The application of Mechanical Diagnosis and Therapy and changes on MRI findings in a patient with cervical radiculopathy.

Cervical radiculopathy is an unusual presentation for patients with neck pain. Its diagnosis and management is uncertain. This case report presents an example of a patient with cervical radiculopathy who responded to Mechanical Diagnosis and Therapy, and whose MRI findings changed over time.

Postpartum bilateral transient osteoporosis of the hip: MR imaging findings in three cases.

PURPOSE: Transient osteoporosis of the hip (TOH), associated with pregnancy, is a self-limiting skeletal disorder affecting women, usually in the third trimester, which resolves spontaneously within few months postpartum. Bilateral involvement is rare. Involvement postpartum has not been described. We report three patients with postpartum presentation of bilateral TOH. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Three pregnant women who presented with acute bilateral hip pain just after delivering their first child are reported. None of them had any past history of joint problems, recent injury, alcohol abuse or corticosteroid administration. Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging examinations were performed on 1.5-Tesla magnets using standard protocols. RESULTS: Bone marrow oedema, with normal joint space and intact articular surfaces, was depicted in all six hips. MR imaging findings with clinical correlation confirmed the diagnosis of TOH. CONCLUSIONS: TOH associated with pregnancy does not necessarily occur in the third trimester of pregnancy and may be bilateral.

Percutaneous metallic self-expandable endoprostheses in biliary obstruction caused by metastatic cancer.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Up to now, all reports about metallic stents concerned mostly patients with obstructive jaundice due to primary cancer although some of these series included a small number of patients with metastatic disease as a cause of occlusion of the bile ducts. The question of whether they should be used in patients with biliary obstruction due to metastatic disease, and consequently have a limited life expectancy, is investigated. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between January 1994 and April 1995, we inserted percutaneously 20 metallic self-expandable endoprostheses in 14 patients with obstructive jaundice due to metastatic disease. RESULTS: Twelve patients died with a mean survival of 144.6 (range 25-338) days without any evidence of biliary reobstruction. For 2 patients, we have followup no longer than 30 days. Thirty day mortality was 7.2% (1/14). Jaundice reoccurred in one patient but wasn't related to stent obstruction, and he died during the first 30 days. We had 2 cases with moderate hemobilia. CONCLUSION: We believe that the use of metal stents in patients with obstructive jaundice due to metastatic disease is justified. Their high initial cost is offset by their prolong patency, decreased complication rate and shorter hospitalization.