Epstein-Barr virus reactivation-related meningoencephalitis with transverse myelitis in pregnancy.

Key Clinical Message: Consider the differential of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) reactivation in pregnant women who develop progressive meningoencephalitis and transverse myelitis. EBV nucleic acid amplification should be considered in immunosuppressed patients. Abstract: A 32-year-old G10P6M3K22 pregnant female presented to a regional hospital with progressive severe neurological and behavioral deficits. Magnetic resonance revealed cervical transverse myelitis. Lumbar puncture confirmed Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) DNA on a background of IgG-positive EBV serology. A diagnosis of EBV reactivation-related meningoencephalitis with transverse myelitis in pregnancy was concluded.

Identifying the site for intercostal catheter insertion in the emergency department: is clinical examination reliable?

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether ED doctors, comprising both consultants and registrars, can accurately identify the 4th or 5th intercostal space (ICS), commonly used for intercostal catheter insertion. METHODS: An observational study was designed using a sample of ED doctors applying their clinical skills to a convenience sample of patients reflecting a heterogeneous mix of ED patients. Patients already receiving a CXR in our ED were examined by a registrar or consultant who placed a radiopaque marker on the patients' chest wall over the site they determined to be the 4th or 5th ICS. Consultant radiologists reported the marker's position from postero-anterior projection CXRs, and results were analysed comparing consultants with registrars, right to left hemithoraces and male to female patients. RESULTS: ED doctors participating in the present study placed the marker over the 4th or 5th ICS 36.2% of the time, with no significant difference between consultant and registrar groups, nor right or left hemithoraces. Accuracy was improved in female patients compared with male patients. CONCLUSION: Emergency registrars and consultants sampled from a regional ED appeared unable to reliably identify the 4th or 5th ICS, as evidenced by marker position, in a heterogeneous patient population.

Atypical Duret haemorrhages seen on computed tomography.

We present a case of 80-year-old man who had headache of 1 day duration and gross subdural haemorrhage in the absence of any history of noticeable trauma, leading to descending transtentorial herniation and secondary brain stem haemorrhages called Duret haemorrhages. It is rare to find a Duret haemorrhage on imaging. This case has been presented to highlight the rarity of the condition and the unusual posterior location of the bleed and also the universally fatal nature of these haemorrhages. Relevant literature is reviewed.

Tissue harmonic imaging in the evaluation of acute pancreatitis.

To evaluate the role of tissue harmonic imaging (THI) in acute pancreatitis, and to compare its findings with conventional grey-scale sonography and contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CECT) scan, we evaluated 25 patients diagnosed with acute pancreatitis on clinical examination and laboratory findings. Conventional grey-scale ultrasound followed by tissue harmonic sonography was done on the same machine followed by a CECT within 12 h of the ultrasound examination. The present study showed that sonograms obtained with THI were of much better quality than those obtained conventionally, especially for the pancreatic tail. The benefits of harmonic imaging were more apparent in obese patients and in others whose body habitus was unfavourable for sonography. In the assessment of pancreatic image quality, grey-scale imaging had an accuracy of 60, 80 and 28% in relation to the head, body and tail, respectively. In comparison, THI had a far higher accuracy of 80, 92 and 60% in relation to the head, body and tail, respectively, with the superiority being most obvious in the pancreatic tail region. There were no cases in which tissue harmonic sonography provided less information than conventional sonography. However, CECT scan remained the best modality in all patients for the evaluation of acute pancreatitis. It showed superior demonstration of all the morphological changes, ranging from minimal pancreatic oedema to extensive fluid collections, necrosis and the haemorrhage that developed in fulminant severe pancreatitis. Our experience thus suggests that THI cannot replace CT scan as the gold standard in the assessment of acute pancreatitis, as it is poor in evaluating the pancreatic tail, cannot clearly distinguish phlegmon from necrosis, and is inferior to CT in the assessment of the complications of acute pancreatitis.

Torsion of a wandering spleen: acute abdominal presentation.

Torsion of a wandering spleen is a rare but fulminant condition and is part of the differential diagnosis in patients presenting with acute abdominal pain. It results due to absence or laxity of the various ligaments supporting the spleen. Patients may be asymptomatic or may present with acute abdominal pain. It may occur in people of all ages, with a predilection for male patients under 10 years of age and for female patients in older age groups, being most common in multiparous women. Early intervention is necessary to reduce the risk of splenic infarction and other complications. An awareness of the condition together with use of appropriate medical imaging can lead to the correct diagnosis.

MRI of perforated gall bladder.

Gall bladder perforation is a dreaded complication of acute cholecystitis that, if not diagnosed early in the course, might have a poor prognosis. Both CT and ultrasonography have been used until now extensively for the diagnosis of acute cholecystitis, but diagnosis of perforation is always difficult. Magnetic resonance, by its superior soft tissue resolution and multiplanar capability, is a better modality and should fare better than ultrasonography and CT, as demonstrated in our case. Magnetic resonance imaging demonstrates the wall of the gall bladder and defects to a much better advantage and more convincingly. In addition, MR colangiopancreatography images demonstrate the biliary tree better than other modalities. We suggest that in the case of acute cholecystitis, if perforation is suspected and CT and ultrasonography are not conclusive, MR should be the modality of choice. It can be used as a first line of investigation; however, it might not be cost-effective.

Role of sonography in the diagnosis of gallbladder perforation.

PURPOSE: Gallbladder perforation is a dreaded complication of acute cholecystitis that is associated with a high mortality rate. Early detection of gallbladder perforation reduces the associated mortality and morbidity rates. The purpose of this study was to highlight the role of sonography in the diagnosis of gallbladder perforation and to compare the diagnostic accuracy of sonography with that of CT. METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated the sonographic and CT findings in surgically proven cases of gallbladder perforation. RESULTS: In 18 of 23 cases, both sonography and CT had been performed; in the other 5 cases, only sonography had been performed. Sonography helped to diagnose the defect in the gallbladder wall and gallbladder perforation in 16 (70%) of 23 patients. In the 18 cases in which both sonography and CT had been performed, sonography showed the wall defect in 11 cases (61%), whereas CT was diagnostic in 14 cases (78%). The difference between sonography and CT in the ability to visualize a defect in the gallbladder wall was not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: Sonography is useful for diagnosing gallbladder perforation and detecting the defect in the gallbladder wall. We believe that sonography should be the first-line imaging modality for evaluating the patients in these cases.