Ecotomografía transcraneana para el diagnóstico de enfermedad de Parkinson y otros trastornos del movimiento: estudio piloto de 39 casos y su correlato clínico - radiológico / Transcranial sonography for diagnosis of the Parkinson disease and other movement disorders: clinical study of 39 cases and clinical - radiological correlate

Introduction: Parkinson disease diagnosis is based on physical neurologic exam, however sometimes ancillary tests could be needed. Transcranial sonography is a useful tool to perform Parkinson disease and others movement disorders diagnosis, showing pathologic hyperecogenicities of nigra substance and basal ganglia. Objective and methods: The objective of this study is to report the first 39 patients in whom transcranial sonography was performed. We recruit patients consulting to movement disorders unit at University of Chile hospital. Two independent investigators (PVF and GMG) blinded to clinical diagnosis performed transcranial sonography by temporal window. Considering clinical diagnosis as gold standard we calculated specificity and sensibility. Concordance between investigators was estimated too. Results: Concordance between investigators was 100 percent. Sensibility was 85.71 percent and specificity was 100 percent. Conclusion: According our report, transcranial sonography performed at University of Chile Hospital, is a high sensibility and specificity tool to support Parkinson disease and others movement disorders.

Prevalence of Factors involved in intracranial hemorrhage of premature neonates less than 34 weeks' gestation

Intracranial hemorrhage is one of the major causes of neonatal mortality and morbidity. It is the most severe cranial problem in that period. Those who survive would be affected by hydrocephalus, encephalomalacia, and finally brain atrophy. With accurate knowledge of risk factors, hemorrhage may be diagnosed earlier and the complications managed earlier. This study was performed in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of Imam Khomeini Hospital. All the neonates less than 34 weeks of gestation were undergone intracranial sonography from Feb 2005 to Feb 2006. Sonography was performed via anterior fontanel with proper probe according to neonatal age. 113 neonates less than 34 weeks of gestation have been studied. Mean gestational age was 32 weeks. Mean neonatal weight were 1566 +/- 734 grams. Intracranial hemorrhage was evident in 21% of them; 16.8% was grade 1, 0.9% grade 2, 2.7% grade 3, 0.9% grade 4. The mean weight of neonates with hemorrhage was 1504.11 grams. Intracranial hemorrhage had correlation with respiratory acidosis and pneumothorax. The latter was also correlated with hemorrhage grade. Supposing the safety and non-invasiveness of intacranial sonography, we suggest performing sonography in all premature neonates with low birth weight, and also in those neonates with pneumothorax and respiratory acidosis