Telltale signs of peripheral neurogenic tumors on magnetic resonance imaging.

Peripheral nerve sheath tumors are categorized into benign and malignant forms, comprising of neurofibroma and schwannoma in the benign category and malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors in the malignant category. Magnetic resonance imaging plays an important role in the diagnosis of these lesions. The various imaging features and signs that help to identify and characterize a nerve sheath tumor are, distribution of the tumor along a major nerve, an entering or exiting nerve sign, target sign, a fascicular sign and a split-fat sign.

Comparative study of dentascan and radiography for radiological evaluation of impacted teeth.

INTRODUCTION: Impacted teeth present a very common problem in dentistry due to the variable numbers of problems they cause. They have previously been imaged by radiography which is very inaccurate. Dental CT is an upcoming modality which very accurately images the teeth. AIM: The aim of our study was to compare the efficacy of Dental CT with radiography in assessing the morphology of the impacted tooth and its relation to adjacent structures. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted a hospital based prospective study in which all patients with impacted teeth who underwent Dental CT and Radiographic evaluation were evaluated. RESULTS: The morphology of all the teeth was well visualized on CT. Resorption of adjacent tooth was missed in 7 teeth by radiography. In a significant number of cases (10/30) the relation of the impacted tooth with the mandibular canal could not be visualized on the radiographs. CONCLUSION: We concluded that Dental CT yields markedly better information than radiographs regarding impacted teeth with respect to divergence of the roots, relation of the impacted tooth with the adjacent tooth, nasal floor, maxillary sinus and mandibular canal. However, Dental CT was found to be only marginally better than Radiographs for assessment of number of roots, inclination of the impacted tooth and relation of the tooth with alveolar crest. Dental CT was also proved to be an indispensable diagnostic tool for the determination of the buccolingual inclination and relationsof the impacted tooth.

Doppler evaluation of ocular vessels in patients with primary open angle glaucoma.

PURPOSE: To assess ocular blood flow in patients with primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) with or without progressive visual field loss in comparison with controls. METHODS: Color Doppler imaging was performed on 78 eyes with established POAG (25 with progressive visual field loss and 53 with stable visual field) and 78 control eyes. Peak systolic velocity, end diastolic velocity (EDV), and resistance index (RI) were measured in the ophthalmic (OA), central-retinal, and medial and lateral posterior ciliary arteries. RESULTS: Peak systolic velocity and EDV were lower and RI was higher in the ocular vessels of eyes with POAG (p < .01). The OA and medial posterior ciliary arteries RI was higher, and the OA EDV was lower in glaucomatous eyes with progressive than with stable visual field loss. The receiver operating characteristic curve showed the optimal cutoff RI to be 0.847. CONCLUSIONS: Ocular blood flow appears compromised in eyes with POAG, particularly in those with progressive visual field loss.

Quantitative and qualitative bowel analysis using mannitol, water and iodine-based endoluminal contrast agent on 64-row detector CT.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the performance of mannitol as a luminal contrast as compared to water and positive contrast in evaluation of bowel on multidetector computed tomography (MDCT). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Three hundred patients were randomly selected for this study and were divided equally into three groups. Each subject received 1500 ml of oral contrast. Group 1 received 3% mannitol in water, group 2 received diluted iodinated positive contrast, and group 3 received plain water without additives. Qualitative and quantitative analysis for distension, fold visibility, and overall image quality were analyzed by actual diameter measurement and point scale system at different bowel levels. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by Tukey's HSD Post-hoc test and Pearson's Chi-square (exact test) test were applied. RESULTS: Group 1 showed better results for small bowel distension, intraluminal homogeneity, and visibility of mucosal folds on quantitative and qualitative analysis with statistically significant P value (P<0.001). The ileo-caecal junction distension and mural feature visibility was better with mannitol (P < 0.001). No significant difference in distension of stomach and duodenum was found between the three groups. CONCLUSION: Mannitol as endoluminal contrast increases the diagnostic accuracy of the investigative studies in comparison to water and iodine-based contrast by producing significantly better bowel distension and visibility of mural features with improved image quality without additional adverse effects.

Bifid mandibular condyles: report of four cases.

UNLABELLED: Anatomic variations in the condylar morphology, like bifid mandibular condyles, are a relatively uncommon anomaly. We report four cases (two in patients and two in archived specimens) of bifid mandibular condyles with emphasis on their aetiopathogenesis and radiographic features. A case of bifid mandibular condyles in a patient with rheumatoid arthritis is reported which, to the best of our knowledge, is the first reported case in the literature. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Anatomical variations, like bifid mandibular condyles, may mimic a fracture/tumour. Therefore, knowledge and awareness about this entity is important for a general dental practitioner.