MRI based volumetric analysis of entorhinal cortex in elderly subjects with mild cognitive impairment and in subjects with normal cognition to see effects of aging on volume of ERC

Background: MCI is a transitional period between normal ageing and clinically probable early Alzheimer’s Dementia (AD). ERC volumes show early reduction in cases of MCI in comparison to the normal ageing subjects. Early cognitive impairment can be documented with ERC atrophy on MR volumetry. Aim of the study was to evaluate the volume of entorhinal cortex in patients of MCI and  to compared the volume with patients of normal cognition. Secondarily, we studied changes in the volume of entorhinal cortex with increasing ageMethods: In this study 30 patients of 60 years and above with MCI and 30 controls of normal cognition (age and sex matched) underwent brain examination on 3T MRI. Volume of entorhinal cortex was measured on 1 mm thick T1 coronal oblique MR scans by manually tracing the boundaries defined by two widely used methods i.e. Insausti et al and Goncharova et al.Results: Patients with MCI showed 17.2% decline in the entorhinal cortex volume compared to controls (p value = 0.001). Patients of older age showed significantly more ERC volume reduction, reaching up to 30.4% in comparison to younger subjects suggesting atrophy of ERC in normal aging and in MCI both, but more so in patients with cognitive impairment.Conclusions: ERC atrophy was found in MCI cases more than controls, increase atrophy trend was noted with increasing age. MR volumetry may play a role for documentation of ERC atrophy in cases of MCI.

Multi detector computed tomography imaging in penetrating injuries

Background: Penetrating injuries forms an important component of surgical emergencies. Penetrating trauma typically involves the violation of the body by a gunshot wound (GSW) or stab wound. Emergency laparotomy is the accepted management in patients with a penetrating injury who are not hemodynamically stable. However, selective non-operative management has been shown to decrease the rate of unnecessary surgery. Plain radiographs and FAST are useful for initial assessment of these patients. Multi detector CT is an indispensable tool in the evaluation of patients who are stable and are candidates for conservative treatment.Methods: A cross sectional observational study was carried out on 40 patients admitted with penetrating injury to the trauma centre of PGIMER and Dr RML hospital. Of the 40 patients, 14 were taken for emergency laparotomy. In 26 cases, MDCT was done to evaluate for solid organ, hollow organ and vascular injuries.Results: The mean age of patients was 38 years, with male to female ratio of 5:1. Stab injury was the commonest type of injury, followed by gunshot wounds. Liver was the commonest solid organ involved, followed by kidneys and spleen. Other organs involved were diaphragm, small bowel and colon.Conclusions: Penetrating injuries can be life-threatening, making prompt diagnosis essential. Recognizing key abnormalities on MDCT ensures patients are triaged appropriately. Multi-detector CT is thus widely used to evaluate penetrating injuries in stable patients.

Magnetic resonance imaging of temporomandibular joint in juvenile idiopathic arthritis

Background: Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA) is the most common autoimmune inflammatory synovial arthritis causing wide range of disability in children. The involvement of temporo-mandibular joint (TMJ) in JIA varies ranging from 17% to 87%. Unlike other synovial joints, the TM joint is particularly vulnerable to inflammatory damage as the mandibular growth plate is superficial. JIA is a clinical diagnosis and is characterized by synovial hyperplasia and inflammation leading to joint effusion. TMJ involvement is clinically difficult to assess and often goes untreated. Children with TMJ arthritis have mastication dysfunction and pain. Delayed detection and treatment leads to abnormalities like micrognathia, jaw deformity, facial dysmorphism and chewing problems. MRI is the most sensitive modality to diagnose synovitis and involvement of TMJ in children of JIA.Methods: A cross-sectional observational study was undertaken in 30 children diagnosed as JIA as per ILAE criteria. They were evaluated clinically followed by contrast enhanced MRI for evidence of TMJ arthritis.Results: Of the 60 joints evaluated, clinical involvement was found in 18 joints (10 patients). 12(66.7%) out of them had MRI changes. 3(7.1%) joints out of 42 asymptomatic joints had MRI changes. 13 joints had synovial hypertrophy, 8 joints showed bone erosions. Bone marrow edema was seen in 2 joints, with no evidence of cartilage involvement in any joint. The sensitivity, specificity, PPV and NPV of clinical examination to diagnose TMJ arthritis as compared to MRI was 80.0%, 86.7%, 66.7% and 92.7% respectively.Conclusions: With paucity of clinical signs and symptoms, early involvement of TMJ arthritis in children of JIA can be detected by MRI to prevent long term disability in patients.

Role of hippocampal volumetry in drug resistant epilepsy

Background: Hippocampus is a brain structure located deep in the temporal lobe. The structure is crucial for learning and memory and is a natural inhibitor of seizure activity in brain. In drug resistant epilepsy (DRE), there is shrinkage of the hippocampus leading to poor seizure control.Methods: Patients meeting the diagnostic criteria for drug resistant epilepsy between the age group of 10-60 years were enrolled in the study. Epileptic non drug resistant controls and normal healthy individuals were taken from same cohort. Selected patients underwent MRI Brain and their hippocampal volumes were estimated manually. Coronal oblique sections, perpendicular to the long axis of hippocampus were taken and hippocampal volume (HV) were calculated using region of interest approach with manual delineation . Results: There was increment in detecting hippocampal atrophy from 30% to 46.6% in DRE patients when manual hippocampal atrophy was used in addition to visual assessment. The mean right and left hippocampal volumes in drug resistant epilepsy cases were found to be 2.17+0.57 cc and 1.52+0.54 cc respectively. Left HV was found to be statistically significantly smaller than right side (p value < 0.05). DRE patients had smaller mean bilateral HV than healthy controls, the difference being 33%. The left HV loss was almost double the right HV loss among DRE cases. The hippocampal volumes were reduced in DRE patients compared to epileptic non-resistant patients; however the difference was found to be less than that of normal healthy controls.Conclusion: Manual hippocampal volumetry detected more patients with hippocampal atrophy in our study compared to visual assessment. Manual hippocampal volumetry should be routinely done in patients with Drug resistant epilepsy.

Importance of Conventional Radiography in Diagnosis and Management of Giant Cell Tumour at an unusual location.

Giant cell tumour (GCT) or osteoclastoma of the bone is mostly benign but locally aggressive primary tumour of unknown origin occurring at epiphysis. It is a tumour of long bones and rarely seen in bones of hand and foot. The cases are reported in tarsal and carpal bone but involvement of metatarsal bone is very rare. We present a case of twenty years old female patient with GCT of second metatarsal of left foot. The patient underwent aggressive curettage and filling with bone chips and is on regular follow up.