ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to measure the height and volume of the bony part of the posterior cranial fossa (PCF) and the surface area of the foramen magnum (FM) using computed tomography (CT) scans and to correlate our clinical findings with the available current literature. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted in a tertiary care referral hospital in the Southern part of India during the period from January 2015 to August 2015. A total of 100 CT scans of the suspected head injury patients were collected retrospectively form the basis for this study. The height, volume of PCF and the anteroposterior (AP), transverse diameter, and surface area of the FM were measured. The values of all parameters were subjected to statistical analysis using SPSS version 16. RESULTS: The age of the patients were ranged between 18 and 70 years with the mean age of 41.22 ± 13.93 years. The dimensions of the posterior fossa and FM were larger in males compared to females. The mean height of the posterior fossa was 38.08 (±4.718) mm (P = 0.0001), and the mean volume of the posterior fossa was 157.23 (±6.700) mm3 (P = 0.0001). The mean AP, transverse diameter, and the surface area of the FM were 33.13 (± 3.286) mm, 29.01 (± 3.081) mm, and 763.803 (±138.276) mm2, respectively. CONCLUSION: The normal dimensions of the posterior fossa and FM were less in females than males and were useful to radiologists and neurosurgeons to better their diagnostic inferences, as well as to determine the proper treatment options in Chiari malformation type I (CMI) and other posterior fossa anomalies. The posterior fossa tissue volume can be reliably measured in patients with CMI using our method. More studies were required because there were variations in dimensions among individuals of different races in different regions of the world.
ABSTRACT
Complete agenesis of the dorsal pancreas (ADP) is an exceedingly rare congenital anomaly, compatible with life. The first case was reported in 1911 and so far around 100 cases have been reported in the world literature. Majority of the patients with this anomaly are asymptomatic or associated with abdominal pain, hyperglycemia, diabetes mellitus, and acute or chronic pancreatitis. We present a case report of a 34-year-old male with ADP, diagnosed incidentally during radiological evaluation for abdominal pain. Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography confirmed the absence of neck, body, and tail of the pancreas along with duct of Santorini and the minor duodenal papilla. Because of its rarity of occurrence, clinical awareness of the ADP can expand the differential diagnosis and improve patient management in pertinent light of the world literature.
ABSTRACT
Acardiac-acephalic twin is one of the bizarre complications of monozygotic, monochorionic twin pregnancies. It is commonly referred to as Twin Reversed Arterial Perfusion (TRAP) sequence, in which the primary malformation is the lack of a well-defined cardiac structure in one twin (acardiac), which is kept alive by its structurally normal co-twin (pump twin) through abnormal placental vascular anastomosis. The anomalous twin appears as a heterogenous mass simulating a teratoma, with absence of head, neck and upper limbs. Thoracic organs are either absent or underdeveloped. The majority of the acardiac twins are of female sex and have no chance of survival, and more than 50% of the fetuses have some chromosomal anomalies. The perinatal mortality rate of pump twin may be as high as 50 - 75%, mainly due to polyhydramnios, preterm labor and high-output cardiac failure. The diagnosis of the TRAP sequence can be established as early as 9th week by regular gray-scale ultrasonography and transvaginal Doppler ultrasonography. Assessment of extent of cardiac failure in the pump fetus and timing of the delivery are the key factors in the pregnancy management and in the survival of the normal co-twin. The majority of the pregnancies are managed conservatively, but in a minority group a minimally invasive procedure was needed to arrest the vascular anastomosis to improve the outcome of pump twins. The case presented here reports on an acardiac-acephalic twin; it describes variable clinical presentations, pathophysiology and treatment modalities. It also reviews pertinent literature
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