Thrombophilien bei Patienten mit ischämischem Schlaganfall

Patients with ischemic stroke are sometimes found to have an underlying inherited (deficiency of protein C, protein S, antithrombin III, activated protein C resistance, prothrombin gene mutation, hyperhomocysteinemia) or acquired thrombophilia (lupus anticoagulant and anticardiolipin antibodies, hyperhomocysteinemia). Patient selection for thrombophilia screening is, therefore, a frequent question in managing patients with ischemic stroke. In this review we discuss patient selection and timing for laboratory tests for thrombophilia screening in stroke patients based on a literature review and we calculated overall costs per year in Germany for testing patients older than 18 years with an ischemic stroke of undetermined cause. As there is a lack of studies comparing anticoagulation with antiplatelet therapy in patients with diagnosed thrombophilia, laboratory screening for thrombophilia even in a selected group of patients with cryptogenic ischemic stroke remains of questionable value at present. An exception appears to be testing for lupus anticoagulant and anticardiolipin antibodies in younger patients with suspected antiphospholipid syndrome (two positive test results necessary), because anticoagulation seems to be superior to aspirin in patients with antiphospholipid syndrome.     

Bildgebende Diagnostik bei Chordomen des Beckens: Vergleich der Modalitäten CT und MRT

ZusammenfassungFragestellung Das sakrale Chordom ist ein primär gutartiger Tumor des Knochenskeletts. Eine korrekte und ausreichende Tumorvolumendefinition zur Therapieplanung ist ein entscheidender Prognoseparameter aufgrund der hohen Rate an Rezidiven. Wir untersuchten die Wertigkeit der CT und MRT in der Diagnostik des sakralen Chordoms.Methodik Mittels CT und MRT wurden bei 31 Patienten mit histologisch gesichertem sakralem Chordom Septierung, Ossifikation, Zeichen einer Einblutung, die Kontrastmittelaufnahme des Tumors, die maximale axiale Tumorausdehnung, Weichteilinfiltration, Infiltration des Duralsackes, der Cauda equina und eine Multifokalität durch 2 unabhängige Radiologen untersucht und bewertet.Ergebnisse Alle Chordome zeigten in der CT nativ ein hypodenses und in der MRT ein T2w-hyperintenses Verhalten mit nur mäßiger Kontrastmittelaufnahme. Unter Zugrundelegung des besseren Weichteilkontrastes der MRT gegenüber der CT erwies sich die MRT mit Ausnahme bei Fragen der tumoralen Ossifikation in allen untersuchten Parametern der CT überlegen (p <0,05). Unter alleiniger Anwendung der CT wurde das Tumorvolumen tendenziell unterschätzt.Schlussfolgerung Die MRT sollte bei der Primär- und Rezidivdiagnostik des sakralen Chordoms ein wichtiger Bestandteil der Diagnostik sein.*Die vorliegende Studie wurde im Rahmen des Tumorzentrums Heidelberg-Mannheim durchgeführt.     

The use of a combination of galectin-3 and thyroid peroxidase for the diagnosis and prognosis of thyroid cancer

In this retrospective histologic study, galectin-3 had a sensitivity of 92% (22/24) for papillary thyroid carcinoma and 44% (4/9) for follicular thyroid carcinoma. Thyroid peroxidase (TPO) had a sensitivity of 50% (12/24) for papillary and 11% (1/11) for follicular carcinoma. The combination of galectin-3 and TPO had a sensitivity of 96% (23/24) for papillary and 44% (4/9) for follicular carcinoma. From a prognostic standpoint, of patients whose papillary carcinomas expressed both markers, all became free of disease. Of those whose papillary carcinomas expressed galectin-3 but not TPO, 57% (4/7) became free of disease, 29% (2/7) had persistent disease, and 14% (1/7) had progressive disease. This study confirms previous observations that galectin-3 alone is highly sensitive for papillary carcinoma but not adequately sensitive for follicular carcinoma. TPO alone is not adequately sensitive for the evaluation of any thyroid lesion. The combination of galectin-3 and TPO is complementary as a diagnostic and prognostic tool for patients with papillary carcinoma.     

Use of sodium fluorescein solution for detection of cerebrospinal fluid fistulas: an analysis of 420 administrations and reported complications in Europe and the United States

BACKGROUND: Localization of dural fistulas in the region of the anterior or lateral skull base may be difficult. For many years, a sodium fluorescein solution of 0.5 to 5% (2.5-50 mg) has been administered intrathecally by way of the lumbar space. However, fluorescein is not commercially available for this stated purpose in either Germany or the United States. METHODS: Retrospectively, 420 fluorescein applications by the authors were retrospectively analyzed. Under the Freedom of Information Act, the United States Federal Drug Administration and the manufactures of fluorescein were queried for adverse reaction reports. RESULTS: Four hundred twenty fluorescein applications in 305 patients could be evaluated. Mean age of recipients was 46.9 years, ranging from 1 to 82 years. At a concentration of 5% fluorescein, 26 patients on the day of surgery and 69, 37, 34, and 14 patients on days 2 through 4 suffered from minor side effects that may or may not have been related to this drug. Two of these patients had grand mal seizures, which were attributable to simultaneous intrathecal application of contrast medium. All other side effects were thought to be the result of a postspinal headache and related lumbar puncture. At a concentration of 0.5%, the intraoperative intrathecal administration of 0.5 to 2 mL of fluorescein followed by 4 to 5 days of lumbar drainage resulted in some degree of spinal headache without other complications. In both groups, no patient had sequelae longer than 4 weeks. An additional seven complications were reported to the Federal Drug Administration and the fluorescein manufacturers at doses of 100 to 700 mg. CONCLUSIONS: Complications from intrathecal application of fluorescein appears to be dose dependent. At concentrations of 5%, or preferably lower, side effects are transient. A grand mal seizure can be minimized when following the general cautions of lumbar puncture and dose. The patient should be supervised for 24 hours. A written informed consent from patients for use of fluorescein is recommended.