examination of bone marrow or serology. The role of imaging techniques as diagnostic tools remains to be established in visceral leishmaniasis. We report multiple nodular lesions in the liver and spleen on ultrasonography and computed tomography in a patient with visceral leishmaniasis. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of multiple nodular hepatosplenic lesions in visceral leishmaniasis.

The frequency of intracranial arterial fenestrations: A study with 64-detector CT-angiography

Fenestration is a vascular variation that begins with a common origin, then splits into two parallel luminal channels and rejoins distally. Potential association between anomalies of cerebral circulation and increased occurrence of aneurysm makes intracranial arterial fenestrations important. The planning of intracranial arterial interventions may be complicated if a fenestration occurs proximal to the site of intended treatment. This study is planned to determine the frequency of fenestrations on CT angiography and to search whether there is relationship between aneurysms and fenestrations. CT angiographies of 395 consecutive patients, performed by 64-detector CT, were retrospectively reviewed for aneurysms and fenestrations. Overall fenestration frequency, fenestration frequency in patients with and without aneurysm, and aneurysm frequency in patients with and without fenestration were searched. Demographic characteristics of patients were also compared. Overall fenestration frequency was 12.9%. Vertebrobasilar system (5.56%) and anterior communicating region (5.32%) were the two most frequent sites of fenestration. The rate of fenestrations was not significantly different between patients who had and did not have aneurysms. Mean age was significantly higher, and females were predominant in patients with aneurysms. However our results did not show significant difference in age and sex of patients with fenestrations. The frequency of fenestrations in this study is higher than in previously published radiological studies, suggesting that fenestrations are relatively common. There is no significant relationship between the frequency of aneurysms and fenestrations.

Effects of extracorporeal shock‐wave lithotripsy on intrarenal resistive index

Objective: This prospective study was performed to determine whether extracorporeal shock‐wave lithotripsy (ESWL), widely used for treating renal and ureteral stones, affects the kidney interlobar artery resistive index (RI). Material and Methods: A total of 43 patients (30 with renal and 13 with ureteral stones) underwent color Doppler examination before and 30 min and 3 h after ESWL. Seventeen patients with renal and nine with ureteral stones underwent Doppler examination 2 weeks later. Measurements were made near the stones (nearby region), at least 2 cm from the stones (remote region) and in the contralateral kidney for renal stones, and in the ipsilateral and contralateral kidneys for ureteral stones. Results: In patients with renal stones, the RI was increased 30 min and 3 h after ESWL in the nearby and remote regions, and more markedly in the former. In the contralateral kidney, there was an increase in RI only at 3 h, which was less than that in the ipsilateral kidney. The RI at 2 weeks post‐ESWL in the nearby region and contralateral kidney did not differ from the pre‐ESWL values. ESWL performed for ureteral stones caused no increase in RI in the ipsilateral kidney. Conclusion: Patients with renal stones had a temporary increase in RI in the hours following ESWL in both the ipsilateral and contralateral kidneys, which was highest in the region near the stones and lowest in the contralateral kidney. Two weeks later, the RI in both areas had returned to pre‐ESWL levels.

Synovial cyst at the intervertebral foramina causing lumbar radiculopathy

Objective: To determine the presence of intraforaminal synovial cysts resulting in nerve root compression.Methods: A 26 year old man presenting with left leg pain was admitted. He had no motor, sensory, or reflex changes. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and MRI-myelography showed an intra and extra foraminal, extradural, cystic lesion at L4 vertebra on the left side.Results: At surgery there was a cystic mass pressing on the nerve root, and no connection or communication with the dural structures could be found.Conclusion: Synovial cysts are uncommon extradural degenerative lesions. Intraspinal synovial cysts occur most often at the L4-5 level, but they have been reported in all areas of the spine except the intraforaminal region and the sacrum.Spinal Cord (2001) 39, 399–401.

Lumbar epidural brucellar abscess causing nerve root compression

Objectives: To evaluate the usefulness of MR sequences for the differential diagnosis of spinal brucellar abscesses which mimic lumbar disc herniation. Methods: We analyzed six patients with brucellar abscesses who had symptoms mimicking lumbar disc herniation. The study group consisted of three women and three men who were 15–67 (mean=37) years old. Patients were imaged in the axial and sagittal planes with a I.0-T MR scanner using a spine coil. Results: The level of abscesses were accurate in 100% (six of six) of patients with MR imaging. MRI examinations revealed an extradural soft tissue mass which were iso- to hypointense compared to spinal cord on T1WI and hyperintense on T2-weighted images. By contrast study, diffuse homogeneous or slightly heterogeneous enhancements were seen. Conclusion: Lumbar extradural brucellar abscess can have lumbar disc disease symptoms. MRI may non-invasively and rapidly reveal the presence of spinal abscess and degree of extension to the spinal canal. Extradural brucellar abscess should be included in the differential diagnosis of radicular symptoms caused by disc herniation.

Treatment of Hypertension from Renal Artery Entrapment by Percutaneous CT-Guided Botulinum Toxin Injection into Diaphragmatic Crus as Alternative to Surgery and Stenting

OBJECTIVE Our objective was to describe the technique and outcome of CT-guided injection of botulinum toxin into the diaphragmatic crus in a patient with hypertension caused by left diaphragmatic crus compression of the left renal artery. CONCLUSION After the procedure, the patients hypertension disappeared. We propose this technique, which directly targets inhibition of overactivity of the diaphragmatic crus, for treatment of hypertension caused by diaphragmatic compression of the renal artery as an alternative to surgery and renal artery stenting.