Caudal regression syndrome: A rare case report with review of the literature

Caudal regression syndrome is a very rare neural tube disorder, in which the caudal vertebral column and spinal cord develop abnormally, causing substantial sensory and motor deficits, primarily in the legs. An abnormality in the spinal cord and nerve roots interacts with a section of lumbar, lumbosacral, or coccygeal spinal dysgenesis or agenesis. Here, we present a rare case of caudal regression syndrome in a 3-year-old male child who was brought to the pediatrics department with a serious complaint of urine dribbling since infancy. The infant was discovered with spina bifida, lumbar scoliosis, and cavus deformity in both feet during a routine health check. For which, a neurological opinion was taken. Plain X-ray revealed a partial sacral agenesis, MRI revealed anterior and posterior nerve roots of cauda equina divided into two bundles of fibers due to abnormal path. The lower back and both gluteal areas were underdeveloped. On the basis of radiological findings, a diagnosis of the syndrome was confirmed.

Role of magnetic resonance imaging cephalometry in obstructive sleep apnoea.

Background. Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is one of the most common public health problems in adults. Patients with OSA are prone for excessive adipose tissue deposition in the neck, which in turn, increases the upper airway narrowing. Of the imaging modalities available for assessing the upper airway, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is found to be useful technique for defining soft tissue abnormalities. Methods. We prospectively studied 50 patients presenting with OSA and 50 normal controls to evaluate the role of MRI cephalometry in the diagnosis of OSA and compared the cross-sectional area and antero-posterior diameter of the upper airway in the retro-palatal airway and retro-glossal areas by MRI cephalometry. Results. In comparison with controls, cases had a significantly lower cross-sectional area and antero-posterior diameter of the upper airway in the retro-palatal airway and retro-glossal areas. Conclusions. Our observations suggest that MRI cephalometry is a sensitive technique for the diagnosis of OSA.