ABSTRACT
Objective: To assess the effectiveness of Boston brace treatment in patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis who had curvature between 35o and 45oDesign: Descriptive retrospective studyMaterials and methods: The medical records of ten patients with idiopathic scoliosis age ≥10 years who had received a Boston brace were reviewed retrospectively to confirm idiopathic etiology, determine the brace prescribed, and estimate compliance. Cobb angles, Risser signs, rotational pedicles and King classification were measured from radiographs at presentation, and during follow up and brace discontinuation. Progression was defined as an increase in curve magnitude of 6o. Surgical progression was defined as progression to 50o or increase in curve magnitude of 6o.Results: The average age at brace prescription was 12.8 years, and 80% were Risser 3-4. Curve magnitude at brace prescription averaged 39.2o. Compliance was good in 90% of patients. Duration of treatment averaged 14 months. Progression of 6o occurred in 30%, and 90% reached surgical thresholds.Conclusion: Bracing of patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis who had a curve between 35o-45o and skeletal maturity was ineffective. This may have been caused by slow growth, few subjects and the retrospective nature of the study.
ABSTRACT
This is a report of a case of endometrioma of the abdominal wall in a 34-year-old woman who had a two-year history of lower abdominal pain. The physical examination revealed an ill defined mass with tenderness. Computed tomography showed an enhancing isodense mass at the midline-right rectus abdominis muscle. The patient was treated with a mesh grafting repair following a wide radical resection with a 1 cm margin. There were no postoperative complications. The histological examination confirmed endometriosis. The patient is now on regular follow-up and doing well without any recurrence, five months after her operation.
ABSTRACT
Objective: To determine the outcome of CT-guided transthoracic mediastinal core-needle biopsy and compare with extrapulmonary access and transpulmonary access.Study design: Retrospective descriptive study.Materials and methods: Eighty-nine procedures in 87 patients who underwent CT-guided mediastinal biopsy between January 2003 and December 2006 were reviewed from the procedural records and CT images in Songklanagarind Hospital.Results: The overall success rate of the CT-guided mediastinal biopsy was 96.6% (86 procedures). The pathology reports showed 65 malignant and 22 benign cases. The overall complication rate was 24.7% (22 procedures). Only three procedures had insufficient tissue for pathologic diagnosis. The complication rate of the transpulmonary access group was 57.6% (19 procedures) with seven pulmonary hemorrhage and 13 pneumothorax (one procedure had both pulmonary hemorrhage andpneumothorax). The complication rate of the extrapulmonary access group was 5.3% (three procedures) with one pulmonary hemorrhage and two pneumothorax. Five cases of transpulmonary access group had moderate degree of pneumothorax and needed interventional drainage. No mediastinal or chest wall hematoma or death occurred.Conclusions: The CT-guided transthoracic mediastinal biopsy has a high success rate and is a safe procedure. The extrapulmonary access is a very safe method.