1,720,993 research outputs found
Ligamentum flavum hematoma associated with L5-S1 pars interarticularis defect: A case report and review of the literature
Get PDFerok, berrin/0000-0001-8036-547XLigamentum flavum hematoma (LFH) is an extremely rare compressive epidural lesion of the spine. The clinical manifestations of LFH are similar to that caused by other more common pathologies of nerve root compression like disc herniation. In the diagnosis, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is very important but challenging due to the changing intensities of the hematoma in relation to the stages of the aging blood. Herein, we report a case of LFH compressing the spinal canal in a 60-year-old man with pars interarticularis defect. He presented with low back pain radiating to the left leg. The neurological examination was consistent with left S1 nerve root compression. The MRI revealed a left posterior epidural mass compressing the thecal sac and S1 nerve root at the left L5-S1 level near the pars interarticularis defect. After surgical removal of the lesion, histopathological examination confirmed the diagnosis of LFH. Following surgery, he recovered rapidly. LFH due to spinal instability is important in terms of the understanding of the pathophysiological mechanisms related with LFH
Radiation-induced brachial plexopathy in breast cancer and the role of surgical treatment
No full texterok, berrin/0000-0001-8036-547XObjective We aimed to evaluate improvement in the pain, motor, and sensory functions after neurosurgical intervention, by objective methods in patients with radiation-induced brachial plexopathy (RIBP), as a complication of radiotherapy (RT). Materials and Methods In our study, 11 patients, who experienced grade 3 or 4 brachial plexopathy according to the LENT-SOMA (late effects of normal tissue-subjective, objective, management, analytic) side-effect index, as a complication of RT which was performed after being operated for breast cancer, were included. In the postoperative period pain, sensation, and motor function loss were followed. Results There was apparent regression in the pain. The mean visual analogue scale (VAS) value decreased to 4 from the preoperative VAS value of 9.4. However, no significant improvement was observed in either sensory and motor functions. Conclusion RIBP is a progressive disease in breast cancer patients after radiotherapy. Evaluation of the results of applied surgical treatments and changes in the results with time is important to direct the treatment. Neurolysis should only be considered when other treatment methods fail and should be considered as an irreversible and potentially permanent procedure
A rare presentation of retinoblastoma as a fungating orbital mass: A case report
No full texterok, berrin/0000-0001-8036-547XRetinoblastoma (RBL) arises from the precursor cells of the retinal neuroepithelium. It is the most common primary malignant intraocular tumor in children. Primary orbital RBL is an extraocular disease detected clinically or radiologically at the time of diagnosis. It is a direct metastasis of an intraocular RBL. It very rarely presents as an exuberant fungating orbital mass, like in the present case, and is found in more advanced, untreated cases. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is the preferred imaging modality for the evaluation of the tumor, vital orbital structures such as the optic nerve, and intracranial involvements. Computed tomography (CT) is useful in the evaluation of adjacent bony structures and calcifications. Herein, we report the case of a 3-year-old boy who presented to our clinic with a large, rapidly growing cauliflower-like mass protruding out of the left orbit and invading the surrounding soft tissues. MRI showed a10x8x7.5 cm(3) infiltrative heterogeneously enhancing left orbital mass with some necrotic and hemorrhagic components. Metastatic leptomeningeal enhancements were widespread in the intracranial region. CT revealed erosive destructive changes at the lateral orbital wall. Following left orbital enucleation, the diagnosis of RBL was made by histopathological examination, which showed sporadic Flexner-Wintersteiner type rosette formations. The patient underwent surgery and thereafter received radiotherapy and adjuvant chemotherapy. No recurrence was observed after 5 years. Although rare, orbital extension of RBL is one of the major contributors to mortality. Early diagnosis and detailed radiological evaluation are necessary to establish intracranial involvement and distant metastasis at the time of diagnosis
Analysis of clinical and radiological outcomes of posterior dynamic stabilization for direct repair of bilateral L5 pars ınterarticularis defect: dynamic assessment of pars fusion
No full textTo evaluate the satisfactory clinical and radiological outcomes of posterior dynamic stabilization for the direct repair of bilateral L5 pars interarticularis defects and pars fusion. MATERIAL and METHODS: This is a retrospective evaluation of postoperative follow-up results of 13 patients with bilateral L5 pars interarticularis defects without spondylolisthesis. The patients underwent dynamic transpedicular stabilization between 2013 and 2018. Our surgical criteria included unilateral or bilateral L5 spondylolysis; excessive low back pain; low back pain accompanied by leg pain without neurological findings; symptoms lasting at least six months despite conservative treatments, age <50 years; and lack of significant adjacent disc degeneration. RESULTS: There were seven female and six male patients with a mean age of 38.9 years. All patients achieved satisfactory postoperative results during a mean follow-up period of 22 months. Preoperative visual analog scale score and Oswestry Disability Index value were 8.85 ± 0.69 and 54.46 ± 7.62, respectively, which decreased to 1.31 ± 0.48 and 9.85 ± 3.51, respectively, at the postoperative 24th month. In all patients, the bony fusion of the pars interarticularis at the stabilized segment was confirmed on the computed tomography scan at an average of 22 months postoperatively. CONCLUSION: The posterior dynamic system ensures that the spine moves within physiological limits and carries the load by sharing it with the spine. The advantages of direct pars repair using our technique are the restoration of the posterior structures’ normal anatomy, protection of the functional mobility segment, and early functional recovery without degeneration in the adjacent segment. Therefore, when there is no significant instability, patients with spondylolysis can be treated with posterior dynamic stabilization techniques with satisfactory clinical and radiological results
COVID-19 Infection Manifesting with Lumbar Spondylodiscitis Complicating With Psoas Abscess without Pneumonia
No full textExtrapulmonary manifestations of COVID-19 (Coronavirus disease 2019) are increasingly recognized. Secondary spinal infections are dangerous complications reported in a few cases in the literature. However, to our knowledge, there is no reported case of a severe spondylodiscitis (SD) complicated with a large psoas abscess in a COVID-19 patient. We would like to report a 43-year-old male patient living in central Anatolia and dealing with farming who presented to the hospital with a complaint of severe back pain. The patient who was given oral treatment with analgesic, anti-inflammatory, and myorelaxant agents was readmitted with increased complaints. His nasopharyngeal swab was positive for COVID-19 without pneumonia on chest computed tomography (CT). He spent the quarantine and treatment period at home but was admitted to our outpatient clinic with a wheelchair with increased complaints and right leg pain preventing daily activities. The control nasopharyngeal swab was negative for COVID-19 but further increase in C-reactive protein (CRP) (152,8 mg/L) and creatine kinase (CK) level (549 IU/L) were revealed. Lumbar magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed SD in the L3-L4 level along with right-sided prevertebral inflammatory soft tissue and a large right psoas muscle abscess. Pyogenic lumbar SD complicated with the right psoas abscess in the setting of COVID-19 was considered and antibacterial treatment was started following hospitalization. On the same day, percutaneous aspiration from the psoas abscess under CT guidance was performed and revealed no growth in the culture. After 3 weeks, follow-up MRI showed worsening of all the bone, soft tissue and disc findings. Myalgia is a common manifestation in viral infections, which was also demonstrated in COVID-19 patients, with possible increase in muscle enzymes. Secondary spinal infections and its soft-tissue complications should be considered in the management of COVID-19 patients with neuromuscular symptoms, and detailed neurological and neurosurgical evaluation should be performed in order to avoid progression and permanent damage
Going Beyond Counting First Authors in Author Co-citation Analysis
Get PDFThe present study examines one of the fundamental aspects of author co-citation analysis (ACA) - the way co-citation
counts are defined. Co-citation counting provides the data on which all subsequent statistical analyses and mappings
are based, and we compare ACA results based on two different types of co-citation counting - the traditional type that
only counts the first one among a cited work's authors on the one hand and a non-traditional type that takes into
account the first 5 authors of a cited work on the other hand. Results indicate that the picture produced through this non-traditional author co-citation counting contains more coherent author groups and is therefore considerably clearer. However, this picture represents fewer specialties in the research field being studied than that produced through the traditional first-author co-citation counting when the same number of top-ranked authors is selected and analyzed. Reasons for these effects are discussed
Chest CT imaging features of early phase covid-19 pneumonia
No full textIntroduction: COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) is a viral infectious disease presenting with primarily pulmonary involvement. It is caused by SARS-CoV-2 (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2), a strain of coronavirus. A wide variety of chest computed tomography (CT) findings have been reported in patients with Covid-19 pneumonia. However, these CT features are not specific for Covid-19 and are similar to various other viral pneumonia, atypical pneumonia or organizing pneumonia of different etiologies. For differentiation of Covid-19 pneumonia, some more prevelant CT manifestations have been demonstrated in various studies comparing Covid-19 and non-Covid viral pneumonia. Materials and Methods: We aimed to present the initial chest CT findings observed in our patients with rRT-PCR test-confirmed COVID-19, from the March 15 to August 15, 2020 were presented. Results: As shown in previous reports, our experience has also showed that the most common and typical chest CT manifestations of Covid-19 are multifocal ground glass opacities (GGOs) with peripheral/subpleural distribution predominantly starting from middle&lower zones, with second most frequent is reticulation and consolidation. Based our experience, we have recognized that in Covid 19 pneumonia perilesional pulmonary vascular prominence, isolated nodular involvements and reversed halo sign are more prevelant when compared with non-Covid viral pneumonia. Conclusion: We believe that being familier with the common and typical CT features of Covid-19 pneumonia and the recognition of unusual findings will be helpful in the management of Covid-19 pneumonia
Variations on the Author
Get PDF“Variations on the Author” discusses two of Eduardo Coutinho’s recent films (Um Dia na Vida, from 2010, and Últimas Conversas, posthumously released in 2015) and their contribution to the general question of documentary authorship. The director’s filmography is characterized by a consistent yet self-effacing form of authorial self-inscription: Coutinho often features as an interviewer that rather than express opinions propels discourses; an interviewer that is good at listening. This mode of self-inscription characterizes him as an author who is not expressive but who is nonetheless markedly present on the screen. In Um Dia na Vida, however, Coutinho is completely absent form the image, while Últimas Conversas, on the contrary, includes a confessional prologue that moves the director from the margins to the center of his films. This article examines the ways in which these works stand out in the filmography of a director who offers new insights into the notion of cinematic authorship
A nonspecific widespread involvement of encephalitis in a covid-19 patient
No full textEncephalopathic symptoms including headache and altered mental status in hospitalized patients due to Covid-19 infection have been reported frequently in the recent literature. Moreover, neuroimaging correlation of some of these patients have been deonstrated with various forms of encephalitis. We aimed to describe the neuroimaging manifestations of an acute encephalitis with widespread involvement of deep white matter and deep gray matter areas that resolve following steroid treatment in a young male patient. We hope our case will add in the understanding of the range of neurological involvemnets related with Covid-19. More data about neuroimaging and neuropathological examinations are need to determine the neurotropism and particular types of involvements in the central nervous system
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