Effect of the staging comprehensive treatment with acupuncture-moxibustion on Bell's facial palsy in the acute stage / 中国针灸

OBJECTIVES@#To compare the clinical effect on Bell's facial palsy in the acute stage between the staging comprehensive treatment with acupuncture-moxibustion and western medication.@*METHODS@#Sixty patients with Bell's facial palsy in the acute stage were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group, with 30 cases in each one. The patients in the control group were administered orally with prednisone acetate tablets and methylcobalamin tablets until the 28th day of illness. In the observation group, the staging comprehensive treatment with acupuncture-moxibustion was adopted. On the affected side, Qianzheng (EX-HN 16), Yifeng (TE 17), Sibai (ST 2), Yangbai (GB 14), Jiache (ST 6), Dicang (ST 4) and Touwei (ST 8), etc. were stimulated. In the acute stage (Day 1 to 7 of illness), the routine acupuncture and the point-toward-point needle insertion were delivered, no any manipulation was exerted at acupoints, and the needles were retained for 30 min. In the subacute stage (Day 8 to 14 of illness), on the base of the treatment as the acute stage, the depth of needle insertion was adjusted at a part of acupoints and the even needling technique was operated by twisting needle. Besides, electroacupuncture (EA) was attached to Qianzheng (EX-HN 16) and Dicang (ST 4), with continuous wave of low intensity and high frequency, 100 Hz, for 20 min. In the recovery stage (Day 15 to 28 of illness), on the base of the treatment as the subacute stage, the heavy stimulation of acupuncture was given, in which, the sticking and lifting needle techniques were delivered after the needles were inserted from Sibai (ST 2) toward Dicang (ST 4), and from Dicang (ST 4) toward Jiache (ST 6), separately; warm needling was operated at Yifeng (TE 17), and EA changed to stimulate the acupoints with the intermittent wave of high intensity and low frequency, 2 Hz, for 30 min. Acupuncture-moxibustion was given once every other day until the end of the 28th day of illness. The level of House-Brackmann facial nerve function rating scale (H-B grade),the score of Sunnybrook facial nerve grading system (Sunnybrook), the score of facial disability index (FDI), the temperature difference in the infrared thermal imaging facial area and electromyogram (EMG) situation of the affected muscle group were observed before and after treatment in the two groups. Using musculoskeletal ultrasound,the facial nerve diameter was detected and the clinical effect was compared between the two groups.@*RESULTS@#After treatment, the level of H-B grade, Sunnybrook score, the scores of physical function and social life function in FDI were improved when compared with those before treatment in the patients of either group (P<0.01, P<0.05), and the results of these evaluations in the observation group were better than those of the control group (P<0.05). After treatment, the temperature difference of the frontal area, the eye area, the zygomatic area and the mouth corner was declined in comparison with that before treatment in the two groups (P<0.05), and the temperature difference in each area in the observation group was lower than that of the control group (P<0.05).The root mean square (RMS) of the frontal muscle group, the zygomatic muscle group and the orbicularis muscle group on the affected side increased in comparison with that before treatment in the two groups (P<0.01), and RMS of the observation group was higher than that of the control group (P<0.05) after treatment. Before treatment, the diameter of the facial nerve on the affected side was larger than that on the healthy side (P<0.01), and after treatment, the diameter on the affected side was reduced when compared with that before treatment in the two groups (P<0.01); the diameter of the facial nerve on the affected side in the observation group was smaller than that of the control group (P<0.05), while, the diameter on the affected side was larger when compared with the healthy side in the control group (P<0.05). The total effective rate of the observation group was 93.3% (28/30), higher than that of the control group (83.3% [25/30], P<0.05).@*CONCLUSIONS@#The staging comprehensive treatment with acupuncture-moxibustion is clearly effective on Bell's facial palsy in the acute stage, which affirms the effectiveness of acupuncture-moxibustion for the acute stage of Bell's facial palsy in comparison with conventional western medication.

Study of the application of low tube potemtial scanning in dacryocystography CT / 中华放射医学与防护杂志

Objective:To investigate the feasibility of the application of low tube potential scanning in dacryocystography CT.Methods:The mixture of iohexol and saline with the ration of 1∶3 as the dacryocyst was set on the nose wing of the head-neck phantom. The phantom was scanned at 80, 100, 120, 140 kV with appropriate mAs to set the volume CT dose index(CTDI vol)at 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35 or 40 mGy. All the images were objectively evaluated to find out the optimal scanning parameters of 80 kV/240 mAs with the same contrast-to-noise ratio(CNR)of conventional scanning condition of 120 kV/180 mAs. A total of 62 patients who conducted dacryocystography CT in Beijing Tongren Hospital from November 2019 to July 2020 were prospectively selected. They were randomly divided equally into conventional scanning group with 120 kV/180 mAs and low tube potential group with 80 kV/240 mAs. The CT number, noise (SD) and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) of the two groups were measured as the objective evaluation indicators of image quality. The subjective evaluation was performed by two senior radiologists using a double-blind method and a 5-scale system evaluation. Results:For the phantom study, the CNR was positively correlated with CTDI vol under the same tube potential ( r=0.985, 0.965, 0.971, 0.972, P < 0.05). With the same CNR, the radiation dose decreased with lower tube potential. Under the conventional scanning parameters of 120 kV/180 mAs, the CNR was 27.8. At the same CNR, the optimal scanning parameters were 80 kV/240 mAs. For the clinical study, the CTDI vol of conventional scanning group and low tube potential group were 31.2 and 12.8 mGy respectively, 59% decreased in low tube potential group. There were statistically significant differences in CT number of dacryocyst area, CT number of orbital fat area and noise between the two groups ( t=-3.476, 2.601, -5.704, P < 0.05). There was no statistically significante difference in CNR between 2 groups( P>0.05). Two observers had a good consistency ( Kappa >0.75). There was no statistically significante difference in subjective rating between 2 groups( P>0.05). Conclusions:Low tube potential scanning could obtain satisfactory image quality in dacryocystography CT at much lower radiation dose.

Imaging characteristic features of sinonasal lymphoepithelial carcinoma and comparison with functional MRI parameters of olfactory neuroblastoma / 中华放射学杂志

Objective:To investigate the CT and MRI features of sinonasal lymphoepithelial carcinoma (LEC) and to compare functional MRI index of LEC with olfactory neuroblastoma (ONB) in this area.Methods:The clinical data, CT and MRI conventional findings of 7 patients were retrospectively reviewed . All of the patients, 5 males and 2 females, with age of 35-58 (45±9) years old, were histologically diagnosed as LEC of sinonasal tract at Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University from February 2014 to November 2019. The semi-quantitative DCE-MRI parameters and ADC value were measured and compared with 18 cases of ONB which were collected during the same period. Independent sample t test or corrected t test, Fisher′s exact test were performed to compare the differences between the two groups. Results:In all of the 7 LEC patients, 6 lesions were located in naso-ethmoid area, 1 lesion was located in naso-orbital area. Six lesions were on the left side, and another one was sitted on both sides. All tumors manifested irregular soft tissue density with bony destruction, 3 of them showed bony sclerosis. All lesions showed homogeneous density or signal and obvious enhancement in solid portion accompanied with varying degrees of local invasion. Morphologically, two forms were observed: localized soft tissue mass and diffuse infiltration along mucosa. There were polypoid strips ( n=3), spherical masses ( n=3), and diffuse thickening of nasal cavity and turbinate mucosa ( n=1). DCE-MRI examinations were performed in six LEC patients. Maximum contrast enhancement index (CI max) was 1.51±0.46, wash out ratio (WR) was 14.26%±6.24%. Time intensity curve (TIC) showed a plateau pattern (type Ⅱ) in 4 cases and a washout pattern (type Ⅲ) in 2 cases. Time to peak (T peak) were (40.09±4.59)s, showing a rapid peak performance. Diffusion weighted imaging was performed in six LEC patients, and the ADC value was (0.80±0.14)×10 -3 mm 2/s. There were statistical differences in WR and ADC values between sinonasal LEC and ONB ( t=4.873, P=0.020 and t=3.255, P=0.025). Conclusion:The radiological manifestations of LEC have certain characteristics. The characteristics of conventional imaging findings and functional MRI index combined with clinical data are helpful in making differential diagnosis between LEC and other sinonasal malignant tumors.

The value of the apparent diffusion coefficient in MR diffusion weighted imaging for the differential diagnosis of sinonasal masses / 中华放射学杂志

Objective To investigate the diagnostic value of apparent diffusion coefficient in the evaluation of sinonasal masses.Methods Sixty-seven sinonasal solid masses over 1 cm in diameter confirmed by pathology were retrospectively analyzed,all patients underwent preoperative routine MRI with DWI,the ADC values were measured in ROI within the solid mass.The patients were divided into benign and malignant groups by the histopathology,according to pathological findings,the patients were further divided into the hematolymphoid tumors,the malignancy of epithelium and mesenchymal tissue,the benign tumors of epithelial and mesenchymal tissue,and vasogenic masses.ANOVA test and t test were used to compare the ADC values of different groups.The receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) was constructed using various cut points of ADC for different parameters to confirm the diagnostic threshold value and evaluate the diagnostic efficacy.Results All lesions were solitary.There were 22 malignant tumors,of which 6 lesions were hematolymphoid tumors and 16 lesions malignancy from epithelium and mesenchymal tissue.There were 45 benign tumors,of which 22 lesions were benign tumors from epithelium and mesenchymal tissue and 23 lesions vasogenic masses.The mean ADC value of malignant and benign masses was(0.88 ± 0.26) × 10-3 mm2/s and (1.54 ± 0.41) × 10-3 mm2/s respectively.There was statistically significant differences between them (t =6.897,P ＜ 0.01).The mean ADC value was(0.63 ± 0.10) × 10-3 mm2/s in hematolymphoid tumors,(0.97 ±0.24) × 10 3 mm2/s in malignancy from epithelium and mesenchymal tissue,(1.38 ± 0.23) × 10-3 mm2/s in benign tumors from epithelium and mesenchymal tissue,(1.68 ± 0.49) × 10-3 mm2/s in vasogenic masses respectively.There was statistically significant difference among all 4 groups(F =22.788,P ＜ 0.01),and the differences between any 2 groups were still statistically significant(P ＜ 0.05).The area under the ROC calculated was 0.945.Using an ADC value of 1.08 × 10-3 mm2/s as the threshold value for differentiating malignant from benign lesions,the best result obtained had a sensitivity of 81.8％ (18/22),specificity of 97.8％ (44/45),accuracy of 92.5 ％ (62/67).Conclusion The ADC value is a valuable tool in differentiating benign from malignant masses and different kinds of masses in sinus and nasal cavity.

CT and MRI findings of sinonasal hemangiopericytoma / 中华放射学杂志

Objective To determine the CT and MRI features of the sinonasal cavity. Methods The CT and MRI of nine patients with histologically proved hemangiopericytoma in the sinonasal cavity were retrospectively reviewed. All nine patients underwent CT and seven of them underwent MRI. In addition, the time-intensity curve (TIC) of dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE) MRI were analyzed in three patients. Results The lesions were from the nasal cavity in 5 cases, the maxillary sinus in 3 cases, and the sphenoid sinus in one case. The lesions appeared spindle in 4 cases, oval in 3, and irregular in 2. The mean maximum diameter of the lesions was 31 mm (range, 15 to 52 mm). Seven hemangiopericytomas had welldefined margins and 2 had ill-defined margins. On plain CT, the lesions were isodense to gray matter in six (66. 7% ) and slightly hyperdense in three (33. 3% ) patients. Only two patients had post-contrast CT and the tumors showed marked enhancement. The lesions caused adjacent bony compression and absorption in 7 cases and bony destruction in 2. On MR T1WI, hemangiopericytomas appeared hypointense in 3 (42. 8% ) patients and isointense in 4 (57. 2% ) patients. On T2WI, the lesions appeared hyperintense in three (42.8%) patients and isointense in four (57.2%) patients. On T1WI, all the lesions showed relatively homogeneous signal, while 2 lesions revealed heterogeneous signal on T2WI. Hemangiopericytomas showed marked homogeneous contrast enhancement in 4 cases and heterogeneous contrast enhancement in 3.TIC showed a steady enhancement pattern in 3 patients. The lesions involved the orbit in 2 cases and,cavernous sinus, anterior skull base meninge, pterygopalatine fossa and infratemporal fossa in one case. Five patients underwent follow-up for two to eight years after surgery. Two patients were found to have recurrence.Conclusions Marked enhancement and steady enhancement pattern of TIC on MRI are typical manifestations of hemangiopericytoma of the sinonasal cavity. Bone changes may help to identify the nature of the lesion. Imaging can accurately detect the scope of hemangiopericytoma in this region.

CT and MRI diagnosis of hemorrhagic and necrotic nasal polyps / 中华放射学杂志

Objective To study the CT and MRI findings of hemorrhagic and necrotic nasal polyps. Methods The imaging data of 17 cases with hemorrhagic and necrotic nasal polyps confirmed by surgery and pathology were analyzed retrospectively. CT was performed in 14 cases, MRI in 16 cases, of which 15 also underwent contrast-enhanced MRI. Results All 17 lesions with well-circumscribed margin originated in the areas of maxillary sinus ostia and extended into adjacent nasal cavity and maxillary sinus. The lesions appeared as lobular shape in 16 cases and oval shape in 1 case. On non-enhanced CT, 14 lesions showed heterogenous soft tissue density masses, the hyperdense strip and nodule were detected on the periphery and in the center of 2 lesions respectively. All the involved bony walls were compressed and remodeled with focal defect,especially in the medial wall of maxillary sinus. On MRI, all 16 lesions revealed inhomogenous signal. The central region of the lesions appeared hypointense signal on T_1WI compared to gray matter and hyperintense signal on T_2WI with line-like hypointense signal septa in 14 cases, the irregular hypointense signal rims were also found on the periphery of 15 lesions on T_2WI, postcontrast MR imaging showed strongly inhomogenous enhancing masses with non-enhancing hypointense rim, the appearances of enhancement showed multiple nodules in 10 cases, patches in 4 cases and leaf-like in 1 case. The typical simple polyps were present in the ipsilateral nasal cavity of the lesions in 4 cases, extending into nasal vestibule anteriorly and choana posteriorly. On dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI in 11 cases, the timeintensity curves (TIC) showed increasing enhancement type in 7 cases and rapid enhancement and slow wash-out type in 4 cases. Conclusion The inhomogenous hyperintensity surrounded by the peripheral hypointense rim on MR T_2WI and marked nodular and patchy enhancement appearance are typical features of hemorrhagic and necrotic nasal polyps. CT is helpful to judge the nature of lesions, but difficultly confirms the diagnosis, while MRI should be the imaging modality of first choice for hemorrhagic and necrotic nasal polyps.

Features of inflammatory pseudotumor in the maxillary sinus on CT and MRI / 中华放射学杂志

Objective To explore the features of inflammatory pseudotumor in the maxillary sinus on CT and MRI.Methods The CT and MRI data of 8 patients with histology-proven inflammatory pseudotumor in the maxillary sinus were retrospectively analyzed.All 8 patients underwent CT scans and 7 of them also underwent MRI examinations.In addition, the time-intensity curve (TIC) of dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE)MR imaging were analyzed in 3 patients.Results Two cases had lesions in the left maxillary sinus, while the others showed lesions in the right maxillary sinus.All the lesions showed irregular shape with well-defined margins in 5 cases and hazy margins in 3 cases.The mean maximum diameter of the lesions was 51 mm (ranged from 29 mm to72 mm).On non-enhanced CT, the lesions were isodense to gray matter in 6 and slightly hypodense in 1 patients.Only 2 patients had post-contrast CT with moderate enhancement of their lesions.The lesions caused adjacent bony absorption and destruction with residual bony sclerosis.On MR T_1 WI, inflammatory pseudotumor showed hypointense in 2 patients and isointense in 5 cases in relative to gray matter.On T_2 WI, the lesions revealed inhomogeneous hypointense in 6 patients and isointense in 1 patients.Inflammatory pseudotumor showed heterogeneously slight contrast enhancement in 2 cases and moderate enhancement in 5 cases.The TIC showed a steady enhancement pattern in 3 patients.The lesions extended to nasal cavity in 6 cases, pterygopalatine fossa and infratemporal fossa in 4, orbit in 4, and cheek in 3 cases.Six patients underwent follow-up for 2-5 years after surgery and 2 of them were found to have recurrence.In comparison to CT, MRI was proved to show the extent of the lesions more clearly.Conclusions Bony destruction with sclerosis and hypointense signal on MR T_2 WI are typical manifestations of inflammatory pseudotumor in the maxillary sinus.Combined CT and MRI can provide clinicians with more comprehensive information for the diagnosis, therapy, and follow-up of these lesions.

MRI diagnosis of sinonasal inverted papilloma / 中华放射学杂志

Objective To investigate the MRI findings of sinonasal inverted papilloma so as to promote the diagnostic accuracy.Methods All 36 cases of sinonasal inverted papilloma were verified by pathology.Their MRI findings were analyzed retrospectively.Results The lesion occurred in the lateral nasal wall in 25 cases,in the maxillary sinus in 4 cases,in the ethmoid sinus in 2 cases,in the frontal and ethmoid sinuses in 2 cases, in the ethmoid and sphenoid sinuses in 2 cases and in the frontal sinus in one case.Of the 36 cases,11 cases had recurrent lesions and 3 cases were associated with malignant change.All lesions showed well-defined margin,with lobulate configuration in 26 cases and irregular shape in 10 cases.The diameter of the lesions ranged from 22 to 82 mm (mean,38 mm).On MR T1WI,sinonasal inverted papilloma revealed isointense signal compared to adjacent muscle in 32 cases and slight hyperintense signal in 4.On T2 WI,the lesions showed heterogeneous hyperintense signal in 34 cases and inhomogeneous isointense signal in 2 cases with malignant change.Postcontrast MR imaging demonstrated marked inhomogeneous enhancement compared with nasal septum mucosa in 34 cases.Regular fence-like pattern was found on MR T2WI and enhanced T1WI in 32 cases,while irregular ones were found in three cases with malignant change.The time-intensity curve (TIC)of dynamic contrast enhancement of MRI showed rapid enhancing and slow wash-out type in 7 cases,while rapid enhancing and wash-out pattern was detected in one ease with malignant change.Conclusion Regular fence-like pattern on MR T2WI or enhanced T1WI was reliable characteristics for the diagnosis of sinonasal inverted papilloma.Irregular ones may suggest malignant change.