Relationship between cervical spinal cord morphometry and clinical disability in patients with multiple sclerosis.

OBJECTIVE: Multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune disease that commonly affects the cervical part of the spinal cord. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between cervical spinal cord atrophy and clinical disability in multiple sclerosis patients. METHODS: We examined the cervical spinal cord area measurements of 64 multiple sclerosis patients and 64 healthy control groups over the images obtained by a T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging device. RESULTS: The C2-3, C3-4, C4-5, and C6-7 axial cross-sectional surface area values of the patient group were statistically lower than those of the control group (p<0.05). A negative correlation was found between patients' Expanded Disability Status Scale scores and C4-5, C5-6, and C6-7 axial area (axial area p<0.05; r1=-0.472, r2=-0.513, and r3=-0.415). CONCLUSION: When all parameters were evaluated, the data of our control group were found to be higher than the multiple sclerosis groups. There appears to be a significant relationship between patients with cervical spinal cord atrophy and an increase in Expanded Disability Status Scale scores.

Relationship between cervical spinal cord morphometry and clinical disability in patients with multiple sclerosis

SUMMARY OBJECTIVE: Multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune disease that commonly affects the cervical part of the spinal cord. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between cervical spinal cord atrophy and clinical disability in multiple sclerosis patients. METHODS: We examined the cervical spinal cord area measurements of 64 multiple sclerosis patients and 64 healthy control groups over the images obtained by a T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging device. RESULTS: The C2-3, C3-4, C4-5, and C6-7 axial cross-sectional surface area values of the patient group were statistically lower than those of the control group (p<0.05). A negative correlation was found between patients' Expanded Disability Status Scale scores and C4-5, C5-6, and C6-7 axial area (axial area p<0.05; r1=-0.472, r2=-0.513, and r3=-0.415). CONCLUSION: When all parameters were evaluated, the data of our control group were found to be higher than the multiple sclerosis groups. There appears to be a significant relationship between patients with cervical spinal cord atrophy and an increase in Expanded Disability Status Scale scores.

Morphometric examination of trigeminal nerve and its adjacent structures in patients with trigeminal neuralgia: a case-control study.

BACKGROUND: Morphological differences that can lead the trigeminal nerve to neurovascular conflict and a new solitary pontine lesion are associated with the pathogenesis of trigeminal neuralgia (TN). In this case-control study, we aimed to contribute to the current discussions about the pathogenesis of TN by investigating the anatomical structures that may have an effect on the morphometric parameters of the trigeminal nerve. METHODS: This study included 25 patients with TN followed up for pain in the Department of Algology, Faculty of Medicine, and 25 age- and gender-matched controls. We performed morphometric measurements including the length and volume of the trigeminal nerve, cerebellopontine cistern, pons, and posterior fossa in the MRIs of these individuals. Comparative analyses were performed for the mean of the affected and unaffected sides of the TN patients and the right, left, and both sides of the control group. RESULTS: In patients with TN, on the affected side, length and volume of the trigeminal nerve and cerebellopontine cistern volume were found smaller than controls (p < 0.05). Pons volume was higher in patients with TN compared to controls (p < 0.05). The length of the affected nerve was significantly related to prepontine cistern length and cerebellopontine cistern volume (p < 0.05). DISCUSSION: The cerebellopontine cistern volume has a significant impact on the morphometric characteristics of the trigeminal nerve. Especially, whether the increase in the volume of pons causes a decrease in the volume of cerebellopontine cistern should be clarified with further research.

Clinical significance of maxillary artery and its branches: a cadaver study and review of the literature / Significado clínico de la arteria maxilar y sus ramas: un estudio en cadáver y la revisión de la literatura

The aim of this study was to investigate the anatomy of the maxillary artery (MA) and its branches. Fourteen sides of Turkish adult cadavers were dissected. The specimens were classified according to the relation between MA and the lateral pterygoid. After the removal of the lateral pterygoid, parts and branches of MA were exposed. We classified the branching patterns of MA in the pterygopalatine fossa. The calibers and lengths of the arteries, and the distance between the zygomatic arch and MA, and between the infratemporal crest and MA were measured. The MA was found superficial to the lateral pterygoid in 57.2 percent. The inferior alveolar artery (IA) was arisen from MA before the middle meningeal artery (MM) in 35.7 percent, after MM in 35.7 percent. The IA and MM were arisen from the same area of MA in 14.3 percent. In other two cases IA was arisen from the beginning of MA (14.3 percent). According to the contours of third portion of MA, we classified "Y" type (50 percent), "intermediate-T" type (14.3 percent), and "M" type (35.7 percent). This reinvestigation of the clinical anatomy of MA may provide useful information to the head and neck surgeons, dentists, neurosurgeons and radiologists related with this region.

El objetivo de este estudio fue investigar la anatomía de la arteria maxilar (AM) y sus ramas. Fueron disecados 14 hemicabezas de cadáveres turcos adultos. Las muestras fueron clasificadas de acuerdo a las relaciones entre AM y el músculo pterigoideo lateral. Después de la eliminación del músculo pterigoideo lateral, las partes y las ramas de AM fueron expuestas. Se clasificaron los patrones de ramificación de la AM en la fosa pterigopalatina. El calibre y la longitud de las arterias, la distancia entre el arco cigomático y la AM , y entre la cresta infratemporal y la AM fueron medidas. La AM se encuentra superficial al músculo pterigoideo lateral en el 57,2 por ciento. La arteria alveolar inferior (AI) se originó desde la AM antes que la arteria meníngea media (MM) en el 35,7 por ciento, y después de ésta en el 35,7 por ciento. La AI y MM se originaron en la misma zona de la AM en el 14,3 por ciento. En otros dos casos la AI se originó desde el inicio de AM (14,3 por ciento). De acuerdo con los contornos de la tercera porción de AM, se clasificaron como tipo "Y" (50 por ciento), tipo "intermedio-T" (14,3 por ciento), y de tipo "M" (35,7 por ciento). Esta investigación de la anatomía clínica de la AM puede proporcionar información útil a los cirujanos de cabeza y cuello, odontólogos, neurocirujanos y radiólogos relacionados con esta región.