Journal of the Chinese Medical Association : JCMA
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Comparative Study
Detection of subarachnoid hemorrhage at acute and subacute/chronic stages: comparison of four magnetic resonance imaging pulse sequences and computed tomography.
Acute subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) has traditionally been diagnosed by computed tomography (CT); however, fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) is a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) modality currently used to detect acute SAH. CT is insensitive in the detection of subacute or chronic SAH. The purpose of this study was to compare 4 MRI pulse sequences and CT in the detection of SAH in acute and subacute-to-chronic stages. ⋯ FLAIR and GE T2* MRI pulse sequences, and CT scans, are all statistically significant indicators of acute SAH. GE T2*-weighted images are statistically significant indicators of subacute-to-chronic SAH, whereas other MRI pulse sequences, and CT scans, are not.
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Civilian gunshot wounds to the brain are relatively rare, and a much-neglected subject in Taiwan. We present our experience with 16 patients who sustained gunshot wounds to the brain, and then identify factors determining the respective outcomes. ⋯ GCS score on admission, and the extent of brain injury as visualized by CT scan, seem to be the 2 most significant predictors of outcome in cranio-cerebral gunshot wounds. Patients with a GCS score of more than 8, or brain lesions limited to a single lobe of the brain, may benefit from aggressive management.
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Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) is an emerging viral infectious disease. We report our experience in treating SARS patients. ⋯ All patients with probable SARS who were admitted to hospital presented with fever and lymphopenia. While the efficacy of different treatments could not be evaluated from this retrospective study, a higher value of C-reactive protein was associated with the development of respiratory failure and subsequent intubation.