A study to find the utility of MRI in the evaluation of painful hip joints

Introduction: Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging is a valuable tool in the evaluation of hip disorders. With these, a study was conducted to assess the role of MRI in the early evaluation of painful hip joints. Materials and Methods: It was a cross-sectional study conducted in the department of Radiodiagnosis, GSL Medical College, Rajahmundry. The study protocol was approved by the Institutional Ethical Committee. Patients presenting with acute or chronic hip pain pathology of all age groups, both gender who referred for MRI were included in the study. Imaging has been done with 1.5 Tesla Philips Achieva machines using abdominal surface coils and spine coils. Results: Out of the 30 participants, avascular necrosis was diagnosed in 46.6% (14) participants, joint effusion in 10% (3) cases, osteoarthritis (OA) in 4 (13.3%) cases, tuberculosis (TB) in 10% (3), 6.6% (2) each was diagnosed to be Perthe’s, developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) and metastasis, respectively. All the pathological findings were diagnosed using MRI also. Conclusion: MRI helps in the evaluation of the involvement of articular cartilage in the form of T2W hyperintensity. It also helps in the evaluation of soft tissue involvement along with the detection of bone marrow edema.

A study to find the various causes for compressive myelopathy

Introduction: Myelopathy was the term that describes any neurologic defect related to the spinal cord. A study was conducted to evaluate various causes of compressive myelopathy and also MR characterization of spinal cord compressive lesions. Materials and Methods: It is a hospital-based cross-sectional study, conducted in the department of radiodiagnosis, GSL Medical College, Rajahmundry from December 2014 to August 2016. All patients referred to the department of radiology with symptoms of compressive myelopathy of the spine were included. Pre-contrast scanning was done using TiWI, T2WI, FLAIR Sagittal, STIR sagittal. A Chi-square test was used to find the statistical significance, P > 0.05 was considered to be statistically significant. Results: During the study period total of 30 participants were included, spinal TB was diagnosed to be the most common cause of myelopathy (13; 43.3%) Extradural myelopathy was diagnosed in 23 (76.6%) participants and intradural in 7 (23.3%) members. Statistically, there was no significant difference between the age and cause for myelopathy and also between the gender. Conclusion: The most common cause of compressive myelopathy was identified to be extradural compression form TB followed by trauma. Spinal TB was the commonest site involved. In spine injury, the common site involved was the thoracic.

A study to find the characteristic imaging findings of various ring-enhancing lesions using MR imaging

Introduction: Multiple ring-enhancing lesions are one of the most commonly encountered neuroimaging abnormalities. A study was conducted to find the characteristic imaging findings of various ring-enhancing lesions on MRI. Materials and methods: It was a prospective study conducted in the department of radiodiagnosis, GSL Medical College. All age groups of both gender with cerebral ring-enhancing lesions detected in contrast MR studies were taken up for spectroscopy. Patients with a history of claustrophobia and individuals with metallic implants insertion, cardiac pacemakers, and metallic foreign body in situ were excluded. The MRI scan was performed MRI PHILIPS ACHIEVA HDxt 1.5 T, the active shielded superconducting magnet of 1.5telsa magnetic field using SENSE coils for the acquisition of images. Results: Out of 30 study participants, under <45 years category tuberculoma was the common (37%) lesion whereas in >45 years category metastases was common (15%), 44% were female and 56% were males. Depicts T1 signal intensity showed hypointense signal intensity on T1W sequence in 65 (95.5%) cases. Only 4.6% of cases showed isointense signal intensity on T1W image. T2 signal intensity in 73.5% of cases showed hyperintense signal intensity. Conclusions: MRI is an excellent, non-ionizing imaging modality with multiplanar imaging capabilities for excellent grey-white matter differentiation

Role of Computed Tomography (CT) in traumatic head injury evaluation – a cross-sectional study

Introduction: CT is the single primary modality in the evaluation of patients with acute head injuries. With these, a study was taken to find various clinico radiological patterns of head injuries and to correlate the CT features with clinical operative findings. Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional study carried in patients of head injury. The patients with a head injury, craniofacial trauma who underwent CT scanning were included in the study. Patients on the ventilator and with Glasgow coma scale <6 were excluded. Patients were scanned using dual Slice CT, Siemens somatom Emotion duo. A P-value of less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Total 223 patients were included, 76.2% were males and 73.5% were abnormal scans. Among all intracranial traumatic lesions (ITL) the incidence of multiple ITLs were the most common (35%) and the death rate was 12.6%. Temporal bone fractures (15.2%) were the highest. Conclusion: It was concluded that 21 – 40 years is the typical age group for head injuries, common among male and the incidence of mortality rate is more > 61 years. MICTLs are the most frequent type of hematomas.

A study to find the correlation between mucocutaneous manifestations and CD4 counts among the newly diagnosed HIV individuals

Introduction: Skin disorders are common manifestations of HIV disease. A study was conducted to find the correlation between the degree of immunosuppression and the incidence of specific skin disorders in patients with HIV infection. Materials and methods: Study was conducted in the department of dermatology, SCB Medical College and Hospital, Cuttack from October 2010 to September 2012. Random sampling was considered in this study. Referred patients, after pretest counseling at ICTC Centre, were included and individuals who are on antiretroviral treatment were excluded. Relevant diagnostic tests were performed like scraping and KOH examination for the diagnosis of dermatophytoses and candidiasis, Tzanck smear for herpes infection, Darkfield microscopy for diagnosis of a syphilitic ulcer, Biopsy is done wherever required. CD4 count was done as per the guidelines. Results: A total of 150 (100%) participants were included, the male-female ratio was 1.8. Age-wise, 57% (85) were included in 31–45 group and 15% were unmarried. Fungal infections constitute 17.9% of total mucocutaneous disorders followed by bacterial infections (10.5%), viral (8.09%) and parasitic (6.7%) infestations. Conclusion: Age group, 31–45 years is the commonest for HIV infection. Fungal infections (dermatoses) of the skin were most common followed by bacterial folliculitis, herpes zoster, and scabies. Except for viral infections, the mean CD4 counts were <200cells/cu mm.

Electrocardiographic changes in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy

Introduction: Cardiomyopathy is the disease of the heart muscle, which causes deterioration of myocardial functioning. A study was conducted to find electrocardiographic findings in dilated cardiomyopathy. Materials and methods: This was a hospital-based study, conducted in the department of General Medicine, GSL Medical College. Informed written consent was taken from each patient or his/her attendant prior to including in the study. Patients with dilated cardiomyopathy, both gender, all ages. Heart failure based on Framingham criteria, ECHO criteria – LV ejection fraction less than 45%, with left ventricular or biventricular dilatation, with global hypo-contractility were included in the study. ECG and 2 D Echo have been performed on the patients. Framingham criteria were used for the diagnosis of heart failure. Descriptive statistics were presented in the form of mean ± standard deviation and percentages. Results: Total 102 patients were included in the study, with a mean age of 56.3 ±12.5 years, the male-female ratio was 1.9. Tachycardia was 61%, left axis deviation was present 34.3% and right axis deviation in 8.8%. Left ventricular end-diastolic and systolic diameters were elevated in most of the patients. Conclusion: With these findings, it can be concluded severe LV systolic dysfunction is very common among dilated cardiomyopathy patients.

Hypothyroidism in type 2 diabetics – a hospital-based prevalence study

Introduction: Thyroid hormones and insulin are the antagonists and both are involved in cellular metabolism. With this, the study was planned to find the prevalence of thyroid dysfunction in type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM). Materials and Methods: Study was conducted in the department of General Medicine, GSL Medical College. The study protocol was approved by the institutional ethical committee. All type 2 diabetics aged >30yrs, irrespective of treatment were included in the study. Individuals on metformin therapy, smokers, thyroid hormone users, who underwent thyroid surgery, individuals on radioiodine therapy, pregnant women and individuals on steroids were excluded. Venous blood samples were taken from for fasting blood glucose and 2-hour post glucose blood sugar, glycosylated hemoglobin, lipid profile, and thyroid function estimated measured by using the autoanalyzer. Chi-square test was used to compare differences in categorical variables and p<0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Among 104 participants, 82.7% were euthyroid, 12.5% had subclinical and 4.8% had clinical hypothyroidism; statistically the difference not significant when age/gender was correlated. But there was a significant association with dyslipidemia. Conclusion: Hypothyroidism is very common among type 2 DM individuals and both complement others' metabolism.