On the Relationship between Dynamic Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound Parameters and the Underlying Vascular Architecture Extracted from Acoustic Angiography

Dynamic contrast-enhanced ultrasound (DCE-US) has been proposed as a powerful tool for cancer diagnosis by estimation of perfusion and dispersion parameters reflecting angiogenic vascular changes. This work was aimed at identifying which vascular features are reflected by the estimated perfusion and dispersion parameters through comparison with acoustic angiography (AA). AA is a high-resolution technique that allows quantification of vascular morphology. Three-dimensional AA and 2-D DCE-US bolus acquisitions were used to monitor the growth of fibrosarcoma tumors in nine rats. AA-derived vascular properties were analyzed along with DCE-US perfusion and dispersion to investigate the differences between tumor and control and their evolution in time. AA-derived microvascular density and DCE-US perfusion exhibited good agreement, confirmed by their spatial distributions. No vascular feature was correlated with dispersion. Yet, dispersion provided better cancer classification than perfusion. We therefore hypothesize that dispersion characterizes vessels that are smaller than those visible with AA.     

Malignant schwannoma in the posterior tibial nerve

Our group have studied a patient affected by a malignant schwannoma in the posterior tibial nerve. Schwannomas are uncommon neoplasms that originate from the Schwann cells of the peripheral nerves: the most common forms are benign. Malignant transformation is rarer. The therapy is surgical and the operation undertaken, if possible, should be the amputation. Alternatively, where amputation is not possible due to the specific localisation or due to patient refusal, the alternative must be the largest and most radical excision possible.     

听神经瘤术中耳蜗电图监测与听力保护

目的：评价耳蜗神经电位活动直接监护在听神经瘤手术中对保护听力的作用。方法：听神经瘤手术中施行耳蜗电图监护。结果：１６例听神经瘤手术中施行耳蜗电图监护者，术后听力保留５例（３１％），其中４例为有效听力保留。肿瘤在２厘米以下者听力保留为３８％（５／１３）。结论：听神经瘤手术过程中采用耳蜗电图监护，能敏感地反应即时的听神经功能状况，给术者及时的反馈信息，有助于听力保护     

Does Meningitis Stop CSF Rhinorrhea following Lateral Skull Base Surgery?

In cases of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) rhinorrhea following lateral skull base surgery, fibrosis and fibrin formation resulting from meningitis has been postulated as a mechanism of spontaneously resolving the CSF leak. This study was undertaken to explore any possible relationship between the cessation of CSF leak and meningitis. A retrospective study at a tertiary referral center of 232 consecutive patients was performed. Out of a total of 232 procedures, 29 patients developed CSF rhinorrhea, of whom 7 subsequently developed meningitis. Bacteria were isolated in CSF obtained at lumbar puncture in 5 cases, with the CSF analysis in the remaining 2 cases suggesting aseptic meningitis. Conservative treatment failed to stop the CSF rhinorrhea in 6 of 7 cases. In this study, the development of meningitis did not appear to aid in the resolution of the CSF rhinorrhea. We conclude that surgical intervention should not be delayed in the expectation that meningitis and conservative interventions may promote CSF leak resolution.     

超声乳化技术辅助显微手术切除脊髓腹侧及腹外侧神经鞘瘤

目的 探讨超声乳化技术在椎管内脊髓腹侧及腹外侧神经鞘瘤切除术中的应用价值.方法 应用日本SONOPET MODEL UST-2001超声乳化吸引系统,采用后入路方法,结合显微手术切除40例椎管内脊髓腹侧及腹外侧神经鞘瘤.结果 术中全部病例均在超声乳化技术辅助下行肿瘤全切除,术中视野暴露清晰,椎板切除范围可控,无继发损伤发生,出血量为50～150 mL,平均出血量70 mL,术中均未输血,术后病理诊断证实为神经鞘瘤,术前后MR影像展示证实肿瘤全切除,术后所有患者神经功能均有明显恢复,住院天数8～12 d,平均10 d,随访3月～4年,无脊柱不稳、根痛、复发等现象.结论 后入路椎管内脊髓腹侧及腹外侧神经鞘瘤采用超声乳化技术辅助显微手术技术切除,是一种十分有效而安全的手术方法,特别是在骨窗形成和肿瘤全切除上,无物理性挤压、旋转撕脱伤及高温灼伤,且减少术中出血量,确保脊柱的稳定,避免术后疼痛,能充分达到微创的手术效果.     

胎儿声振动刺激反应的研究

目的：了解不同孕龄胎儿对声振动刺激的反应。方法：对４３５例次正常中、晚期妊娠妇女进行声振胎心试验（ＶＡＳ－Ｔ）、声振胎动试验（ＳＰＦＭ），并对声振动刺激前、后胎心率变化规律进行前瞻性研究。结果：（１）从２４周开始，胎儿对声振刺激有反应，但大部分未能达到ＶＡＳ－Ｔ诊断标准，而胎动反应良好。（２）妊娠２８周开始，声振刺激后，９０％以上的胎儿出现显著的胎动、胎心率加速反应，足月胎儿反应率在９８％以上。（３）ＳＰＦＭ阳性率的显著提高早于ＶＡＳ－Ｔ。提示：２８周后胎儿神经系统发育已趋完善。胎儿运动神经的发育成熟早于植物神经。     

Desmoplastic malignant melanoma presenting with orbital involvement

Desmoplastic malignant melanoma (DMM) is a rare variant of spindle cell melanoma. We report a case of DMM of the forehead secondarily involving the orbit. The diagnosis was based on light microscopic features, including prominent peripheral cell nest formation and spindle cell fascicles in densely collagenous stroma. Immunohistochemical studies showed strong uniform staining for S100 antigen throughout the tumour. It was negative for HMB 45, smooth muscle actin, desmin, cytokeratins and Type IV collagen. Electron microscopy showed neither melanosomes nor myelin figures. The clinical and histological characteristics of desmoplastic malignant melanoma, and its differential diagnosis of malignant schwannoma, are discussed. DMM has a poor prognosis, since it tends to invade deeply, recur locally and metastasise readily.     

Acoustic rhinometry in nasal provocation test in perennial allergic rhinitis

Acoustic rhinometry is one method to evaluate nasal geometry by an acoustic reflection technique. The aim of this study was to investigate the changes in acoustic rhinometry after nasal provocation in patients with exclusively perennial allergic rhinitis. In 19 patients, acoustic rhinometry and active anterior rhinomanometry were performed before and after nasal provocation test. There was a statistically significant nasal flow reduction measured by active anterior rhinomanometry after nasal provocation (p < 0.05) and a median symptom score of four points, both indicating a positive response to nasal provocation. On the other hand, there was no statistically significant change in the values of acoustic rhinometry after nasal provocation (p > 0.05). In patients with exclusively perennial allergic rhinitis, acoustic rhinometry does not seem to significantly change after nasal provocation. In contrast, active anterior rhinomanometry values decreased significantly after nasal provocation. The presented results indicate that acoustic rhinometry does not seem to be a diagnostic method superior to active anterior rhinomanometry in this context.     

Image features of two rare mediastinal tumors: schwannoma of intrathoracic phrenic nerve and clear cell chondrosarcoma of the rib

The current report focuses on two patients of the same age who presented similar appearances on initial anteroposterior chest images. Follow-up images showed superoanterior and superoposterior mediastinal lesions. The first patient with noninvasive cystic thymoma was suspected before surgery, while the pathologic diagnosis was intrathoracic phrenic nerve schwannoma. The second patient was with an asymmetric, dumbbell-shaped paravertebral tumor over T3 and T4 on the left side. The preoperative…     

两种MRI序列对听神经瘤成象的比较与评价

为选择中等场强的ＭＲＩ听神经瘤成像最佳序列。收集手术和病理证实的听神经瘤１３５例，分析序列Ⅰ、Ⅱ对内听道中心层面、三叉神经显示率及ＭＲ征象的显示情况。结果：序列Ｉ择内听道中心层面及三叉神经的显示均优于序列Ⅱ，序列Ⅱ在显示肿瘤内囊变、出血、不肿优于序列Ｉ；对肿瘤钙化、肿瘤血管、脑干移位的观察，两者相仿。结果显示：序列Ｉ在中等场经下作为听神经瘤成像的首选序列，并中运用到小脑角区ＭＲＩ成像。