Gd-DTPA-enhanced MR in thoracic disc herniations

Summary The Gd-DTPA-enhanced magnetic resonance findings in two patients with herniated thoracic intervertebral discs are reported. The first patient was a 56-year-old woman with a small subligamentous T6-7 disc herniation, slightly lateralized to the right. The second patient was a 51-year-old man with a central and right posterolateral disc herniation, including a large calcified fragment, at the T8-9 level. The nonenhanced MR examination revealed the presence of an extradural mass lesion in both patients, impinging upon the dural sac and compressing and displacing the spinal cord posteriorly. The lesion was slightly hypointense on both T1- and T2-weighted spin echo sequences. Following intravenous injection of Gd-DTPA in a dosage of 0.1 mmol/kg body weight, enhancement of the posterior longitudinal ligament was noted and triangular areas of contrast uptake were seen to occur in the epidural space above and below the herniated disc. At surgery, they were found to correspond to dilated and congested epidural veins.     

Value of polydirectional tomography in the assessment of the postoperative spine after anterior decompression and vertebral body autografting

With the growing number of orthopedic reconstructive spinal procedures, the use of bone grafting has steadily increased in the past decade. An understanding of the biology of bone grafting is essential for both the clinician and radiologist. Despite the advent of computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging, conventional polydirectional tomography remains an important tool in the evaluation of vertebral body autografts. Trispiral or hypocycloidal tomography plays a valuable role in the assessment of bone graft fusion and possible complications, especially in the presence of metallic fixation devices. We present our imaging experience derived from 375 patients with cervical, thoracic, or lumbar anterior spinal fusion. True graft complications occurred in 27 patients (7%) and consisted of fracture (4%), malpositioning (3%), and infection (<1%).     

Use of gadolinium chelates in MR imaging of the spine

Spinal disease can be divided into intramedullary, extramedullary-intradural, and extradural compartments. In the cord (intramedullary compartment), gadolinium chelates are useful to diagnose primary and metastatic tumors, inflammation, and demyelination, and to evaluate syringomyelia when a Chiari I malformation is not present. In the extra-medulullary-intradural compartment, gadolinium chelates are useful for the diagnosis of drop metastases, meningiomas, and schwannomas. In the extradural compartment, gadolinium chelates are most useful to distinguish recurrent disc herniation from epidural fibrosis in the postoperative back and may be useful to diagnosis the soft tissue component of osseous metastases.     

术前动脉灌注化疗加乳腺区段切除治疗乳腺癌的探讨

目的　探索早期乳腺癌保留乳房治疗的新途径。方法　 1995 - 1997年采用术前动脉插管化疗加乳腺区段切除治疗Ⅰ、Ⅱ期乳腺癌共 2 6例 ,并随访 5年以上。结果　 2 6例中 1例术后 2年 4个月死于肺转移 ,另 1例术后 4年死于其他疾病。 1例术后 1年复发 ,行全乳房切除后至今无瘤生存 6年。本组 3年生存率 (OS) 96 .15 % ,3年无瘤生存率 (DFS) 92 .3% ;5年OS 88.4 6 % ,5年DFS 88.4 6 %。结论　术前动脉插管化疗能提高肿瘤区域的药物浓度 ,杀灭部分癌细胞 ,减少术后复发。该疗法对部分Ⅰ、Ⅱ期乳腺癌病例是可行的。     

使用颗粒状自体松质骨植骨的寰枢椎后路融合术

介绍一种在头环背心保护下用颗粒状自体松质骨植骨的寰枢椎后路融合术。对３４例寰枢椎不稳的病人施行了寰枢椎后路融合术。用头环背心维持寰椎的复位，将颗粒状的自体松质骨植于寰椎后弓和枢椎椎板的背面，不用内固定，直至植骨融合。３１例病人获得了随访，平均随访时间３０个月，其中２９例融合成功，术后头不背心固定时间平均为１３周，有３例出现了寰椎再移位。颗粒状自体松质骨比块状的全层骨更有利于融合。用头环背心的外固定     

节段性不稳定在颈椎病性脊髓病发病中的作用

复习１００例颈椎病性脊髓病患者的临床资料，并以正常成人４９例作为对照，在颈椎侧位及伸、屈位Ｘ线片上测量椎管中矢径、椎体中矢径、功能Ⅰ径、功能Ⅱ径，颈伸位时椎体后滑距离，椎体后缘骨刺。将颈椎管中矢径比值小于０．７５作为发育性椎管狭窄的判断标准，中矢径比值小于０．７５为椎管狭窄组（Ａ组），其余为非狭窄组（Ｂ组），将正常成人组定为Ｃ组。对所测数据进行统计学处理。用ＪＯＡ法对脊髓病患者（Ａ、Ｂ组）的颈脊髓功能做出评估。结果显示：Ａ、Ｂ组中节段性不稳定（ｓｅｇｍｅｎｔａｌｉｎｓｔａｂｉｌｉｔｙ，ＳＩ）发生率明显高于正常人，但不稳定程度（颈椎后滑）无明显差异。脊髓病损程度Ａ组重于Ｂ组，在Ａ组中与滑移程度正相关。Ａ组功能Ⅰ径＜Ⅱ径，Ｂ组功能Ⅰ径＞Ⅱ径，提示节段性不稳定合并发育性椎管狭窄时具有致病作用。颈伸位时椎体后滑使功能Ⅰ径小于１２ｍｍ为脊髓受压的临界标准。     

Dislocation of the second through fifth carpometacarpal joints

We report a case of dislocation of the second through fifth carpometacarpal joints and review the mechanism of injury and radiographic findings in such injuries.     

新型脊柱固定器械的研制与临床应用

自１９８９年以来，临床应用一种新型脊柱固定器械，共６８例，其中５２例为胸腰椎骨折，１６例为椎体滑脱。经临床观察和随访，治疗效果满意。这种新型固定器械，既可行胸腰椎骨折的固定，也可行椎体滑脱的复位。根据临床需要，该器械可行压缩、撑开、成角和中立位固定。作者强调，脊柱损伤只要有手术指征，手术时机甚为重要，应早期或立即手术，有利于脊柱骨折和椎管前方骨块的复位，早期也有利于神经功能的恢复。     

Histopathology of the teeth in segmental odontomaxillary dysplasia: new findings

Histological examination of the deciduous teeth in two cases of segmental odontomaxillary dysplasia (SOMD) showed fibrous enlargement of the pulps, an irregular pulp/dentine interface displaying many pseudoinclusions and pulp stones. There were tubular defects in the coronal dentine from pulp horn to cusp tip, an irregular tubular structure to the circumpulpal dentine of the apical half, a focally deficient odontoblast layer and widespread external resorption. Together with the clinical features of unilateral maxillary enlargement, upper alveolar expansion in the distal segment, increased spacing and delayed eruption of the deciduous molars and absence of premolar teeth, these histological appearances allow distinction of this condition from fibrous dysplasia (FD), segmental hemifacial hypertrophy (SHH) and regional odontodysplasia (ROD).