[MRI of the semicircular canals in cranio-facial asymmetries and craniomandibular syndrome]. / IRM des canaux semi-circulaires dans les asymétries crânio-faciales et le syndrome crânio-mandibulaire.

The cranio-mandibular syndrome (CMS) is often secondary to an cranio-facial asymmetry (CFA); it associate a painful masticatory dysfunction syndrome with functional and aching clinical signs in relation with a functional torticollis required for oculo-labyrinthal equilibration maintenance. Our anatomical and functional MRI protocol uses tridimensional study of semi-circular canals (SCC) up relation to the medial cerebral axis (MCA), and permit to measure precisely these CFA and propose, with a multispecialist approach, an adapted treatment of the SCM. Application of MRI to SCC asymmetry looks to its future use for spatial intracranial referencial of cerebral structures.

[Spontaneous disappearance of herniation pit on the femoral neck]. / Disparition spontanée d'une lacune sous-corticale du col fémoral.

The authors present a case of a 39 years old patient who had a herniation pit of the left femoral neck, 5 years ago. This lesion disappeared spontaneously. To our knowledge, no report of healing of a herniation pit has been previously described.

[Percutaneous angioscopy and angioplasty in the treatment of arteriopathies of the lower limbs]. / Angioscopie et angioplastie percutanées dans le traitement des artériopathies des membres inférieurs.

Since 1987, the authors have routinely combined angioscopy with angioplasty of peripheral arteries. In a series of 251 angioplasties carried out in 191 patients, angioscopy was found to be more specific and more sensitive than arterial angiography in the etiological diagnosis of arterial stenoses and/or obstructions. Angioscopic findings modified the angioplasty procedure in 29% of cases. Using an inflatable catheter remains the most commonly used approach (230 cases); in 10 cases, this was preceded by thromboaspiration and in 4 cases by dotterization. Angioscopic support was useful in carrying out difficult manoeuvres (monitoring of the angioplasty in 4 cases, correct orientation of the guide into the lumen in 14 cases, installation of an endoprosthesis in 9 cases, arterial biopsy in 5 cases and sampling of an atheroma in 8 cases).

[Angioscopy of lower limb arteries. History and technique, cost and practical information]. / Angioscopie des artères des membres inférieurs. Historique et technique, coût et informations pratiques.

The historical background to angioscopy shows that the principal successes recorded by its use result from the miniaturization of fibroscopes and the progress in video imaging. The first tentative use of angioscopy was by surgeons during operations carried out at about 1970, that of percutaneous angioscopy dating from 1984. The material used for diagnostic (fibroscope, cinecamera, video system, flushing pump) and interventional (fibroscope, clamps, Dormia cage, endoprostheses ... ) angioscopy is such that the basic equipment requires an outlay of about 150 to 200,000 francs. Percutaneous angioscopy implies the insertion of a catheter allowing flushing of the arterial lumen by means of a pressurized perfusion pump which, when reversed, is transformed into an aspirating pump for removal of the clot and/or atheromatous debris. The procedure is simple and does not expose to more complications than conventional arteriography.

[Percutaneous diagnostic angioscopy. Primary lesions]. / Angioscopie percutanée diagnostique. Les lésions élémentaires.

Efficacy of percutaneous treatments of arterial affections requires the correct choice of indications, necessitating precise knowledge of elementary arterial lesions. Arterial endoscopy appears to be more specific than angiography for this use, since it allows direct vision in vivo of the lesion, a histopathologic approach compared with the non univocal images produced by angiography (for example, an arterial obstruction can result from varied causes). Different accidents to the endothelial surface can be observed: golden yellow atheromatous elevations on a straw yellow background, intimal flaps, mobile intra-luminal vegetations. Established atheromatous stenosis are smooth and regular, or on the contrary ulcerated and edged with irregular flaps capable of provoking an eccentric residual lumen. The vegetating atheromatous lesions may project into the lumen, often as calcified and thus pearly white scales adhering to the wall, or as larger occlusive lesions. When capable of being isolated, a thrombus often completes the stenosis: its recognition is therefore fundamental since its removal exposes the subjacent lesions to be treated. The fresh clot is coral shaped, bright red and mobile in the blood flow. Established clots are compact and greenish brown. At an advanced stage of atheroma the surface of the occluding clot is covered with a regular straw yellow endothelium. In the presence of a dissecting vessel the fibroscope may be introduced into the false channel, no longer showing typical endothelium but a coagulated mass interspersed with fibrous bands. Prosthetic stenosis result from either intimal hyperplasia or a suturing fault with plication.

[Interventional angioscopy]. / Angioscopie interventionnelle.

Since 1987, routine angioscopic examination has been performed in 191 patients undergoing angioplasty, with interventions (196) after a 2 year surveillance period (55). Angioscopy allowed follow up "de visu" of the performance of angioplasty, details of its mechanism to be precise and under dilatation to be carried out. For femoral artery occlusions it allowed treatment "à la carte": conventional dilatation of vegetating atheroma, specific treatment of established thrombi (5) and abstention from therapy of atheroma covered by endothelium (3). It also enabled fresh thrombi complicating a stenosis or at the origin of a thrombus to be detected. The extraction technique employed (15) is described. It facilitated catheterization by directing the probe, enabled avoidance of bypassing of stenosis and flaps and of dissection or false introduction into collaterals (10). Directed biopsy could be carried out in inflammatory arteritis (7). Vegetating atheromatous lesions could be opened and extracted, facilitating subsequent dilatation and allowing an approach to removal of iliac artery obstructions without major risks of complications (13). Finally, after an ineffective dilatation or the presence of a dissection, it assisted making the decision to introduce a stent (9), the tolerance and outcome of these stents are described. Or the 196 patients considered suitable for angioplasty, our therapeutic conduct was modified by angioscopy in 58 cases (29%). Not simply a new diagnostic tool, it plays a role in interventional vascular techniques.

[Chondrosarcoma of the femur neck simulating a normal variant. A difficult diagnostic pitfall]. / Chondrosarcome du col fémoral simulant une variante de la normale. Un redoutable piège diagnostique.

We report a case of chondrosarcoma of the femoral neck wrongly considered as a normal variant during a long time due to the initial aspect on the plain films and its location. Precise radiological criteria must allow the differential diagnosis and will be detailed.

[Percutaneous angioscopy in the diagnosis of arteriopathies of the lower limbs]. / L'angioscopie percutanée dans le diagnostic des artériopathies des membres inférieurs.

Because of the poor specificity of the arteriography, the authors have performed a percutaneous angioscopy before every angioplasty of the arteries of lower limbs for nearly 3 years. They define the angioscopy and describe materials and technique. The percutaneous route without surgery and without anesthesia underlines the originality of the technique. The great difficulty is to counter-pulse the arterial inflow. The rate of saline irrigation and all the means of arterial blockade are described. In the second part, the "elementary images" are classified. The authors insist on the specificity of the angioscopy in the interpretation of arterial obstructions. Because of this specificity, the right treatment can be applied to any type of lesion. Angioscopy permits to foresee endoluminal surgery technique.

[Femoral angioplasty. Long-term results]. / Les angioplasties fémorales. Résultats à long terme.

A study on the long-term efficacy of femoral-popliteal angioplasty was carried out on 185 angioplasty cases over a 5 year follow-up period. A classification of data according to the type of lesion treated, revealed that results were favorable in case of stenosis (87%), short obstruction (70%) and long obstruction (35%). A special study of the outcome of treatments for stage IV arteritis was carried out. After comparing results with those obtained by other teams, the authors list the complications encountered, hematomas, and thromboses, and show their current tendency for regression. Lastly, the authors stress the advantages of angioscopy, which permits to identify the nature of the treated lesions and to predict possible complications, which are usually underrated by angiography.

[Long-term results of percutaneous transluminal angioplasty of the iliac arteries]. / Résultats à long terme des angioplasties percutanées transluminales des artères iliaques.

A well-mastered technique will cause percutaneous transluminal angioplasty of iliac arteries to achieve long-term results comparable to those obtained surgically. In isolated iliac stenosis, a 95% good result rate is attained (81% cured, 14% improved). More complex cases of iliac stenosis yield 90% good results (72% cure), with a mean Doppler ankle/arm pressure index gain of 0.5 point in a series including 673 patients at 5 years follow-up. Only the presence of combined distal femoral lesions may cause the good result score to drop to 85%, including merely 35% cure. General complications are practically lacking and local complications are minimal, which incites one to propose this technique as a first-line treatment of iliac stenosis whenever distal blood circulation is maintained.

[Angioscopy and angioplasty of the iliac and femoral arteries]. / Angioscopie et angioplastie des artères iliaques et fémorales.

Angioscopy is a technique of endoscopic investigation of the vascular lumen and its contents, which we have coupled with iliac and femoral angioplasty. The material comprises 3 main elements: the angioscope, the TV-monitoring assembly and the infusion system. No complication was recorded in a series of 94 angioscopies (47 iliac, 44 distal femoral and 3 grafts) performed over a period of 18 months. The technical quality of the images obtained was good in 90% of cases (85/94). Angioscopy revealed lesions that had either been nonvisualized or underrated by angiography, and played a determinant role in 16% of cases (15/94), whereby the therapeutical procedure could be modified accordingly.

[Synovial cysts and synovialomas of the lumbar spine. Histo-pathologic and neuro-surgical aspects apropos of 8 cases]. / Kystes synoviaux et synovialomes du rachis lombaire. Aspects histo-pathologiques et neuro-chirurgicaux à propos de 8 observations.

Based on 8 personal cases and a 81-cases review of literature, it's authors' opinion that cystic or solid masses issued form posterior lumbar articular process and called according to the cases synovial cyst, ganglion cyst, benign synovialoma, pigmented villonodular synovitis, are a single variety of benign degeneration of soft articular tissues. The cystic or solid feature of these masses depends upon the extent of their histiocytic granulomatous proliferation. They may be asymptomatic, accompany chronic lumbar pain or cause sciatica, seldom cauda equina syndrome. In case of sciatica, clinical picture rather consists of a narrow lateral recess than a discal protrusion. CT scan is the best investigation to get a right preoperative diagnosis. Postoperative prognosis is excellent and no anatomical recurrence has been reported.

[Myelopathies caused by dorsal spinal canal spondylotic stenosis. 3 cases and a review of the literature]. / Myélopathies par sténose arthrosique du canal rachidien dorsal. 3 observations et revue de la littérature.

Thoracic spondylotic myelopathies are exceptional, only 29 observations could be found in the literature; we intend to describe three new cases here. The patients, two women and one man, 64, 69 and 72 years old, complained of weakness of the lower limbs, more marked on one side, which had been progressing slowly from several months to eight years. Examination revealed asymmetrical paraparesis with distal sensitivity deficits without thoracic sensory level. In the first case, the myelography remained virtually unchanged in front of T11, T12; in the second and third cases, there was slight extradural compression at T9 and T10 respectively. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (M.R.I.) performed in two patients was evocative of a thoracic disk herniation. A chest CT scan enabled us to establish correct diagnosis: in the three cases irregular hypertrophy of the posterior elements was evident at T11 and T12, T9 and T10, T10 and T11 respectively, with osteophytes originating in the articular process and deeply embedded in the spinal canal. Decompressive laminectomy associated with medial facetectomy resulted in the gradual improvement of walking in all three patients. Myelography and MRI are both useful in demonstrating the level compression, usually situated in the low thoracic spine, however only the CT allows differential diagnosis with other etiologies, especially anterior compression such as disk herniation.

[Pitfalls in phlebography]. / Les pièges en phlébographie.

Despite the progress in functional investigation procedures, phlebography remains the standard test in venous disease of the lower extremities. The development of better quality contrast media has significantly improved patients tolerance. After a review of the regular, routine procedure, the authors stress the technic's pitfalls. Uncomplicated pitfalls are air bubbles, Venturi's effect, venous malformations, and superimposed venous axes or gases. This type of problems is easily circumvented. Flow images caused by confluent axes of high-flow veins (internal iliac veins, renal veins) or layer courants (gutter effect) are presented as a reminder. Compression images are often more treacherous: related to normal veins: compression of left iliac vein by aortic junction; of inferior vena cava by enlarged aorta or by osteophyte; tourniquet too low, iliac vein compressed by a dilated bladder; or compression due to intramuscular hematoma,... related to pathological veins: to be mentioned are bridle-caused obstruction of the popliteal vein (Klippel-Trénaunay syndrome), and retroperitoneal fibrosis. Although the present description of phlebography-related pitfalls is neither new, nor exhaustive, it should be reconsidered, as phlebography of the lower limbs, while being currently better tolerated, is still an update technic that needs to be rendered more reliable.

[Lipoma of the spermatic cord. Description of a case and review of the literature]. / Lipome du cordon spermatique. Description d'un cas et revue de la littérature.

The authors analyse a case of fibrolipoma of the spermatic cord. It is the most common entity in the non testicular tumors. Ultrasound imaging has proven his utility. Lipoma is homogeneous, a little hyperechoic compared with the next testicle. But surgically exploration of all solid tumors of the cord is appropriated.

[Subperiosteal chondroma. Diagnostic contribution of x-ray computed tomography. Apropos of 2 cases]. / Chondrome sous-périosté. Contribution diagnostique de la tomodensitométrie. A propos de 2 observations.

Results of CT scan exploration are reported in two cases of subperiosteal chondroma, one in a 4 year old child affecting the anterior tibial tuberosity the other in a 9 year old child involving the upper end of humerus. Data from CT scan imaging were undoubtedly superior to those of conventional radiography and appear to be characteristic of this benign cartilaginous tumor, greatly facilitating correlation between clinical, radiological and pathologic findings. The scanner should allow certain situations to be dedramatized and the surgical attitude adapted when the functional prognosis is involved.

[Spondylodiscitis after surgery of lumbar disk hernia. Apropos of 12 cases in 1796 operations]. / Spondylodiscite après chirurgie de la hernie discale lombaire. A propos de 12 cas sur 1,796 opérés.

Discitis is a rare complication of disc operation. The incidence rate varies from 0.2 to 0.8% according to the series. During a 6 year period (1980-1986) 1,796 patients were operated for lumbar disc protrusion at our institution and twelve of them (0.66%) developed a post operative discitis. Bacteriologic verification due to the infection was ascertained in ten cases. Direct contamination during surgical time is likely far more frequent than hematogenous contamination because the liable germ was staphylococcus in 9 cases. Ascertaining the diagnosis is base upon clinical picture and some selected investigations. It may be earlier than it has been said before. Discitis may be suspected within a week after operation in two cases out of three. The most prominent clinical feature is back pain with muscle spasm but sometimes diagnosis may be misled to a psychiatric condition or a visceral disorder. Among conclusive investigations we range in the first place the needle aspiration of the disc which permitted to isolate a germ nine times out of eleven. Next the bone scan with H.M.D.P. Te 99 (8 Mbq/kg) which revealed a significant uptake pattern in eight cases out of eight. Finally the blood culture which grew five times out of ten. Risks of discitis, i.e septicemia, polysegmental infection or death justify in our opinion an appropriate antibiotherapy during at least 8 weeks. Moreover, in our experience, it is the best antalgic treatment that we can offer and back pain decreases as soon as the second day with antibiotherapy.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Meningioma of the optic canal. Diagnostic aspects apropos of 3 surgically treated cases]. / Méningiomes du canal optique. Réflexions diagnostiques à propos de trois cas opérés.

Three cases of meningiomas originated in the optic nerve sheath in its intra-canalicular portion, have been operated on in Reims since we dispose of the TDM; it gave us the opportunity to re-define the way how to explore an area always difficult to investigate; indeed it has been impossible for a long time to clearly isolate meningiomas in the optic canal through the classical neuro-radiologic technics. The anatomic study confirms that the optic canal orientation is fixed, constantly inclined downward and forward with an angle of minus forty degrees with regard to the horizontal line; our work establishes that it is possible to apply it to the CT scan; in this incidence, TDM perfectly allows to visualize the optic canal and the optic nerve, from the anterior clinoid process to the posterior orbital pole. This incidence seems us to be interesting, in addition to classical neuro-ophthalmic planes, for early diagnosis or supervision of tumors of the optic canal.

[Percutaneous angioscopy of the iliac and femoral arteries]. / L'angioscopie percutanée des artères iliaques et fémorales.

Very few papers about peripheral angioscopy are reported in literature. Percutaneous angioscopy (P.T.A.) of 25 peripheral arteries (21 iliac and 4 femoral arteries) have been performed by the authors without surgery and without anesthesia. Three observations are selected. The first one demonstrates an eccentric stenosis altering its diameter during pulsations; an irregular ulcerated atheroma is observed. The second case shows the signs of a centric atheroma with an intimal fragment. The last one is an intimal dissection due to PTA. The prospective aspects of this new technique are discussed.