Frequency and magnetic resonance imaging patterns of tuberculous spondylitis lesions in adults

To find out the frequency and patterns of various lesions in tuberculous spondylitis in adults on magnetic resonance imaging [MRI]. Case series. Radiology Department, Military Hospital [MH] Rawalpindi, from September 2006 to March 2007. Patients with features suggestive of tuberculous spondylitis underwent plain T1-weighted and T2-weighted images and T1-weighted contrast enhanced images in both axial and sagittal sections. The data was analyzed in terms of frequency and patterns of various lesions of tuberculous spondylitis causing abnormal signals in spinal and paraspinal areas. Mean +/- standard deviation were calculated form numerical data using SPSS version 15. Out of 75 patients, 39 were females. The mean age was 42.4 years. Involvement occurred through SV1 vertebral levels. Most common involvement was seen in the thoracic vertebrae [40%] followed by lumbar vertebrae. The most common MRI feature was abnormal signal intensities appearing hypointense on T1W and hyperintense on T2W sequences with heterogeneous enhancement of the vertebral body in all patients. The characteristic findings of spinal tuberculosis included destruction of two adjacent vertebral bodies and opposing end plates, destruction of intervening disc, and occurrence of paravertebral and epidural abscesses. MR imaging of spinal tuberculosis, characteristically showed contiguous involvement of two vertebrae along with the intervening disc, skip lesions, and paraspinal collections and provides critical information about the involvement of spinal cord and the extent of the disease

Determination of gestational age by transverse cerebellar diameter in third trimester of pregnancy

To assess the usefulness of transverse cerebellar diameter [TCD] as an independent parameter for gestational age assessment in third trimester of pregnancy. An observational study. Diagnostic Radiology Department, PNS Shifa, Karachi between April 2002 to July 2004. This study was performed on patients between 26-38 weeks of gestation with normal pregnancy. Grey scale antenatal ultrasonography was done with 3.5 MHz probe to measure fetal transverse cerebellar diameter and was correlated with gestational age in weeks. These cases were followed progressively at different periods of gestation throughout the pregnancy. Collected data was converted into variables which were analyzed by SPSS version 10, descriptive statistics included mean +/- standard deviation which were computed for TCD and other fetal biometry parameters. Transverse cerebellar diameter varied in a linear fashion in third trimester, while transverse cerebellar diameter/abdominal circumference [TCD/AC] ratio remained constant in second half of pregnancy. All the parameters were expressed by regression equations and correlation coefficients were found to be statistically significant [r=0.99 for TCD, r=0.98 for TCD/AC all p<0.0001]. This study signifies that transverse cerebellar diameter and TCD/AC ratio on serial sonography give an accurate idea of gestational age. Cases with intrauterine growth restriction can be diagnosed if local, nomogram can be prepared for different ethnic groups