Frequency and magnetic resonance imaging patterns of tuberculous spondylitis lesions in adults

To find out the frequency and patterns of various lesions in tuberculous spondylitis in adults on magnetic resonance imaging [MRI]. Case series. Radiology Department, Military Hospital [MH] Rawalpindi, from September 2006 to March 2007. Patients with features suggestive of tuberculous spondylitis underwent plain T1-weighted and T2-weighted images and T1-weighted contrast enhanced images in both axial and sagittal sections. The data was analyzed in terms of frequency and patterns of various lesions of tuberculous spondylitis causing abnormal signals in spinal and paraspinal areas. Mean +/- standard deviation were calculated form numerical data using SPSS version 15. Out of 75 patients, 39 were females. The mean age was 42.4 years. Involvement occurred through SV1 vertebral levels. Most common involvement was seen in the thoracic vertebrae [40%] followed by lumbar vertebrae. The most common MRI feature was abnormal signal intensities appearing hypointense on T1W and hyperintense on T2W sequences with heterogeneous enhancement of the vertebral body in all patients. The characteristic findings of spinal tuberculosis included destruction of two adjacent vertebral bodies and opposing end plates, destruction of intervening disc, and occurrence of paravertebral and epidural abscesses. MR imaging of spinal tuberculosis, characteristically showed contiguous involvement of two vertebrae along with the intervening disc, skip lesions, and paraspinal collections and provides critical information about the involvement of spinal cord and the extent of the disease

Frecuencia de las enfermedades reumáticas en el Hospital Regional Docente de Trujillo (1982-1987) / Frecuency of rheumatic diseases in the Regional Hospital Docente de Trujillo (1982-1987)

Se presenta un estudio longitudinal de 2178 pacientes, quienes desarrollaron 2344 enfermedades reumáticas, realizado en el Hospital Regional Docente de Trujillo, en 5 años (1982-1987), con la finalidad de determinar la frecuencia y las características en relación al lugar, tiempo y persona. Los tres grupos de enfermedades reumáticas predominantes fueron los reumatismos no articulares, las artropatías degenerativas y las enfermedades difusas del tejido conjuntivo. El sexo femenino predominó en la proporción de 2 a 1. Las enfermedades reumáticas se presentaron en todos los grupos etáreos, pero la mitad ocurrió entre los 40 a 49 años. Las cuatro quintas partes procedieron de la provincia de Trujillo y fueron atendidos en los Servicios de Medicina, Reumatología y Traumatología. El 50 por ciento de las enfermedades fueron diagnosticadas utilizando solamente criterios clínicos. La proporción de estos procesos reumáticos representó el 1,7 por ciento del total de casos atendidos durante los 5 años del estudio

Tuberculose osteoarticular no Hospital Municipal Jesus nos últimos 17 anos / Osteoarticular tuberculosis in Hospital Municipal Jesus at the last 17 years

Foram tratados e acompanhados no Serviço de Ortopedia e Traumatologia do Hospital Municipal Jesus, no período de 1972 a 1988, 139 pacientes portadores de tuberculose osteoarticular, representando 28 por cento dos casos de tuberculose doença, matriculados no hospital no referido período. Os autores apresentam os resultados da análise retrospectiva dos pacientes, expondo a rotina adotada pelo serviço e a evoluçäo dos casos, tirando algumas conclusöes