ABSTRACT
We report on ciliary aplasia of the respiratory tract, a rare disorder of the mucociliary apparatus, that is insufficiently recognized as a distinct entity. A culture method for ciliogenesis was developed by our laboratory and offers the advantage of studying cilia free of secondary changes associated with infection. Three cases of primary ciliary aplasia were documented histologically in direct biopsy specimens and also in biopsy specimens cultured specifically for ciliogenesis. Primary ciliary aplasia should be differentiated from secondary ciliary aplasia in which basal bodies are present and ciliogenesis takes place in specific culture. Only hereditary ciliary abnormalities are expressed in cell cultures. We critically review the cases of ciliary aplasia reported to date.
Subject(s)
Ciliary Motility Disorders/pathology , Respiratory System/cytology , Respiratory Tract Diseases/pathology , Bronchi/ultrastructure , Child , Cilia/ultrastructure , Epithelium/ultrastructure , Female , Humans , Microscopy, Electron , Mucociliary Clearance , Nasal Mucosa/ultrastructureABSTRACT
Transient synovitis of the hip remains a common diagnostic problem for the clinician. The physical signs are not pathognomonic of the condition, and the classic technical examinations are of little help. Therefore, the authors retrospectively studied the value of hip arthrosonography in 46 children with clinical symptoms suggesting pathologic hip conditions. In 20 of the 21 patients with a final diagnosis of transient synovitis, articular effusion was detected on ultrasound (US). Conventional radiography showed an increased medial joint space in only eight of these patients. Increased echogenicity of the articular fluid was found in both transient synovitis and septic arthritis. The high sensitivity of US in detecting intraarticular fluid was demonstrated by cadaver studies.
