Coexistence of external carotid artery embolus and internal carotid artery occlusion in acute ischemic stroke: An indicator of cardioembolic etiology?

ObjectivesThis study aims to evaluate whether the presence of an external carotid artery embolism accompanying internal carotid artery occlusion may contribute to identifying the etiology of internal carotid artery occlusion in the early period.Material and methodsThe presence of external carotid artery embolism was evaluated in 117 patients who were adjudicated for internal carotid artery occlusion based on digital subtraction angiography images.ResultsEmbolus in the external carotid artery was detected in 8 (6.8%) of the 117 patients with internal carotid artery occlusion (7 (87.5%) patients were found to have tandem and 1 (12.5%) patient had carotid T occlusion). In all of these patients, the thrombus was of embolic origin. Evaluation of the etiology revealed cardioembolic etiology in 4 patients and dissection in 1 patient, and the cause could not be determined in the remaining 3 patients. Patients with external carotid artery embolism accompanying an internal carotid artery occlusion had significantly higher The National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale scores at admission and significantly lower recanalization success compared to those without external carotid artery embolism (p = 0.009, p = 0.01). In the comparison of prognosis, poorer prognosis was observed in those with external carotid artery embolism, although without a statistically significant difference (p = 0.07).ConclusionsThis study observed that the etiology was mostly embolic in patients with external carotid artery embolism accompanying an internal carotid artery occlusion, most of whom were found to have tandem embolic occlusion, and cardiac origin appeared to be the prominent etiology of stroke.     

基于增强双期CT成像的肺亚厘米结节良恶性预测模型

  目的  分析基于增强双期CT成像的肺亚厘米结节良恶性预测模型。  方法  选择我院2019年1月~2021年3月收治的98例肺亚厘米结节患者作为研究对象，依照病理诊断结果分为良性病变组（n=64）和恶性病变组（n=34）。所有受试者行基于增强双期CT成像，采用Logistic回归模型分析增强双期CT成像预测结节良恶性预测模型，绘制ROC曲线分析增强双期CT成像的肺亚厘米结节良恶性预测模型的应用价值。  结果  良性病变组患者毛刺、结节边界清楚、上叶、分叶征、空泡征、胸膜凹陷征、血管集束征、磨玻璃密度发生率与恶性病变组的差异有统计学意义（P < 0.05）；增强双期CT成像预测肺亚厘米结节良恶性预测模型为Log(P)=1.211×毛刺+2.843×分叶+1.981×磨玻璃+0.793×边界不清+1.326；增强双期CT成像预测肺亚厘米结节良恶性预测模型预测患者肺亚厘米结节良恶性的曲线下面积为0.930（P < 0.05）。  结论  基于增强双期CT成像预测肺亚厘米结节良恶性模型临床价值较高，具有较高的预测价值。      

高频超声检查在强直性脊柱炎患者髋关节受累诊断中的临床价值

目的 ：分析髋关节肌骨超声评分与强直性脊柱炎（ankylosing spondylitis,AS）疾病活动的相关性,探讨高频超声检查在AS髋关节受累诊断中的价值。方法：回顾性分析2019年3月至2022年3月接受诊治的244例AS患者临床资料,其中男174例,女70例,年龄19～58(34.22±9.49)岁;AS病程8个月～26年,平均（13.68±4.04）年。根据是否合并髋关节病变将244例患者分为疾病组83例和对照组161例,并根据疾病活动情况将疾病组患者分为活动期45例和稳定期38例。比较疾病组和对照组、疾病组活动期和稳定期患者超声评分。分析AS患者髋关节受累的相关因素,并分析AS患者超声评分与Bath强直性脊柱炎疾病活动评分（Bath ankylosing spondylitis disease activity score index,BASDAI）、Bath强直性脊柱炎功能指数（Bath ankylosing spondylitis functional index,BASFI）、疼痛视觉模拟评分（visual analog score,VAS）、C反应蛋白（C-rea...     

Retinal and optic nerve magnetic resonance diffusion-weighted imaging in acute non-arteritic central retinal artery occlusion

ObjectivesDiffusion weighted imaging hyperintensity (DWI-H) has been described in the retina and optic nerve during acute central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO). We aimed to determine whether DWI-H can be accurately identified on standard brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in non-arteritic CRAO patients at two tertiary academic centers.Materials and methodsRetrospective cross-sectional study that included all consecutive adult patients with confirmed acute non-arteritic CRAO and brain MRI performed within 14 days of CRAO. At each center, two neuroradiologists masked to patient clinical data reviewed each MRI for DWI-H in the retina and optic nerve, first independently then together. Statistical analysis for inter-rater reliability and correlation with clinical data was performed.ResultsWe included 204 patients [mean age 67.9±14.6 years; 47.5% females; median time from CRAO to MRI 1 day (IQR 1-4.3); 1.5 T in 127/204 (62.3%) and 3.0 T in 77/204 (37.7%)]. Inter-rater reliability varied between centers (κ = 0.27 vs. κ = 0.65) and was better for retinal DWI-H. Miss and error rates significantly differed between neuroradiologists at each center. After consensus review, DWI-H was identified in 87/204 (42.6%) patients [miss rate 117/204 (57.4%) and error rate 11/87 (12.6%)]. Significantly more patients without DWI-H had good visual acuity at follow-up (p = 0.038).ConclusionsIn this real-world case series, differences in agreement and interpretation accuracy among neuroradiologists limited the role of DWI-H in diagnosing acute CRAO on standard MRI. DWI-H was identified in 42.6% of patients and was more accurately detected in the retina than in the optic nerve. Further studies are needed with standardized novel MRI protocols.