Spectrum of MRI abnormalities in pediatric seizures

Background: Seizure is a pediatric emergency. Accurate determination of the etiology of seizures is very important to start an effective treatment. The study aims to determine the spectrum of Imaging abnormalities by Magnetic Imaging Resonance (MRI) in children who presented with seizures. Methods: It is a hospital-based prospective observational study which was carried out in Government Medical College and Rajindra Hospital, Patiala. This study included 50 pediatric patients in the age group between 0 months to 18 years who were referred to the Department of Radiodiagnosis for brain MRI between October 2017 to September 2019. Results: Neuroimaging abnormality was found in 19 (38%) cases. 31 (62%) patients had no abnormal finding. The most common imaging findings were inflammatory granuloma in 5 (10%) patients. Other findings were- Hypoxic-ischemic injury (HII) in 4 (8%), Mesial temporal sclerosis in 2(4%), cerebral atrophy in 1(2%), Hemorrhage in 1(2%), Tuberous sclerosis in 1(2%), Focal cortical dysplasia in 1(2%), Lissencephaly in 1 (2%), Joubert syndrome in 1(2%), and Arachnoid cyst in 1 (2%) patients. Conclusion: The MRI was able to identify brain lesions in 38% of pediatric patients who presented with seizures. The study revealed inflammatory granuloma as the commonest cause of seizures in children, followed by Hypoxic-Ischemic Injury. Early recognition of potentially treatable diseases helps in timely treatment and arrest of disease progression. It is recommended to use MRI as a primary investigation during the evaluation and management of pediatric seizures.

Role of Multiparametric MRI in Diagnosis of Prostate Cancer

Aims: The main objectives of our study were to evaluate the role of Multiparametric MRI (mp-MRI) in diagnosis of carcinoma prostate and to compare the various MRI sequences used in MRI in evaluating carcinoma prostate with histopathological diagnosis kept as reference standard. Materials and Methods: This prospective cross-sectional study of 40 patients was performed by using various sequences used in mp-MRI i.e. T2 weighted imaging (T2WI), Diffusion Weighted Imaging (DWI), Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (MRS) and Dynamic Contrast Enhanced study (DCE). Findings of mp-MRI sequences were compared with histopathological diagnosis. Statistical analysiswasperformed using SPSS computer statistical program for window release 16. Results: Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV) of DCE in diagnosing carcinoma prostate were 88.89%, 50.00%, 94.12% and 33.33% respectively where assensitivities, specificities, PPVs, NPVs of DWI and MRS were same in our study i.e. 94.44%, 75.00%, 97.14% and 60.00%respectively. Overall sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV of mp-MRI by combining these sequences were found to be 97.22%, 75%, 97.22% and 75% respectively. Diagnostic accuracies of DWI, DCE and MRS were 92.5%, 85% and 92.5% respectively and overall diagnostic accuracy after combining these sequences in mp-MRI was 95%. Conclusions: mp-MRI including all the sequences has very good role in evaluation of carcinoma prostate. Diagnostic accuracy of mp-MRI increases when all sequences used together to assess prostatic lesions, so all the sequences should be used together in prostate cancer evaluation rather than using individual sequences.

Discriminating ability of Cirrus and RTVue optical coherence tomography in different stages of glaucoma

Purpose: The aim of this study is to determine which parameter of Cirrus and RTVue optical coherence tomography (OCT) has the highest ability to discriminate between early, moderate, and advanced glaucoma. Simultaneously, to compare the performance of the two OCT devices in terms of their ability to differentiate the three stages of glaucoma. Further, to analyze the macular parameters of both devices and compare them with the conventional retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) parameters. Methods: One hundred and twenty eyes (30 healthy and 90 glaucomatous [30 mild, 30 moderate, and 30 advanced glaucoma]) of 65 participants (15 healthy, 50 glaucomatous [15 mild, 15 moderate, and 20 advanced glaucoma]) underwent Cirrus and RTVue OCT scanning on a single visit. Results: Average RNFL thickness and superior RNFL thickness of both the devices and inferior (ganglion cell complex [GCC] of RTVue device best differentiated normals from all stage glaucomatous eyes (P > 0.05). Cirrus average RNFL thickness and superior RNFL thickness performed better than other parameters (P < 0.05) in differentiating early glaucoma from moderate and advanced. In differentiating advanced from early and moderate glaucoma, RTVue average, superior, and inferior RNFL thickness and inferior GCC parameters had the highest discriminating ability (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Overall, average RNFL thickness had the highest ability to distinguish different stages of the disease. No significant difference was found between RTVue and Cirrus OCT device in different severity levels. No significant difference was observed between RNFL and macular parameters in different stages of glaucoma.

Dengue encephalitis.

Dengue fever is generally not characterized by neurological manifestations, especially in infants. Here we present an 11 month old male child residing in Jalandhar, Punjab, who presented with status epilepticus and later, on investigation, was found to be Dengue encephalitis. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case from this region.

Therapy of acanthamoeba keratitis--an experimental study.

The study was conducted to determine the efficacy of various drugs/agents in the treatment of experimentally induced Acanthamoeba Keratitis (A. keratitis). Thirty rabbits were divided into 5 equal treatment groups and polyhexamethylene biguanide (PHMB) 0.02%, fluconazole 0.2%, povidone iodine 5%, aprotinin 40 IU/ml and normal saline were administered in a double blind manner, at a dose of one drop, 5 times/day. Neomycin 1700 U/ml was used as a common drug in all groups, with same frequency. Post therapy subsidence of lid oedema, mucopurulent discharge, conjunctival congestion, corneal epithelial defect and anterior chamber reactions were noted. Average healing time in days (Mean +/- S.D.) were 13.67 +/- 1.21, 22 +/- 1.41, 23.5 +/- 1.05, 17.0 +/- 1.41 and 28.0 +/- 1.90 for PHMB, fluconazole, povidone iodine, aprotinin and normal saline respectively. Lid oedema, mucopurulent discharge and conjunctival congestion improved faster in PHMB and aprotinin treated eyes. The results of this study suggest that PHMB is a better drug for A. keratitis, while aprotinin may be used as an adjuvant drug in the management of A. keratitis.

Sigmoidopexy (tube sigmoidostomy) as definitive surgical procedure for sigmoid volvulus.

BACKGROUND: Volvulus of the sigmoid colon is associated with high mortality and high recurrence rate following nonoperative decompression of the colon. Therefore definitive surgery is required for its management. AIM: To evaluate the outcome following sigmoidopexy (tube sigmoidostomy) as a definitive surgical procedure to prevent recurrence of disease. METHODS: Seventeen patients with sigmoid volvulus who presented with features of large gut obstruction were studied; 12 patients underwent elective and 5 underwent emergent exploratory laparotomy. Malecot catheter fixed to the sigmoid colon and abdominal wall acted as fixator for the colon and rent for drainage of fecal matter. RESULTS: Sigmoidostomy started functioning the day following surgery and the stoma remained patent for approximately 12 days, although discharge started decreasing by the 5th postoperative day. No recurrence was noted over a period of 18 (5) months (range 13-23). CONCLUSIONS: Tube sigmoidostomy is an alternative effective procedure to prevent recurrence of sigmoid volvulus in patients who present without gangrene.

Diagnostic and prognostic significance of serum and tissue trace elements in breast malignancy.

50 cases of breast malignancy constituted the study group. 26 age and sex matched formed the control group. Serum and tissue trace element viz copper, zinc, selenium and molybdenum levels were estimated by atomic absorption photometry. The study group showed significant hypercupremia and molybdenemia, hypozincaemia and hyposeleniamia. The reversal of trend was documented after therapy. The tissue level of copper and molybdenum was high and zinc and selenium was low. An association between serum and tissue level of trace element, stage, histological differentiation was observed. It was postulated that levels of trace elements may help in diagnosis and prognosis of disease.

Emergency treatment with ketoconazole in disseminated intravascular coagulation due to metastatic prostatic carcinoma.

We report the use of ketoconazole to control disseminated intravascular coagulation due to prostatic carcinoma. Clinical improvement in the condition of the patient was noted in 48 hours and coagulation profile became normal in 10 days.