Rapid Redistribution of an Acute Traumatic Epidural Hematoma in a Patient with Invasive Skull Cancer / 대한신경손상학회지

The rapid spontaneous resolution of an acute epidural hematoma (EDH) has rarely been reported. A possible mechanism of spontaneous resolution is egress of the hematoma into the subgaleal space through a skull fracture. We report a case of rapid redistribution of an acute EDH in a 37-year-old man who had a malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor of the skull and who slipped and fell when going to the bathroom. A huge EDH without a skull fracture developed in the left parieto-occipital area. The acute EDH was completely alleviated and a newly developed intracerebral hematoma was found on a brain computed tomography scan that was acquired the day after the trauma. Given these findings, a fractured skull and increased pressure in the intradural area may have been the mechanisms underlying the redistribution of the hematoma.

Usefulness of Chest Radiographs for Scoliosis Screening: A Comparison with Thoraco-Lumbar Standing Radiographs

PURPOSE: The purposes of this study were to evaluate the usefulness and limitations of chest radiographs in scoliosis screening and to compare these results with those of thoraco-lumbar standing radiographs (TLSR). MATERIALS AND METHODS: During Korean conscription, 419 males were retrospectively examined using both chest radiographs and TLSR to confirm the scoliosis and Cobb angle at the Regional Military Manpower. We compared the types of spinal curves and Cobb angles as measured from different radiographs. RESULTS: In the pattern of spinal curves, the overall matching rate of chest radiographs using TLSR was about 58.2% (244 of 419 cases). Cobb angle differences between chest radiographs and TLSR with meaningful difference was observed in 156 cases (37.2%); a relatively high proportion (9.5%) of Cobb angle differences more than 10 degrees was also observed. The matching rate of both spinal curve types and Cobb angle accuracy between chest radiographs and TLSR was 27.9% (117 among 419 cases). Chest radiographs for scoliosis screening were observed with 93.94% of sensitivity and 61.67% of specificity in thoracic curves; however, less than 40% of sensitivity (38.27%, 20.00%, and 25.80%) and more than 95% of specificity (97.34%, 99.69%, and 98.45%) were observed in thoraco-lumbar, lumbar, and double major curves, respectively. CONCLUSION: The accuracy of chest radiographs for scoliosis screening was low. The incidence of thoracic curve scoliosis was overestimated and lumbar curve scoliosis was easily missed by chest radiography. Scoliosis screening using chest radiography has limited values, nevertheless, it is useful method for detecting thoracic curve scoliosis.

Missed Diagnosis of Syrinx

STUDY DESIGN: Prospective, randomized, controlled human study. PURPOSE: We checked the proportion of missed syrinx diagnoses among the examinees of the Korean military conscription. OVERVIEW OF LITERATURE: A syrinx is a fluid-filled cavity within the spinal cord or brain stem and causes various neurological symptoms. A syrinx could easily be diagnosed by magnetic resonance image (MRI), but missed diagnoses seldom occur. METHODS: In this study, we reviewed 103 cases using cervical images, cervical MRI, or whole spine sagittal MRI, and syrinxes was observed in 18 of these cases. A review of medical certificates or interviews was conducted, and the proportion of syrinx diagnoses was calculated. RESULTS: The proportion of syrinx diagnoses was about 66.7% (12 cases among 18). Missed diagnoses were not the result of the length of the syrinx, but due to the type of image used for the initial diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS: The missed diagnosis proportion of the syrinx is relatively high, therefore, a more careful imaging review is recommended.