Maternal group B streptococcal vertebral osteomyelitis: an unusual complication of vaginal delivery.

A 42-year-old woman developed severe neck pain 20 hours postpartum. She had cervical spondylitis from an accident 15 years earlier. An elevated sedimentation rate was the only abnormal laboratory finding. Vertebral osteomyelitis was diagnosed by magnetic resonance imaging 12 days postpartum. She underwent radical debridement of C5 and C6 with anterior fusion because of neurologic deterioration and extensive vertebral destruction. A posterior fusion was performed 7 days later for additional stabilization. Group B streptococci were cultured from the debridement tissue. The patient received 8 weeks of intravenous antibiotics. Residual disability at 3 months involved minimal dysesthesia of all extremities.

Magnetic resonance imaging of hemorrhagic cerebral infarction.

A comparative study between magnetic resonance (MR) and computed tomography (CT) showed MR to be more sensitive than CT for detecting subacute and chronic hemorrhage into cerebral infarction. The hemorrhage appeared as either high signal on T1 weighted images or low signal on T2 weighted images, depending on the age of the hemorrhage. Cortical hemorrhagic infarction showed a characteristic gyral pattern. Methemoglobin and hemosiderin served as markers of previous hemorrhage into cerebral infarcts.

Accuracy of scanning, angiography and encephalography in posterior fossa tumors.

A material of 120 cases with posterior fossa tumors examined with scanning, vertebral angiography and encephalography was reviewed to determine the value of the information and accuracy these methods provide. Encephalography was the most accurate procedure (98% positive) compared to angiography (81%) and scanning (44%).