ABSTRACT
Postpartum methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection occurs in patients with complicated vaginal delivery or cesarean section. The infection can manifest as mastitis, endometritis, and if untreated may lead to toxic shock syndrome. We report a case of postpartum MRSA osteomyelitis diagnosed by 99mtechnetium-methylene diphosphonate skeletal scintigraphy and single-photon emission computed tomography-computed tomography (CT) that was further confirmed by magnetic resonance imaging and CT-guided biopsy. This multimodal imaging approach helped reach the diagnosis and in further management of the patient.
ABSTRACT
Melioidosis is an emerging infectious disease in India. The disease has a crippling effect on the patient owing to its widespread dissemination and complications post bacteremia. The role of 18-fluorine-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET-CT) is becoming increasingly important in terms of documenting the extent of disease and response to treatment. Herein, we present cases of two patients who were referred for a whole-body 18F-FDG PET-CT scan with a history of long-standing fever that went undiagnosed. 18F-FDG PET-CT scan was performed to evaluate pyrexia of unknown origin. A conclusion was reached after blood culture which showed the growth of Burkholderia pseudomallei - which is considered to be the cause of this rare but debilitating disease.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the role of Tc-99m TRODAT-1 Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT) in Parkinson's Disease (PD) by assessing the correlation of clinical disease severity, disease duration and age at onset of disease with specific uptake ratio of Tc-99m TRODAT-1 in striatum. METHODS: The study included 63 patients in age range of 40-72 years with clinical diagnosis of PD and nine controls. Clinical history of patients was obtained regarding age at onset of disease and disease duration. Disease severity in each patient was assessed using H and Y stage and UPDRS. Tc-99m TRODAT-1 SPECT was performed and specific uptake ratios were calculated for six regions in bilateral striata, caudate nuclei and putamina. Difference in specific uptake ratios between different stages of disease was analyzed for statistical significance. Specific uptake ratios were correlated with UPDRS, motor score of UPDRS, duration of disease and age at onset of disease using Pearson's correlation co-efficient. RESULTS: Median specific uptake ratio was found to be least in contralateral putamen for all H and Y stages. There was a statistically significant difference between specific uptake ratios of controls vs stage 1, stage 1 vs 2, 1 vs 3, 1 vs 4, and 2 vs 4 for all 6 regions. The difference in uptake ratio between 3 and 4 H and Y stages was significant only for contralateral regions. There was no significant difference in uptake ratio between 2 and 3 H and Y stages. The uptake ratios showed a strong negative correlation with UPDRS and motor score, a weak negative correlation with duration of disease and no significant correlation with age at onset of disease. CONCLUSION: We conclude that Tc-99m TRODAT-1 SPECT can be used to assess the disease severity in PD patients.
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Cherubism, a rare hereditary fibro-osseous lesion characterized by painless expansion of jaws, starts early in life manifesting itself fully in the second decade of life and is almost regressed in the third decade. Here, we report a sporadic case of Cherubism with clinico-radiological and scintigraphic presentation of its classical features for its disease rarity and single-photon emission computed tomography/computed tomography findings with review the literature.
ABSTRACT
Silicone implant incompatibility syndrome (SIIS) has been identified as a cause of systemic symptoms such as lymphadenopathy, myalgia, and dyspnea in patients with silicone implants. We present a case of 76-year-old female patient, treated for carcinoma left breast with mastectomy and silicone breast implant, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy 42 years ago. There was a history of implant rupture and removal 2 years ago. The patient presented with right axillary swelling and dyspnea. 18-fluorine fluoro-deoxy-glucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (F-18 FDG PET-CT) showed mildly FDG-avid left anterior chest wall and right rectus abdominis deposits, multiple lymph nodes, and low-grade FDG-avid pneumonitis changes in both lungs. Biopsy from the chest wall and rectus abdominis deposit was negative for malignancy and revealed foamy histiocytes and foreign-body giant cell reaction, indicative of SIIS. SIIS is a mimic for metastases and should be considered as a differential diagnosis in FDG PET-CT interpretation in patients with silicone breast implant.
ABSTRACT
PURPOSE OF STUDY: The purpose is to evaluate the findings and utility of esophageal transit scintigraphy (ETS) and gastroesophageal reflux scintigraphy (GES) in patients presenting with upper respiratory tract (URT) symptoms suspected to be due to gastroesophageal reflux (GER) disease. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty patients aged between 19 and 60 years underwent nasopharyngolaryngoscopy (NPL), ETS, and GES. Correlation between GER, esophageal motility, and NPL was evaluated. Inclusion criteria include patients with recurrent URT symptoms such as chronic dry cough/hoarseness of voice and itching/foreign body sensation in throat. Those with typical gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms of GER, URT symptoms relieved by antibiotics, surgical intervention in abdomen, cardiac/hepatobiliary diseases, etc. were excluded from the study. RESULTS: Significant correlation was found between GER and NPL in 28/30 patients. More the grade of reflux, more severe was the NPL findings. Two patients with Grade II reflux had normal NPL suggesting structural inflammatory changes due to acidic pH of refluxate which have not yet manifested or symptoms could be due to nonacid refluxate. Incidence of esophageal motility disorder was statistically significant in patients with GER disease (GERD). Patients who had symptoms, but no demonstrable GER showed delayed ET in supine position suggesting the presence of esophageal motility disorder even before GERD. CONCLUSION: GES demonstrated GER in patients presenting with URT symptoms without typical GI symptoms. ETS showed coexistence of esophageal motility disorder in most patients presenting with URT symptoms even without an associated reflux disease. We hypothesize that primary abnormal esophageal motility leads to delayed esophageal clearance and consequently to URT symptoms. Addition of ETS to GES is easily feasible with no significant additional cost, time, or radiation burden.
