MR imaging of the nasopharynx and floor of the middle cranial fossa. Part I. Normal anatomy

The normal anatomy of the nasopharynx and floor of the middle cranial fossa was analyzed with magnetic resonance (MR) imaging. MR images from five healthy volunteers were correlated with whole-organ cryomicrotome sections from three cadavers. Anatomic connections exist between the paranasopharyngeal spaces and the surface structures of the skull base. These anatomic connections include the intimate relationship between the eustachian tube and the pharyngobasilar fascia, the attachment of the muscles of mastication and deglutition to the skull base, and vascular and nervous structures in the foramina. The inherent contrast between the soft tissues of the nasopharynx and related structures and the bone of the floor of the middle cranial fossa allowed excellent visualization of these anatomic connections.     

Percutaneous angioplasty in clinical management of renovascular hypertension: initial and long-term results

Between January 1980 and July 1983, percutaneous transluminal angioplasty was attempted on 137 stenotic renal arteries in 100 patients. At termination of follow-up studies (3-39 months, mean of 16 months), 70% of those treated for hypertension had benefited from the procedure. Stenosis secondary to fibromuscular dysplasia responded better than stenosis from arteriosclerosis (85% and 65% of the patients, respectively). Benefit was minimal for those with stenosis of the renal artery ostium or renal insufficiency. Determining levels of renal vein renin before angioplasty is helpful in selecting patients; following angioplasty, this has considerable significance in predicting the success of the procedure.     

Leg-length determination with biplanar CT scanograms

Computed tomography (CT) scanograms provide an accurate method for evaluation of leg-length discrepancy. Flexion of a leg may be missed on a single frontal projection, and the measurements obtained will be erroneously shortened. When performing CT sonography, lateral views of the limbs may be easily and rapidly obtained without having to change the position of the patient. This permits assessment of limb flexion.     

tdic(9;12): a nonrandom chromosome abnormality in childhood B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia: a Pediatric Oncology Group Study

In a review of 432 children with newly diagnosed acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), we identified a new nonrandom translocation, tdic(9;12)(p1?1;p1?2), in the leukemic marrow cells of eight patients. Seven had hypodiploid karyotypes that lacked chromosomes 9 and 12 and contained a der(12), tdic(9;12); the eighth had a pseudodiploid karyotype with two normal 9 chromosomes, one normal 12 and the der(12), tdic(9;12). Abnormalities involving chromosomes other than 9 and 12 were noted in four of the eight patients. All cells with the tdic(9;12) expressed both the common ALL antigen and HLA-DR. Cytoplasmic immunoglobulin, a marker of pre-B ALL, was detected in one case with the tdic(9;12) but was absent in the other seven. Our results suggest that the tdic(9;12)(p1?1;p1?2) rearrangement is specifically associated with leukemic B cell precursors.     

Larynx and hypopharynx: MR imaging with surface coils

Forty patients with disorders of the larynx or hypopharynx were studied with magnetic resonance (MR) imaging. Axial, coronal, and sagittal sections, 4 mm thick, were obtained. Twenty-eight of the patients underwent computed tomography (CT) scanning; 17 underwent surgery, and specimens were obtained for organ sectioning. Correlation was made between these three studies as well as with clinical history, physical examination, and endoscopic photography. In 13 patients who underwent all three studies, the depiction of cartilage invasion, adenopathy, and intraorgan and extraorgan spread of disease was compared. MR consistently showed superior soft-tissue definition and extent of disease compared with CT. Neither CT nor MR was able to depict histologic detail or microscopic spread of disease. Both studies were also less effective in the postoperative or postirradiated neck. The use of direct coronal and sagittal imaging planes on MR allowed the visualization of intrinsic laryngeal musculature, which was important in the recognition of subtle tumor extension. For these reasons, surface coil MR imaging is currently the imaging study of choice at our institution for disorders of the larynx and hypopharynx.