Corpus callosum MRI study in multiple sclerosis and small vessel ischemic stroke

Damage to corpus callosum visible by MRI in multiple sclerosis may be simulated by other CNS diseases [e.g. ischemia, SLE, Behcet's disease, other vasculitides, sarcoidosis]. Ischemic lesions, in particular, make MRI criteria much less reliable for the diagnosis of MS pateints over the age of 50. To study the difference between MRI abnormalities of the corpus callosum in patients with MS versus small vessel ischemic stroke. 76 patients were divided into 2 groups: group 1, comprising 26 patients with clinically definite, relapsing remitting, MS; and group 2, including 50 hypertensive and /or diabetic patients with history and clinical evidence of ischemic stroke proved by MRI to be of small vessel ischemic type. They were all subjected to minimental state examination [MMSE] and MRI brain study for corpus callosum lesions and atrophy. The mean MMSE score in the stroke group was 27.75 +/- 3.21 while in the MS group it was 23.62 +/- 3.76 with a significant difference between them [P < 0.05]. In both groups, the score inversely correlated with corpus callosum atrophy. The latter was significantly more in MS group [X[2] = 47.045, P <0.05]. The mean number of corpus callosum lesions was 2.3 +/- 2.4 in the stroke group and 8.1 +/- 2.6 in MS group with significant difference [P<0.05]. The predilection of location of corpus callosum lesions was significantly different in the 2 groups [P<0.05], being more inner callosal [42%] and ventriculocallosal [49%] in MS group while the outer callosal was more common in the stroke group [35%]. Corpus callosum atrophy would be used as a relatively morphological marker for cognitive decline in MS and small vessel ischemic stroke, being significantly more in MS. The more atrophic the corpus callosum is, the more weighing down of MS versus small vessel ischemic stroke in clinically and radiologically overlapping cases

value of MR imaging in diagnosis of cranio-spinal leptomeningeal carcinomatosis

Post-contrast MR is considered to be a greatly sensitive noninvasive method for detection of different patterns and subtle findings of leptomeningeal carcinomatosis, with or without parenchymal involvement and due to the inherent advantages of such modality it can cover the full extent of the meningeal lesions in continuity along wide segments of the spinal and/or the cranium. This has its useful impact on the management, where rapid diagnosis and treatment can be established even when no malignant cells are detected in the CS fluid, and in some cases MR can guide the surgical biopsy towards the area involved

Comparative computed tomographic and histopathological studies of intracramal space occupying lesions

Cranial computed tomography [CT] has revolutionized neuroradiologic diagnosis by providing a safe, fast and accurate depiction of intracranial pathology. In 100 patients studied, CT had shown regions of altered radiographic densities of their brains indicating an intracranial space occupying lesion [ICSOL]. The CT diagnoses were compared with the histopathological diagnoses of these patients using the sensitivity, specificity and accuracy tests. The CT was highly specific in all groups [sp 92-100%], variably sensitive in the different groups [sn 0-100%] and highly accurate in all groups [Ace 81, 67-100%]

Cell-mediated immunity in schizophrenia

The present work was performed to evaluate the cell mediated immune response of schizophrenic patients in comparison to controls. Ten chronic schizophrenic drug free patient and another ten healthy subject as a control were examined. Cell mediated immunity were evaluated by estimation of T-lymphocyte percentage in the esrum sample and also by the migration inhibition index of lymphocytes. Using the student t test of comparison between the studied groups revealed no significant difference. The present study suggests the need for further study for the T-cell subpopulation and the lymphocytic functions in schizophrenic patient