Archives of pathology & laboratory medicine
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Arch. Pathol. Lab. Med. · Dec 2003
Autopsy-based assessment of extent and type of osteomyelitis in advanced-grade sacral decubitus ulcers: a histopathologic study.
Decubitus ulcers constitute a serious medical problem, often encountered in association with hospitalization or institutionalization in senior citizens' or nursing homes. Potentially life-threatening sepsis has been reported to originate not only from soft tissue infection, but also from osteomyelitis as a complication of involvement of bone tissue in decubitus ulcers. ⋯ Our results provide evidence that in cases of grade IV decubitus ulcers, the macroscopic aspect and clinical imaging techniques may lead to an overestimation of the extent of osseous involvement. We suggest that the investigation of bone biopsies is not necessary in a considerable proportion of cases of grade IV decubitus ulcers in patients without sepsis, as the minor osseous alterations are of little consequence when establishing a therapeutic approach.
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Arch. Pathol. Lab. Med. · Oct 2003
Schnabel cavernous degeneration: a vascular change of the aging eye.
Schnabel cavernous degeneration is a histologic finding originally attributed to glaucoma; however, its cause and significance have been controversial. ⋯ Schnabel cavernous optic atrophy appears to be a unilateral condition of elderly women with systemic vascular disease and few characteristic ocular features. Our data indicate that a chronic vascular occlusive disease of the proximal optic nerve is more involved in cavernous atrophic pathogenesis than is a sustained increase of intraocular pressure.