Anatomical Variations of Cystic Ducts in Magnetic Resonance Cholangiopancreatography: A Retrospective Study With 265 Patients

Background: Anatomical variations of cystic duct (CD) are frequently unrecognized. It is important to be aware of these variations prior to any surgical, percutaneous, or endoscopic intervention procedures. Objectives: The purpose of our study was to demonstrate the imaging features of cystic duct and its variants using magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) and document their prevalence in our population. Materials and Methods: This study included 265 patients who underwent magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography due to different indications and variations of cystic duct were documented. Results: Normal lateral insertion of cystic duct at middle third of common hepatic duct was seen in 29.43% of cases. Medial insertion was seen in 2.63% of cases, 2.26% were low medial insertions. Low insertion of cystic duct was noted in 1.51 % of cases. Parallel course of cystic duct was present in 0.38% of cases. High insertion was noted in 0.38% cases and no case of short cystic duct was noted. No case of cystic duct draining into right hepatic duct was seen. Conclusion: Cystic duct variations are common and MRCP is an optimal imaging modality for demonstration of cystic duct anatomy.

Morphometric Assessment of Human Corpus Callosum on Cadaveric Brain Specimens.

Corpus callosum is the main commissural tract between the two halves of the brain and assumes an essential job in transferring sensory, motor, and cognitive data from identical regions in the two brain hemispheres. Literature on the issue of the human corpus callosum sexual dimorphism is not universal. Similarly, age related change in corpus callosum measurements is also not consistent.METHODSDifferent diameters of brain and corpus callosum like longitudinal and vertical diameters of brain and length, height, widths of corpus callosum etc. were measured with digital vernier caliper.RESULTS37 brains were collected, out of which 24 were male & 13 were female brains of various ages between 20 years and 70 years of age. Average longitudinal & vertical diameters of brain specimens under study were 158.29 mm and 102.41 mm respectively and average length of corpus callosum was 72.19 mm. Change in length of corpus callosum in relation to gender is not significant with p value >0.05. There is decrease in length of corpus callosum after 65 years of age.CONCLUSIONSPositive linear correlation was observed between length of corpus callosum and the length & vertical diameters of brain. The study has failed to establish statistically significant gender differentiation in the diameters of corpus callosum. Also, there was decrease in the length of corpus callosum (EZ) in 65 years and above age group with decrease in height and width of body as well as splenium of corpus callosum between 50 - 60 years age group.

Morphometric Analysis of Ventricular System of Human Brain - A Study by Dissection Method.

It is often a challenge to determine if the brain ventricles are within normal limits or swollen with the age of the patient. With a standardized and comparable system, it is therefore necessary to define normal ventricular size ranges. Cadaveric dissection is always considered the gold standard of anatomical education. Present work is undertaken to study morphometric analysis of lateral, third & fourth ventricles by dissection method. Morphometric assessment of the ventricular system is helpful in the diagnosis as well as classification of hydrocephalus and in the evaluation and monitoring of ventricular system enlargement during ventricular shunt therapy.METHODSDifferent parameters of all parts of lateral ventricle, third and fourth ventricle were measured with digital vernier caliper in cadaveric brain specimens. The brain specimens were obtained from dead bodies subjected to post-mortem examinations in the Department of Forensic Medicine and from the dead bodies voluntarily donated to the Department of Anatomy, Silchar Medical College, Silchar.RESULTS37 brain specimens were obtained, out of which 24 were male, 13 were female and were of different age groups. Change in the parameters of different ventricles in relation to gender was found to be significant. Ventricular sizes are also observed to be more after the age of 60 years.CONCLUSIONSThere is a positive correlation in measurements of the brain ventricles with age and variation in accordance with gender and laterality.

A Spectrum Of Vertebral Fusion Defects

Any congenital or acquired abnormality in the vertebral column is of interest for radiologist, orthopedician,forensic pathologist, neurologist and clinical anatomist. Such abnormality in the vertebrae may be eitherasymptomatic or may limit our movements because of the important structures related to them.During the osteology demonstration session for medical undergraduate students, we have found a few abnormalvertebrae of different regions of the spinal column.The clinical implications and embryological significance of these specimens is discussed here

Cervical Ribs: A Study On Radiographs In A Tertiary Care Hospital Of Assam

Introduction: Cervical rib is the extra rib arises from the seventh cervical vertebra. The prevalence of cervical ribdepends on the population. Cervical ribs are usually asymptomatic but may cause compression of subclavianartery and brachial plexus. Aim is to study the prevalence of cervical rib with associated gender, age group andlaterality (body sides).Materials and Methods: 8000 plain chest radiographs were studied from the month of January to March, 2017,in which 63 chest radiographs were found with cervical ribs. The particulars of the patients were recorded anddata were tabulated and analysed.Results: prevalence of the cervical rib was found to be 0.79% and female outnumbered male.Discussion: cervical rib is a less studied topic in this part of North-East India and thus, this study was conductedon chest radiographs of the patients of a tertiary hospital of this part of India.

Bilateral Communicating Branch Between Musculocutaneous and Median Nerve.

Connections between the musculocutaneous and median nerve are not uncommon. But knowledge of such variations is important for surgeons to perform surgical procedures. Here a female cadaver of 34 years age was found during dissection classes of undergraduate MBBS students, with communicating branch connecting musculocutaneous nerve with median nerve bilaterally.

Neurological Disorders Associated with Pregnancy: A Hospital Based Imaging Study of 57 Cases in North-East India.

Aims: To evaluate and characterize the Computed Tomography and Magnetic Resonance Imaging findings of the various neurological conditions of the central nervous system and pituitary gland that can occur during pregnancy and post partum period. Place and Duration of Study: The study was carried out in the Department of Radiology, Gauhati Medical College and Hospital, Guwahati, from August 2012 to July 2013. Methodology: A total of 57 patients of neurological disorders of the central nervous system and pituitary gland associated with pregnancy, who were referred to the Department for radiological evaluation and who had positive imaging findings were taken up for the study. CT scan was performed in those cases referred for imaging. For further evaluation, cases were referred to MRI or wherever possible, cases were directly referred for MRI. Contrast CT was avoided in most of the cases. Results: Out of 57 patients, 54.39% patients were in age between 20 to 30 years. Headache was the most common presenting complaint (71.93%) in all the neurological disorders. Hypertensive encephalopathy (40.35%) was the most common neurological disorder followed by Cerebral Venous Thrombosis (17.54%). Infarct was the commoner complication of hypertensive encephalopathy accounting for 21.74% of cases. Magnetic resonance was able to detect infarct in 21.74% of cases compared to CT which could detect infarct in 13.04% of cases. P value 0.3534 and sensitivity 72%, 95% Confidence Interval 0.46 to 0.90 with negative predictive value 50% with 95% Confidence Interval 0.18 to 0.81. Conclusion: Both CT and MRI can depict the characteristic imaging features of these neurological disorders in pregnancy as well as development of complications, hence leading to early and prompt diagnosis of these disorders and better management of these patients. ABBREVIATIONS: CI: Confidence Interval, TOF MRA: Time of Flight Magnetic Resonance Agiography, MRV: Magnetic Resonance Venography, TR: repetation time, TE: echo time, FLAIR: Fluid Attenuated Inversion Recovery, DWI: diffusion weighted image, SWI: Susceptibility Weighted Imaging, NECT: non enhanced computed tomography, ESR: erythrocyte sedimentation rate, ADC: Apparent diffusion coefficient.