Malignant lesions presenting as symptoms of craniomandibular dysfunction.

Three cases of carcinoma, seen in a head/neck pain management practice during the past 2 years and presenting as craniomandibular dysfunction symptoms, are reported. Clinicians should always consider a differential diagnosis because of the variety of potential causes of the symptoms presented by the patient. These symptoms act as clues to help to differentiate between a routine or "evil" process. The need for imaging and remaining, when the clinical symptoms do not correlate with the clinical examination through established guidelines for craniomandibular dysfunction or head/neck pain, is of paramount importance.

Conservative surgical management of placental implantation site hemorrhage.

BACKGROUND: Our purpose is to show that a simple, conservative, fertility-preserving surgical technique can be used to control postpartum hemorrhage from a hypotonic placental implantation site. CASE: Postpartum hemorrhage from a hypotonic placental implantation site at cesarean delivery was treated with surgical excision of the hypotonic segment, resulting in immediate cessation of the bleeding when other measures had failed. The patient's postoperative course was uneventful. The uterus and adjacent vascular structures were evaluated with magnetic resonance imaging studies at 4 weeks postpartum and were free of abnormality. CONCLUSION: Simple excision of a hypotonic bleeding site may be desirable and practical when fertility preservation is desired.

Corticosteroid hormonal influence on cranial computerized tomography: observations in the Rhesus monkey.

Six adult male Rhesus monkeys (T), treated with 0.5 mg/kg dexamethasone for 106 days, and 6 weight-watched controls (U), were studied postmortem with pathologic examination and cranial computerized tomography (CT). Cortical atrophy, as defined by perisulcal atrophy and ventricular dilatation, was found in 50% of each group, but marked changes were noted only among T. Adrenal, brain, and body weights were all lower among T (p less than 0.05). No significant histopathologic abnormalities were found. Our data suggest that CT changes of cortical atrophy may be caused by corticosteroid hormones alone, but are inconsistent and probably dependent upon individual susceptibility to the effects of corticosteroids.

Computerized tomography in evaluation of atlantoaxial subluxation in rheumatoid arthritis.

Nineteen patients with rheumatoid C1-C2 subluxation of greater than or equal to 5mm were studied by computerized tomography (CT). CT demonstration of spinal cord compression as defined by loss of posterior subarachnoid space was present in 11/19 (CT+) and absent in 8/19 (CT-). Fourteen patients were examined by a blinded neurologist. Cord compression by CT correlated better with clinical neurologic status than did routine radiographic studies. Absent superficial abdominal reflexes and history of bladder dysfunction correlated highly with cord compression by CT. Two CT+ patients developed neurologic deterioration requiring spinal fusion. Our data suggest that CT is a useful, noninvasive adjunct in management of patients with rheumatoid C1-C2 subluxation.

Left atrial myxoma: computed tomography as a diagnostic modality.

The workup of left atrial myxomas has variably ranged from a physical examination, laboratory tests, and echocardiography to the invasive modalities of angiography and cardiac surgery. We propose that computed tomography (CT) be considered a sensitive, noninvasive adjuvant in the diagnosis of these tumors. This report describes successful utilization of CT imaging in one such case of proven left atrial myxoma.