Diagnostic role of multi-slice computerized tomography in laryngeal lesions

Diagnostic evaluation of the larynx and hypopharynx is primarily done with endoscopy as almost all malignancies of the larynx arise from the mucosal surface and thus are accessible to direct visualization and biopsy. The radiologist is seldom the first to diagnose malignancy and indeed cannot completely exclude laryngeal malignancy. However, the radiologist evaluates areas that the clinician cannot see: Areas deep to the mucosa or blocked from direct visualization by the bulk of the tumour. CT, the standard imaging modality for larynx assessment for more than a decade, has recently become further enhanced by the introduction of multislice computerized tomography which enables much faster image acquisition and multiplanar or three-dimensional image reconstruction, and virtual endoscopic study. Virtual endoscopy is a computer-generated simulation of endoscopic perspective obtained by processing digital data sets. The simulation can be obtained by dedicated software that reconstructs in three dimensions data obtained from computed tomography. The main advantage of virtual endoscopy is the unrestricted positioning of virtual endoscope within the air spaces of the larynx. The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of multislice CT in the diagnosis of laryngeal lesions. This study involved 37 patients [24 males, 13 females], with age range of 18-80 years [mean age 45.5 years]. They were all referred from the ENT department in Kasr Al-Aini hospitals presenting with a known or suspected laryngeal lesion. Multislice CT was done to all patients with reconstruction of the images in different planes, and performing 3-D reconstruction and virtual laryngoscopic study. The lesion exact site, size, extent and effects were detected in all cases

Testicular tumours: Does color doppler has a role?

The aim of this work was to assess the role of high-resolution ultrasonography [US] and color Doppler ultrasonography [CDS] in the diagnosis and evaluation of testicular tumors and the ability of each modality to add important information aiming to reach a precise diagnosis and hence a prompt management. The study was conducted on six patients with painless testicular swellings. It was concluded that gray scale along with the clinical and physical findings help to establish a specific diagnosis in almost all cases. CDS does not add any clinically important information and does not help in establishing a definite diagnosis of testicular tumors due to the great overlap between the findings in cases of testicular tumors and those of inflamed and normal tests. However, CDS seems to be more helpful in depicting the infiltrative lesions, such as lymphoma and leukemia, which increases the diagnostic confidence of the examiner

Postmortem diagnosis of diabetes mellitus: comparative study of the diagnostic value of commonly used parameters

In medico-legal practice, undiagnosed diabetes has been suggested as a possible cause of death in otherwise unexplained deaths, and the postmortem diagnosis of diabetes mellitus can be of utmost importance for confirming death from metabolic derangement, or if medical malpractice is suspected. The aim of the present work was to study and compare the usefulness of some markers to diagnose diabetes during postmortem examination, and to ascertain their sensitivity and specificity. The study was conducted on vitreous humor and blood samples collected from 68 cadavers during postmortem examination. Based on medical records, cases were classified into two groups [31 cases with previous diagnosis of diabetes mellitus, and 37 cases without such diagnosis]. Collected samples were analyzed for fructosamine in blood; glycated hemoglobin; fructosamine, glucose and lactate [to determine glucose plus lactate] in vitreous humor. The results obtained in the present study indicate that the measurement of glycated proteins [fructosamine] in vitreous and serum, glycated hemoglobin, and the combined glucose and lactate levels in vitreous humor are useful indicators for diagnosis of diabetes mellitus in postmortem settings. The differences among the discriminatory potentials of the studied parameters were not statistically significant [as determined by comparing the areas under the receiver operating characteristic -ROC- curve]. The diagnostic potential of any of the studied parameters surpasses that of glucose levels in vitreous humor

Cardiac troponins in sudden death

In the present study, serum and pericardial fluid samples were obtained from three groups of deaths: Acute myocardial infarction, other cardiac related deaths and a control group of deaths. Significantly higher serum concentrations of both cardiac troponins T and I were found in deaths due to pathologically established acute myocardial infarction. Similar significant difference was also found as regards serum troponin T levels between other cardiac related and control deaths. There were no significant differences in pericardial fluid concentrations of either marker among the studied groups. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation had no significant effects on the concentrations of both cardiac markers

Spinal subdural extramedullary masses: myelography, CT myelography and MRI diagnosis

13 conventional myelographic examinations were performed, 7 myelographic CT studies and 4 MRE examinations on 16 cases of subdural extramedullary mass lesions. The lesions were 6 meningioma, 7 neurinoma, 2 lipomas and 1 subdural deposit. The diagnostic criteria of subdural extramedullary mass in myelography, CT myelography and in MRI as well as the differential diagnosis of the different pathological subdural mass lesions were discussed. Subdural extramedullary mass lesions can be easily diagnosed by myelography and CT myelography as well as by MRI. However, MRI has proven to be the procedure of choice in the diagnosis of such lesions

Myelography, CT myelography and MRI of spinal cord lesions: modality evaluation and comparative study

We performed 12 conventional myelographic examinations, 8 secondary CT myelographic studies and 9 MRI examinations on 19 cases having intramedullary lesions. The lesions were 8 ependymoma, 3 astrocytoma, 3 hypdrosyringomyelia, 1 cord contusion, 2 cord arteriovenous malformation and 2 undiagnosed intramedullary lesions. In spite of diagnosis of cord lesion could be reached by myelograhic findings in conjunction with patients clinical picture, MRI has proven to be procedure of choice in the evaluation of suspected cord lesions