Differentiating benign from malignant cardiac tumors with cardiac magnetic resonance imaging

Background

The purpose of this analysis is to describe the differences in cardiac magnetic resonance characteristics between benign and malignant tumors, which would be helpful for surgical planning.

Acquired brown syndrome secondary to superior oblique muscle cysticercosis.

BACKGROUND: Acquired Brown syndrome is known to occur after trauma, iatrogenic events, cysts of superior oblique muscle tendon, and inflammation. The purpose of this study is to report a large series of patients with acquired Brown syndrome secondary to superior oblique muscle cysticercosis and to discuss its management. METHODS: Retrospective analysis was performed of clinical and imaging features, management, and outcome in seven patients with cysticercosis of the superior oblique muscle presenting clinically as Brown syndrome. RESULTS: Seven patients were identified (five male and two female) ranging in age from 6 to 45 years. All patients had the ocular motility limitation, ie, limitation of elevation in adduction., characteristic of Brown syndrome. This was associated with pain and swelling in the superior nasal orbit. Diagnosis was established by observing the cysticercus cyst with scolex on imaging (ultrasound B scan, magnetic resonance imaging, and/or computed tomography). Oral albendazole (15 mg/kg) and oral prednisolone (1mg/kg) were given for 4 weeks, and the patients were followed up for 1 year. Clinical recovery with improvement of ocular motility and regression of imaging features was noted in all patients. CONCLUSIONS: Acquired Brown syndrome secondary to superior oblique muscle cysticercosis is a rare entity. Awareness of this condition, which leads to early diagnosis and institution of prompt medical treatment, results in a successful clinical outcome.     

Subungual glomus tumors of the hand: Treated by transungual excision

Background:Glomus tumors are benign hamartomas arising from the glomus body, mostly occurring in the subungual region of the digits. A triad of excruciating pain, localized tenderness and cold sensitivity is the key to diagnosing these tumors. Two surgical approaches are described in the literature for excision of subungual glomus tumors-transungual and periungual. We reviewed retrospectively the results of subungual glomus tumors of the hand treated by transungual excision.Results:All patients had complete pain relief. There was no new nail deformity and no recurrence till last followup. One patient had deformity of the nail preoperatively due to previous surgery, which persisted after excision of the tumor. All of them returned to their preoperative occupation and regained full function of the hand.Conclusions:The transungual approach provides good access to the entire lesion and facilitates complete excision. Contrary to reported literature, we did not find the development of any new nail deformity with this approach.     

Seco-sethukarailin,a novel diterpenoid from the soft coral Sinularia dissecta

Seco-sethukarailin (1), a novel diterpenoid, has been isolated along with known sesquiterpenes Delta(9(15))africanene, beta-elemene, african-1-ene, 6R,7R-6,7-epoxycaryophyll-3(15)-ene, and known diterpenoids sethukarailin and isomandapamate, from the soft coral Sinularia dissecta collected from Mandapam Coast, South India. The structure of the novel diterpenoid seco-sethukarailin (1) was characterized by interpretation of spectral data.