Value of digital volume tomography in patients with conductive hearing loss

Digital volume tomography (DVT) is an extension of panoramic tomography. With this diagnostic technique, characterized by high resolution, a narrow section width (0.125 mm) and three-dimensional display, small pathological processes can be well visualized. Twenty-five patients with the history of a progressive hearing loss were examined with DVT (Accu-I-tomo, Morita, Japan). The results were compared with pre- and intraoperative findings to evaluate the diagnostic value of DVT in cases of erosion of the ossicular chain. With high resolution and artifact-free demonstration of the middle ear and the ossicular chain, it was possible to define its continuity preoperatively by DVT in all 25 cases. An intact ossicular chain was found by DVT in 13 cases and was later confirmed by surgery. The predicted erosion of the ossicles was verified in 12 patients, and a tympanoplasty type III was performed. Digital volume tomography is an excellent technique to examine the middle ear cleft and inner ear, and expands the application of diagnostic possibilities in the lateral skull base. Therefore, improvement in preoperative diagnosis is achieved along with more accurate planning of the surgical procedure. Digital volume tomography delivers a small radiation dose with a high resolution and a low purchase price for the equipment.     

Prefrontal cortex dysfunction and depression in atypical parkinsonian syndromes.

Depressive symptoms are common in patients with neurodegenerative disorders. Imaging studies suggest that a disruption of frontal-subcortical pathways may underlie depression associated with basal ganglia disease. This pilot study tested the hypothesis that frontal dysfunction contributes to depression associated with multiple system atrophy (MSA) and progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP). Depressed patients with MSA (n = 11), PSP (n = 9), and age-matched controls (n = 25) underwent measures of cerebral glucose metabolism applying positron emission tomography with (18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose. Regional metabolism in the patient groups was compared to the normal subjects using the voxel-based statistical parametric mapping. Depressive symptom severity (Hamilton Depression Rating) and degree of locomotor disability (Hoehn & Yahr) were assessed in the patient groups. The association between prefrontal metabolism and the occurrence of depressive symptoms and the degree of locomotor disability was investigated. When compared to controls, MSA patients revealed significant metabolic decreases in bilateral frontal, parietal, and cerebellar cortex and in the left putamen. In PSP patients, significant hypometabolism was demonstrated in bilateral frontal cortex, right thalamus, and midbrain. Depression severity but not the patients' functional condition was significantly associated with dorsolateral prefrontal glucose metabolism in both patient groups. The findings of this pilot study support the hypothesis that depressive symptoms in MSA and PSP are associated with prefrontal dysfunction.     

胸骨肿瘤CT诊断(附22例报告)

目的探讨胸骨肿瘤临床CT诊断和检查意义。方法搜集分析经临床病理证实的22例胸骨肿瘤CT资料,其中转移瘤17例(肺癌转移15例;乳腺癌转移2例)、骨髓瘤2例、软骨肉瘤1例、骨肉瘤1例、骨化性纤维瘤1例。结果局部骨质破坏(囊状膨胀性、溶骨性和混合性骨破坏3种),其中囊状膨胀性骨破坏1例(骨化性纤维瘤),溶骨性骨破坏16例(肺癌转移15例、骨肉瘤1例),混合性骨破坏5例(软骨肉瘤1例、骨髓瘤2例、乳腺癌转移2例)。胸骨处软组织肿块18例,胸骨前胸壁肌、皮下脂肪和胸骨后脂肪间隙浸润13例。结论胸骨肿瘤以转移瘤多见,CT检查对胸骨肿瘤有较高的诊断价值。     

Leiomyosarcoma of the renal vein: Arterial encasement on contrast-enhanced dynamic computed tomography

We report a case of leiomyosarcoma of the renal vein, which is a rare tumor with no more than 30 cases found in the published English language literature. This case demonstrates encasement of the renal artery by the tumor mass, a previously unreported manifestation. The present study could be useful in considering this rare tumor in the differential diagnosis of renal hilar tumors.     

Serial CT findings of Paragonimus infested dogs and the Micro-CT findings of the worm cysts.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the serial CT findings of Paragonimus westermani infected dogs and the microscopic structures of the worm cysts using Micro-CT. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was approved by the committee on animal research at our institution. Fifteen dogs infected with P. westermani underwent serial contrast-enhanced CT scans at pre-infection, after 10 days of infection, and monthly thereafter until six months for determining the radiologic-pathologic correlation. Three dogs (one dog each time) were sacrificed at 1, 3 and 6 months, respectively. After fixation of the lungs, both multi-detector CT and Micro-CT were performed for examining the worm cysts. RESULTS: The initial findings were pleural effusion and/or subpleural ground-glass opacities or linear opacities at day 10. At day 30, subpleural and peribronchial nodules appeared with hydropneumothorax and abdominal or chest wall air bubbles. Cavitary change and bronchial dilatation began to be seen on CT scan at day 30 and this was mostly seen together with mediastinal lymphadenopathy at day 60. Thereafter, subpleural ground-glass opacities and nodules with or without cavitary changes were persistently observed until day 180. After cavitary change of the nodules, the migratory features of the subpleural or peribronchial nodules were seen on all the serial CT scans. Micro-CT showed that the cyst wall contained dilated interconnected tubular structures, which had communications with the cavity and the adjacent distal bronchus. CONCLUSION: The CT findings of paragonimiasis depend on the migratory stage of the worms. The worm cyst can have numerous interconnected tubular channels within its own wall and these channels have connections with the cavity and the adjacent distal bronchus.     

原发性眼眶静脉曲张的CT和MRI表现

目的探讨原发性眼眶静脉曲张(POV)的CT及MRI表现。方法临床诊断的30例原发性眼眶静脉曲张患者,9例行CT横断位和冠状位扫描,21例行MR扫描,4例行CT和MR检查。结果30例中30只患眼,左眼18例,右眼12例,均为单侧发病。病变部位眼睑3例,眼眶前部1例,眼眶后部(球后)17例,眼睑和眼眶前部5例,眼睑、眼眶前部和眼眶后部2例,眼眶前部和眼眶后部2例。形态17例为不规则块状,4例为卵圆形,9例为不规则条状。CT冠状位,病变均显示为软组织密度,有明显强化;静脉石2例;眶骨受压变薄、眶腔扩大3例。MR扫描,颈部加压后25例均显示病变,11例呈等T1长T2信号,7例呈长T1长T2信号,1例呈等T1等T2信号,6例呈长T1长T2为主的混杂信号,增强的22例中,14例呈明显均匀强化,8例呈不均匀强化。结论CT横断位和冠状位及颈部加压或俯卧位MRI在原发性眼眶静脉曲张的诊断和鉴别诊断方面有重要价值。     

High-resolution imaging of progressive articular cartilage degeneration.

The objective of this study was to develop and verify a new technique for monitoring the progression of osteoarthritis (OA) by combining a rat model with the imaging modality optical coherence tomography (OCT). Time-sequential, in vivo, OCT imaging was performed on the left femoral condyles of 12 Wistar rats following sodium-iodoacetic acid-induced OA progression. The right femoral condyles (untreated) were also imaged and served as controls. Imaging was performed on days 0, 10, 20, 30, and 60 with an OCT system capable of acquiring images at four frames per second and an axial resolution of 5 microm. Progressive changes were analyzed using an OA scoring system. OCT successfully identified progressive cartilage degeneration as well as alteration of the cartilage/bone interface. Significant changes to both of these structures were observed in the sodium-iodoacetic acid-injected condyles. Structural changes detected with OCT were confirmed histologically. OCT in combination with a well-known model used in arthritis research represents a powerful tool for following degenerative joint disease progression in a given animal by detecting changes to the cartilage/bone interface and articular cartilage.     

CT增强扫描在评价NSCLC血管生成中的临床意义

目的　探讨非小细胞肺癌 (NSCLC)血管内皮生长因子 (VEGF)的表达水平与CT增强程度的关系 ,从影像学角度评价肿瘤血管生成在肺癌诊断、治疗及淋巴结转移中的临床价值。方法　对 30例NSCLC病人进行动态螺旋CT扫描 (SCT) ,测量病灶增强幅度 ,并利用免疫组化技术检测VEGF。对病灶增强值、VEGF阳性表达及淋巴结转移情况进行统计学分析。结果　 30例肺癌病人CT增强值均数为 (36 .2 8± 6 .41 )HU ,VEGF阳性表达 2 1例 ,阴性表达 9例。VEGF在中晚期的阳性表达高于早期病人 (Ρ<0 .0 5) ,淋巴结转移组高于非淋巴结转移组 (Ρ <0 .0 5) ;癌灶增强值与VEGF阳性表达、肿瘤分期及淋巴结转移亦呈正相关。结论　NSCLC的CT增强程度能够反映肿瘤的血管生成 ,并与淋巴结转移密切相关 ,有助于肺癌的诊断、TNM分期 ,而且可以从肿瘤分子生物学行为方面补充目前肺癌分期方法的不足     

Computed tomography features immediately after replacement of haematoma with oxygen through percutaneous subdural tapping for the treatment of chronic subdural haematoma in adults

Summary In an effort to achieve a simple and less invasive method for the treatment of chronic subdural haematoma, replacement of the haematoma with oxygen by percutaneous subdural tapping was employed in 36 patients. This study was conducted on 23 haematomas in 20 patients, whose computed tomography (CT) scans immediately following the treatment were available for evaluation, with particular regard to distinguishing between their findings and those seen with tension pneumocephalus. The CT features werde divided into two patterns according to the location of oxygen; a convexity type (19 haematomas) and an interhemispheric type (4 haematomas). Analysis of the CT appearances revealed the oxygen was exclusively confined to the haematoma cavity, distinguishing it from the findings in tension pneumocephalus. This observation indicates the safety of replacement of the haematoma with oxygen when combined with our percutaneuous subdural tapping technique which prevents lesions of the inner haematoma membrane.     

对神经根型颈椎病CT扫描的价值探讨

对50例神经根型颈椎病的CT征象进行了分析,并与X线平片加以比较。认为CT不仅在神经根型颈椎病的诊断中具有独特作用,而且在确定手术方法和手术途径的选择上也很有意义。作者认为在CT机还没有普及的情况下,摄一张良好的钩椎关节放大斜位片或椎间孔断层片对诊断神经根型颈椎病应是首选的。CT和X线平片相结合,综合分析,更有价值。