AJNR. American journal of neuroradiology
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AJNR Am J Neuroradiol · Nov 2005
Comparative StudyIncidence of vertebral artery thrombosis in cervical spine trauma: correlation with severity of spinal cord injury.
The incidence of blunt traumatic vertebral artery dissection/thrombosis varies widely in published trauma series and is associated with spinal trauma. The purpose of this study was to determine the frequency of traumatic vertebral artery thrombosis (VAT) in cervically injured patients by using routine MR angiography (MRA) and MR imaging and identify associations with the severity of neurologic injury. ⋯ The absence of neurologic symptoms in a patient with cervical spine fracture does not preclude VAT. VAT associated with cervical spinal injury occurs with similar frequency in both neurologically intact (ASIA E) and motor-incomplete patients (ASIA C and D) but is significantly more common in motor-complete SCI (ASIA A and B).
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AJNR Am J Neuroradiol · Nov 2005
Comparative StudyStructural, immunocytochemical, and mr imaging properties of periventricular crossroads of growing cortical pathways in preterm infants.
Periventricular white matter (WM) areas are widely recognized as predilection sites for complex cellular damage after ischemia/reperfusion or inflammatory injury of the perinatal cerebrum. We analyzed histochemical and MR imaging properties of fiber architectonics and extracellular matrix (ECM) of periventricular areas to disclose the potential significance of topographically specific WM lesions for the neurodevelopmental outcome. ⋯ The correlation of MR imaging with histochemical findings demonstrated the presence of periventricular fiber crossroads rich in ECM and axonal guidance molecules. We propose that, in perinatal WM lesions, periventricular WM crossroads represent a hitherto unrecognized and vulnerable cellular and topographic target in which combined damage of association-commissural and projection fibers may explain the complexity of cognitive, sensory, and motor deficit in survivors of periventricular WM lesions.
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AJNR Am J Neuroradiol · Nov 2005
Comparative StudyEvaluation of the upper airway cross-sectional area changes in different degrees of severity of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome: cephalometric and dynamic CT study.
The upper airway lumen is narrower in patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) than normal subjects. In this study, we examined changes of the upper airway cross-sectional area in each phase of respiration in different degrees of severity of OSAS with dynamic CT and investigated whether these changes have any correlation with sleep apnea severity parameters, including polysomnography (PSG) and cephalometry. ⋯ Patients with severe OSAS had significant differences in the parameters. Measurement of the cross-sectional area of oropharynx in expiration can especially be useful for diagnosis of severe OSAS as a new key point.
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AJNR Am J Neuroradiol · Nov 2005
Review Case ReportsDe novo development of a remote arteriovenous fistula following transarterial embolization of a carotid cavernous fistula: case report and review of the literature.
We report a case of a patient who developed a remote dural arteriovenous fistula involving the left sigmoid sinus 4 months after successful transarterial embolization of a carotid cavernous fistula. This rare occurrence has been reported after transvenous embolization, but this represents the first case, to our knowledge, after transarterial coil embolization. We present our findings along with a brief review of the literature.
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AJNR Am J Neuroradiol · Nov 2005
Comparative StudyEvaluation of vertebroplasty with a validated outcome measure: the Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire.
Vertebroplasty is rapidly disseminating as a treatment for vertebral compression fractures, but its efficacy has not been assessed with a well-validated, back pain-specific instrument. We report the use of the Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire (RDQ) in patients undergoing vertebroplasty for painful osteoporotic compression fractures. ⋯ Patients who underwent vertebroplasty experienced relief of back pain and symptoms, as shown by improvement in verbal pain and RDQ scores. The RDQ correlates well with measures of pain, shows clinically significant improvement and is responsive to changes across time. More important, the RDQ provides an easily administered, well-validated, back pain-specific outcome measure that could be adopted to assess vertebroplasty outcomes.