MRI appearances of the sphenoid sinus at the late follow-up of trans-sphenoidal surgery for pituitary macroadenoma.

We aimed to demonstrate the appearances of the sphenoid sinus on MRI performed later than 2 years post- transsphenoidal surgery (TSS). We retrospectively reviewed 47 patients in whom follow-up MRI scans had been performed at least 2 years post-TSS. We specifically reviewed the clinical and imaging of those patients in whom the sphenoid sinus was filled with signal abnormality or masses were present arising from the sinus roof and classified them as tumour or indeterminate abnormalities on imaging criteria. We documented other clinicoradiological details. Twelve of 47 patients demonstrated sphenoid sinus filling or sinus roof masses and in six of 12 patients it was possible to classify them as tumourous using imaging and clinical criteria. The indeterminate and non-tumourous sphenoid sinus abnormalities most frequently had a T1-weighted signal similar to subsellar tumour and displayed rim enhancement and thus could not be reliably distinguished from tumourous abnormality on the basis of signal or enhancement characteristics. The presence of a well-defined surgical defect in the sella floor was associated with resolution of abnormality on MRI follow-up. We concluded MRI findings of sphenoid sinus filling or sinus roof masses are present in approximately 26% of scans performed longer than 2 years post-TSS. Half of these are of indeterminate origin and follow-up is required to discriminate tumour from non- tumour with certainty. A well-defined surgical defect in the sella floor is, however, suggestive of a non-tumourous abnormality.

Traumatic basilar pseudoaneurysm with a basilar-cavernous arteriovenous fistula.

A traumatic pseudoaneurysm of the basilar artery with a basilar-cavernous sinus arteriovenous fistula was diagnosed in a 12-year-old girl using CT, MRI and angiography. It was successfully treated by coil embolisation. We speculate on the mode of formation of this rare traumatic lesion.

Thalamic changes with mesial temporal sclerosis: MRI.

We reviewed the preoperative images of 28 patients with pathologically proven mesial temporal sclerosis, to assess thalamic asymmetry and signal change. A further 25 nonsurgical patients with temporal lobe epilepsy and unequivocal, unilateral changes of mesial temporal sclerosis, and 20 controls, were also reviewed. None of the control group had unequivocal asymmetry of the thalamus. There was an ipsilateral asymmetrically small thalamus in five (18%) of the surgical group and in three (12%) of the nonsurgical patients. In four cases there was thalamic signal change. In three patients with thalamic volume loss there was ipsilateral hemiatrophy. All patients with an asymmetrically small thalamus had an asymmetrically small fornix and all but one a small ipsilateral mamillary body.

Intracranial dural empyema.

Intracranial dural empyema is a neurosurgical emergency with potentially devastating complications. The prognosis is adversely affected by delay in diagnosis. Modern imaging techniques, especially contrast enhanced CT and MRI, have improved the speed and accuracy of radiological diagnosis of this condition, with an associated reduction in mortality. Despite this, there may still be a delay in diagnosis, partly owing to the subtlety of early radiological signs, especially on unenhanced CT. We present cases that illustrate some of the radiological manifestations, complications and potential pitfalls in diagnosis.

Intrasphenoid cephalocele: MRI in two cases.

The intrasphenoid form of basal cephalocele is uncommon. We describe the clinical, CT and MRI findings in two cases presenting in middle age with persistent cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhoea. Emphasis is placed upon the imaging findings which aid in discrimination of intrasphenoidal cephalocele from more common causes of a sphenoid sinus mass.

The porous, guidewire-directed, detachable aneurysm liner: a new concept in the endovascular treatment of intracranial aneurysms.

A new device for the endovascular treatment of aneurysms is described. It consists of a guidewire-directed porous liner or bag, detachably mounted on a microcatheter and designed to be inserted into an aneurysm and to be filled with detachable coils or other embolic agents. Several prototypes have been made. Preliminary in vitro and in vivo experiments have demonstrated its behavior in relatively wide-necked aneurysms.

The value of serial Doppler ultrasound as a predictor of clinical outcome and the need for transplantation in fulminant and severe acute liver failure.

The aim of this study was to document the changes in Doppler ultrasound variables of the hepatic artery and portal vein in fulminant and severe acute liver failure, and to assess their prognostic significance. 18 adult patients with fulminant and severe acute liver failure underwent serial Doppler sonography, in the early stages after presentation. 12 hourly measurements of hepatic artery resistance index (HARI), spleen length, portal vein cross-sectional area, time average velocity (TAV) and flow volume were performed. Mean HARI (p = 0.03) and mean maximum HARI (p = 0.03) were significantly higher in those who fulfilled criteria for liver transplantation. Increased portal vein flow was demonstrated, although the difference between the groups was not significant. A significant increase in portal vein cross-sectional area (p < 0.02) and spleen length (p < 0.02) was demonstrated. In summary, an increase in portal blood flow to the damaged liver has been demonstrated. The mean HARI is significantly higher in patients who fulfil transplant criteria and may possibly be used as an indicator of poorer prognosis and the need for liver transplantation in acute severe and fulminant liver failure.

Tentorial dural arteriovenous fistulae: endovascular treatment with transvenous coil embolisation.

Tentorial arteriovenous dural fistulae are uncommon. They are aggressive lesions: of all intracranial dural fistulae they are the most likely to present with haemorrhage. Treatment options include surgical excision or interruption of leptomeningeal draining veins and arterial embolisation in isolation or in combination with surgery. There has been one case report of treatment by percutaneous transvenous coil embolisation. We describe successful transvenous coil embolisation of two tentorial dural fistulae presenting with subarachnoid haemorrhage.

Congenital varicella syndrome: cranial MRI in a long-term survivor.

Congenital varicella syndrome is a rare disorder which follows maternal infection in the first or early second trimester. The syndrome comprises a number of malformations including microcephaly, cortical destruction and limb hypoplasia. We describe a case where there has been long-term survival following second trimester maternal infection. The clinical findings, including the characteristic lower limb hypoplasia, are documented, as are the appearances on cranial MRI indicating an encephaloclastic porencephaly.

Local staging of prostate cancer with 0.2 T body coil MRI.

This study was undertaken to evaluate the accuracy of low field strength body coil MRI in the staging of clinically localized prostate cancer. Fifty-three patients with prostate cancer were examined on a 0.2 T body coil system before undergoing radical prostatectomy. Of the 20 cases with unconfined stage T3 disease on histology, 12 were correctly staged, whilst three cases were overstaged by MRI. (Accuracy 79.2%, sensitivity 60%, and specificity 90.9%.) The accuracy, sensitivity and specificity for the detection of capsular penetration were 77.3%, 55% and 90.9%, respectively, whilst those for seminal vesical invasion were 94.3%, 83.3% and 95.7%, respectively. It is concluded that a high level of staging accuracy, comparable to that obtained in some published studies using high field strength endorectal coil MRI, can be obtained using 0.2 T body coil MRI.

A less toxic regimen of 5-fluorouracil and high-dose folinic acid for advanced gastrointestinal adenocarcinomas.

The combination of high-dose folinic acid with 5-fluorouracil has shown improved response rates in several trials in advanced colorectal carcinoma. This however is at the expense of increased toxicity: regimens using weekly bolus injections produce diarrhoea in most patients and occasional toxic deaths from this, whilst those using daily injections for one week in four report both diarrhoea and severe oral mucositis. Both types of regimen have significant rates of myelosuppression. A recent report described a different schedule of 5-fluorouracil and folinic acid, which appeared better tolerated but equally active (De Gramont et al., 1988). Here we report results using the same programme, in 64 patients with advanced adenocarcinomas. (Forty three colorectal, ten gastric, six pancreatic and five of unknown primary.) Patients received 200 mg m-2 folinic acid by infusion over 2 h followed by an IV bolus of 5-fluorouracil 400 mg m-2 then an infusion of 5-fluorouracil 400 mg m-2 over 22 h. This was repeated over the next 24 h. The schedule was given every 2 weeks for a total of six to 12 courses depending upon the response. The overall response rate was 26% in 62 evaluable patients. No toxicity greater than WHO Grade II occurred. Diarrhoea and mucositis did occur in around 10% of treatments but were not troublesome. No febrile neutropenic episodes were seen. Despite previous reports which described only modest activity for this combination against stomach cancers, this regimen demonstrates low toxicity but retains good activity in the palliative treatment of both gastric and colonic adenocarcinomas.