MRI and CT Findings of Intracranial Neurosyphilis

PURPOSE: To evaluate the CT and MRI findings of neurosyphilis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectivelyreviewed the CT and MR imaging findings in five patients with intracranial neurosyphilis confirmed by CSF, VDRL,TPHA, and clinical follow-up. MR imaging was performed in all five cases, and CT in two. RESULTS: The MRI and CTfindings of intracranial neurosyphilis included infarction (n=3), focal inflammation (n=1) and encephalopathy(n=1). There was a total of ten infaretions : three of the basal ganglia, two each of the frontal lobe, watershedzone, and cerebellum, and one of the occipital lobe. Intaretion was most common in MCA territory (n=9; 50%),followed by the watershed zone (16.6%), posterior cerebral artery territory (16.6%), and posterior inferiorcerebellar artery territory (11.1%), The size of the lesion varied from 1cm to larger than one lobe. One patientshowed diffuse high signal intensity in the left temporal lobe, but on follow-up MRI, this had resolved. CONCLUSION: The most common finding of neurosyphilis, as seen on MRI and CT, was infarction in middle cerebralarterial territory.

Radiologic Findings of Pulmonary Endometriosis

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effectiveness of percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) and pulsed-spraypharmacomechanical thrombolysis (PSPMT) using urokinase for the management of insufficient hemodialysis access. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between September 1996 and May 1998, 21 insufficient hemodialysis accesses were treated in 16 patients (3 artificial arteriovenous fistulae, AVF ; and 13 arteriovenous graft, AVG). PTA and PSPMT were performed in 6 and 15 and 15 cases, respectively, and success and long-term patency rates were evaluated. RESULTS: The overall success rate of PTA and PSPMT for insufficient hemodialysis access was 76.2%(16/21). The success rates of PTA and PSPMT were 83.3%(5/6) and 73.3%(11/15), respectively. the primary patency rates of PSPMT were 69+/-12.8% at 6 months and 38+/-18.6% at 12 months. One of the two initially successful PTAs had been patent for 7months, and the second PTA was performed at that time due to venous stenosis. The other was patent for 15 months throughout the follow-up period. CONCLUSION: PTA and PSPMT are effective primary methods for the treatment of insufficient hemodialysis access ; success and patency rates were high, and the procedures can be performed repeatedly.

Bone and Joint changes following Electrical Burn: Plain Radiographic findings

PURPOSE: To evaluate the plain radiographic findings of bone and joint changes following electrical burn. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study involved 19 patients with 27 bone and joints regions which had sufferedelectrical injury. The most common input and output sites were, respectively, the hand(7/14) and foot (6/10).Three other sites were involved. Four cases involved osteomyelitis, and in four, amputation was performed. Weobserved bone and joint changes, changes following osteomyelitis and changes in the amputation stump. We analyzedthe difference between input and output changes, and when this was interesting, the average time of onset wasassessed. RESULTS: In bone and joint changes following electrical burn, the most frequent radiographic findingwas joint contracture (n=16). Other findings included osteolysis (n=8), articular abnormalites (n=6), periostitis(n=5), fracture (n=5), acro-osteolysis (n=2), and heterotopic bone formation (n=2). In cases involvingosteomyelitis(n=4), aggravation of underlying bone changes was noted. CONCLUSION: In electrical burn, variouschanges were noted in bone and joints, and input injury was more severe than that of output.