scholarly journals Hypertrophic cranial pachymeningitis and orbital apex syndrome secondary to infection of the eye: illustrative case

2021 ◽  
Vol 1 (21) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tara Zielke ◽  
Miri Kim ◽  
Joshua E. Simon ◽  
Ewa Borys ◽  
Vikram C. Prabhu ◽  
...  

BACKGROUND Hypertrophic cranial pachymeningitis is a rare inflammatory disorder characterized by thickening of the dura mater and multiple cranial neuropathies. Although an infectious etiology may be present, often no specific cause is discovered. OBSERVATIONS The authors described a 71-year-old man with progressive right eye vision loss, ptosis, and complete ophthalmoplegia with imaging findings suggestive of hypertrophic cranial pachymeningitis. Extensive studies, including cerebrospinal fluid studies, showed negative results. Blood serum, cell-free evaluation, and paraffin-embedded dural tissue testing had positive results for Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which allowed treatment tailored to the organism and a salutary clinical outcome. LESSONS The constellation of neurological and radiological findings may make a diagnosis difficult in an inflammatory setting. The most precise methodology for establishing a diagnosis involves sampling the dura and testing it for infectious pathology. However, if results are inconclusive, further cell-free serum sampling with next-generation sequencing is a viable option for identifying pathogens with infectious concerns. This case highlighted the importance of multimodality studies for identifying a targetable pathogen.

1974 ◽  
Vol 31 (02) ◽  
pp. 273-278
Author(s):  
Kenneth K Wu ◽  
John C Hoak ◽  
Robert W Barnes ◽  
Stuart L Frankel

SummaryIn order to evaluate its daily variability and reliability, impedance phlebography was performed daily or on alternate days on 61 patients with deep vein thrombosis, of whom 47 also had 125I-fibrinogen uptake tests and 22 had radiographic venography. The results showed that impedance phlebography was highly variable and poorly reliable. False positive results were noted in 8 limbs (18%) and false negative results in 3 limbs (7%). Despite its being simple, rapid and noninvasive, its clinical usefulness is doubtful when performed according to the original method.


2018 ◽  
Vol 64 (6) ◽  
pp. 799-804
Author(s):  
Darya Ryzhkova ◽  
M. Poyda

Purpose: To study the diagnostic value of PET-CT with 68Ga-PSMA-11 in the diagnosis of a primary prostate cancer, preoperative staging, and the detection of recurrence of prostate cancer (PCa). Methods: 28 patients aged 64.7 ± 8.74 years were included. 10 patients primary prostate cancer, and 18 patients with biochemical recurrence of the disease after radical treatment were examined. All patients underwent PET-CT with 68Ga-PSMA-11 according the whole body protocol. Interpretation of images was performed visually and quantitatively by calculation of SUL max. Results: High focal or diffuse 68Ga-PSMA-11 uptake was found in prostate parenchyma in patients with primary prostate cancer. Additionally metastases in regional lymph nodes were diagnosed in 4 patients and bone metastases were found in one patient. The correlation between 68Ga-PSMA-11 uptake level and Gleason index in the primary tumor (R Spearmen = 0.25, p = 0.57) was not observed. PET-positive results were obtained in 14 patients and PET-negative results in 4 patients with biochemical recurrence of PCa. The relationship between the frequency of PET-positive results and Gleason index was not revealed (R Spearmen = 0.2, p = 0.39). We found a weak but significant correlation between the frequency of PET-positive results and the prostate tumor stage according to the T category (R Spearmen = 0.49, p = 0.049). In patients with low values of PSA (less than 1.0 ng/ml) in 4 out of 9 cases, PET-negative results were obtained. In patients with PSA level more than 1.0 ng/ml PET-positive results were obtained in all cases. Conclusions: PET/CT with 68Ga-PSMA-11 allows to diagnose the primary prostate cancer, to establish the stage of the disease in categories N and M, and also to determine the localization and dissemination of the tumor in patients with biochemical recurrence of prostate cancer. The relationship between 68Ga-PSMA-11 uptake in primary tumor and Gleason index was not found. The probability of obtaining PET-positive results in cases of biochemical recurrence is affected by a PSA level above 1 ng/ml and a high stage of the disease according to the T category (T3-T4).


2021 ◽  
Vol 07 (03) ◽  
pp. e132-e137
Author(s):  
Mohammed Alagha ◽  
Thomas M. Aherne ◽  
Ahmed Hassanin ◽  
Adeel S. Zafar ◽  
Doireann P. Joyce ◽  
...  

Abstract Introduction Ankle-brachial pressure indices (ABIs) continue to form the basis of diagnostics for lower extremity arterial disease (LEAD). However, there remains a paucity of data to support its accuracy. This study aims to evaluate its diagnostic sensitivity and specificity using established arterial-imaging modalities as a benchmark. Methods In this retrospective study, a regional, prospectively maintained, vascular laboratory database was interrogated to identify referred patients with arterial disease who underwent concomitant assessment with ABI and lower limb arterial duplex ultrasound (DUS). Duplex acted as the reference standard. Those who had peripheral computed tomography angiogram (CTA) within 3 months of initial assessment were included in a subgroup analysis to correlate ABI with CTA. The primary end point was the sensitivity and specificity of ABI compared with DUS as the reference standard. Results Concomitant assessment was performed in 438 limbs (250 patients) over a 27-month period. The ABI was normal (0.9 to 1.4) in 196 limbs (44.9%) and abnormal in the remaining 241 limbs (55.1%). False-positive results occurred in 83 out of 241 limbs (34.4%), and false-negative results occurred in 54 limbs out of 196 (27.5%). True-positive results were 158 out of 241 limbs (65.6%), whereas true-negative results were 142 out of 196 limbs (72.4%). ABI using DUS as a benchmark identified a sensitivity for peripheral artery disease of 72.3% and a specificity of 69.3%. Concomitant CTA imaging was available in 200 limbs. The sensitivity and specificity of ABI correlated with CTA were 65.5 and 68.8%, respectively. Conclusion ABIs have a moderate predictive value in the diagnosis of LEAD. Normal range outcomes cannot be taken to infer the absence of LEAD and, as such, further arterial imaging in the form of DUS or angiography should be strongly considered in those with suspected underlying disease requiring intervention. Further noninvasive tests such as exercise studies or pulse volume waveforms should be considered, if diagnostic uncertainty exists, in those requiring nonoperative intervention and risk factor control.


1989 ◽  
Vol 21 (4) ◽  
pp. 413-424 ◽  
Author(s):  
Usha Goswami ◽  
Peter Bryant

Recent research in reading disability has been strengthened by the addition of a reading level (RL) control group to the more traditional chronological age (CA) control group. However, caution is required in interpreting results from these two kinds of control. Only positive results in a RL match and negative results in a CA match are interpretable; negative results in a CA match and positive results in a RL match are not. Furthermore, the RL control group cannot be used to unambiguously determine between specific deficit and developmental lag interpretations of reading disability. It is argued that the use of the RL control can only ever be a first step in research aimed at delineating the causal factors in reading backwardness.


2021 ◽  
Vol 49 (2) ◽  
pp. 030006052098777
Author(s):  
Song-Ming Ding ◽  
Ai-Li Lu ◽  
Bing-Qian Xu ◽  
Shao-Hua Shi ◽  
Muhammad Ibrahim Alhadi Edoo ◽  
...  

Objective False positive and negative results are associated with biliary tract cell brushing cytology during endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). The causes are uncertain. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of diagnoses made via cell brushing in our center, and to explore the factors influencing diagnosis. Methods The clinical data of patients who underwent cell brushing at our center from January 2016 to August 2019 were retrospectively analyzed. These included age, gender, stricture location, thickness of the bile duct wall in the narrow segment, maximum diameter of the biliary duct above the stricture, number of cell brush smears, carbohydrate antigen 19-9, and carcinoembryonic antigen. Positive brush cytology results were compared with results of surgical histology or tumor biopsy as well as with the patient’s clinical course. Results Of the 48 patients who underwent cell brushing cytology, 27 (56.3%) had positive results. The sensitivity and specificity of biliary duct cell brushing was 79.4%, and 85.7%, respectively. None of the above-mentioned factors were associated with positive cytology brushing results. Conclusions Cell brushing cytology remains a reliable method for diagnosis of pancreaticobiliary malignancies.


2006 ◽  
Vol 88 (2) ◽  
pp. 165-167 ◽  
Author(s):  
M Bradley ◽  
J Morgan ◽  
B Pentlow ◽  
A Roe

INTRODUCTION The aim of this study is to ascertain the accuracy of diagnostic ultrasound in the assessment of the occult abdominal and groin herniae. The authors have previously demonstrated its efficacy in diagnosing the type of clinical groin herniae but occult herniae provide a further diagnostic problem. PATIENTS AND METHODS A total of 113 consecutive patients were referred prospectively for ultrasound examinations with clinically suspected occult herniae. All positive scans were offered surgery whilst the negative results were offered further imaging or other diagnostic tests depending on the clinical criteria. The end point for negative scans was based on 18-month follow-up or resolution of symptoms. RESULTS Overall, 59 scans showed positive results for herniae and 56 of these had surgery. In the other three patients, two refused an operation, and one had no hernia detected at operation. In the remaining 57 scans, ultrasound offered alternative soft tissue diagnoses in 23 patients and surgical/endoscopic diagnoses accounted for a further 8 patients. CONCLUSIONS Ultrasound offered a diagnosis for the symptomology in 82 patients (70.6%) of which 59 were herniae. The positive predictive value for hernia is 98.3%. Twenty-six patients with no diagnosis or confirmation of herniae on follow-up showed symptom resolution in 22 cases, and four patients were treated by the pain clinic.


2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (11) ◽  
pp. 2309
Author(s):  
Wang-Da Liu ◽  
Ting-Yu Yen ◽  
Po-Yo Liu ◽  
Un-In Wu ◽  
Prerana Bhan ◽  
...  

Background: Sepsis remains a common but fatal complication among patients with immune suppression. We aimed to investigate the performance of metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) compared with standard microbiological diagnostics in patients with hematologic malignancies. Methods: We performed a prospective study from June 2019 to December 2019. Adult patients with hematologic malignancies and a clinical diagnosis of sepsis were enrolled. Conventional diagnostic methods included blood cultures, serum galactomannan for Aspergillus, cryptococcal antigen and cytomegalovirus (CMV) viral loads. Blood samples for mNGS were collected within 24 h after hypotension developed. Results: Of 24 patients enrolled, mNGS and conventional diagnostic methods (blood cultures, serology testing and virus RT-PCR) reached comparable positive results in 9 cases. Of ten patients, mNGS was able to identify additional pathogens compared with conventional methods; most of the pathogens were virus. Conclusion: Our results show that mNGS may serve as adjunctive diagnostic tool for the identification of pathogens of hematologic patients with clinically sepsis.


2016 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Pingkan C. Pasuhuk ◽  
Arthur E. Mongan ◽  
Mayer Wowor

Abstract: Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious diseases caused by Mycobacterium Tuberculosis. Consuming the anti-tuberculosis medicine such as streptomycin and rifampicin will cause nephrotoxic effect. In kidney disfunction especially the glomeruli, the number of leukocytes in the urine increase. The most common urinalysis tests are chemical test and microscopic test, especially the leukocyte urine test. These tests can be used to detect the kidney disfunction and the urinary tract infection. In normal urine, the result of the dipstick test is negative, and the result of microscopic test is 0-5/HPF. This study was aimed to obtain the description of leukocyte urinalysis in pulmonary tuberculosis patients at Prof. Dr. R. D. Kandou Hospital Manado. This was an observational descriptive study conducted in October-November 2016 at Prof. Dr. R. D. Kandou Hospital Manado. Samples were random urine specimens that met the predefined criteria. The results showed that based on the urinalysis, of 30 patients with pulmonary tuberculosis, 27 patients had negative results and 3 patients had positive results. Conclusion: There was no relationship between urine leucocyte and pulmonary tuberculosis in adult patients.Keywords: pulmonary tuberculosis, urinalysis, urine leukocyte Abstrak: Tuberkulosis (TB) merupakan penyakit infeksi yang disebabkan oleh Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Obat anti-tuberkulosis seperti streptomisn dan rifampisin memiliki efek nefrotoksik. Kerusakan ginjal terutama glomerulus dapat menimbulkan peningkatan leukosit dalam urin. Metode urinalisis yang sering digunakan yaitu uji kimia/ carik-celup dan mikroskopik. Pemeriksaan leukosit urin dapat digunakan untuk mengetahui adanya gangguan pada ginjal dan infeksi saluran kemih. Pada urin normal hasil pemeriksaan dipstick negatif dan hasil pemeriksaan mikroskopik urin 0-5 leukosit/LPB. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mendapatkan gambaran leukosit urin pasien tuberkulosis paru dewasa di RSUP Prof. Dr. R. D. Kandou Manado. Jenis penelitian ialah deskriptif observasional dan dilakukan pada bulan Oktober-November 2016 di RSUP Prof. Dr. R. D. Kandou Manado. Sampel penelitian ialah sampel urin sewaktu dari semua pasien tuberkulosis paru yang memenuhi kriteria yang telah ditentukan. Hasil urinalisis dari 30 pasien terdiagnosis penyakit tuberkulosis paru mendapatkan 27 pasien dengan hasil negatif dan 3 pasien dengan hasil positif. Simpulan: Tidak terdapat hubungan antara leukosit urin dengan tuberkulosis paru dewasa. Kata kunci: TB paru, urinalisis, leukosit urin


Author(s):  
Ashish Maheshwari ◽  
Dnyaneshwar Shridharrao Patale ◽  
Trupti Lokhande ◽  
Smita Chouhan ◽  
Sana Mariyam

Neuromyelitis Optica (NMO) is a demyelinating inflammatory disorder of the spinal cord and optic nerve. As per American Society For Apheresis (ASFA) guidelines, Therapeutic Plasma Exchange (TPE) is considered as a second-line treatment in patients with weak or no response to steroid therapy. A patient of NMO presented to the tertiary care institute with a sudden loss of vision in the right eye. The patient was resistant to steroid treatment and improved significantly with TPE. Hence, TPE may be an effective treatment modality in steroid-resistant NMO with vision loss.


2017 ◽  
Vol 2 ◽  
pp. 35 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shazia Mahamdallie ◽  
Elise Ruark ◽  
Shawn Yost ◽  
Emma Ramsay ◽  
Imran Uddin ◽  
...  

Detection of deletions and duplications of whole exons (exon CNVs) is a key requirement of genetic testing. Accurate detection of this variant type has proved very challenging in targeted next-generation sequencing (NGS) data, particularly if only a single exon is involved. Many different NGS exon CNV calling methods have been developed over the last five years. Such methods are usually evaluated using simulated and/or in-house data due to a lack of publicly-available datasets with orthogonally generated results. This hinders tool comparisons, transparency and reproducibility. To provide a community resource for assessment of exon CNV calling methods in targeted NGS data, we here present the ICR96 exon CNV validation series. The dataset includes high-quality sequencing data from a targeted NGS assay (the TruSight Cancer Panel) together with Multiplex Ligation-dependent Probe Amplification (MLPA) results for 96 independent samples. 66 samples contain at least one validated exon CNV and 30 samples have validated negative results for exon CNVs in 26 genes. The dataset includes 46 exon CNVs in BRCA1, BRCA2, TP53, MLH1, MSH2, MSH6, PMS2, EPCAM or PTEN, giving excellent representation of the cancer predisposition genes most frequently tested in clinical practice. Moreover, the validated exon CNVs include 25 single exon CNVs, the most difficult type of exon CNV to detect. The FASTQ files for the ICR96 exon CNV validation series can be accessed through the European-Genome phenome Archive (EGA) under the accession number EGAS00001002428.


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