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Biomedical subjects

C R Fitz

Publications and source records attributed to C R Fitz.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

Case report. Computed tomography of the brain in severe hypoglycaemia.

Computed tomographic (CT) findings in a case of extreme hypoglycaemia induced by an overdose of chlorpropamide are described. Brain lesions tend to be preferentially localized along the boundary zones ("watersheds") between the territories of the main cerebral arteries. In our case, generalized brain damage occurred during severe hypoglycaemic coma. Neuropathological changes in this condition have been the subject of previous studies in experimental animals. Computed tomography allows follow-up studies of the human brain damaged by hypoglycaemic coma. Abnormalities revealed by CT probably represent reparative tissue reactions that indirectly reflect the extent of neuronal destruction.

Adolescent↗

Aneurysms of the vein of Galen in children: CT and angiographic correlations.

An aneurysm of the vein of Galen is a rare midline arteriovenous malformation. The clinical signs and the prognosis strictly depend on age of presentation and on the amount of blood shunted into the malformation. In the newborn, cardiac failure is the most common presenting sign. In order children hydrocephalus, headache, focal neurological signs and subarachnoid bleeding may be the reason for admission. At the Hospital for Sick Children six patients with an aneurysm of the vein of Galen were studied by angiography and CT. Four of them were newborn in cardiac failure. Angiography was essential for the accurate demonstration of all the feeding vessels to the malformation and their exact location. Computed tomography also added useful information on associated hydrocephalus and ischemic brain damage. The dilated vein of Galen, straight sinus and torcular were clearly seen. Abnormal arterial vessels feeding the malformation were also recognized.

Arteriovenous Malformations↗

CT diagnosis and short-term prognosis of intracranial hemorrhage and hypoxic/ischemic brain damage in neonates.

A group of 476 neonates who had suffered perinatal asphyxia were studied with computed tomography (CT), and 341 were found to have some form of intracranial hemorrhage. The different hemorrhages were identified and classified. While the presence and severity of intraventricular hemorrhage in the premature neonate clearly increase neonatal mortality, subependymal and subarachnoid hemorrhages seem to have very little influence on whether the neonate survives or succumbs. Decreased brain tissue attenuation seen to some extent in all premature neonates depends on the maturity of the neonate and thus probably represents the normal appearance of the immature brain on CT. It should be noted that essentially all the CT examinations included in this study were carried out with an Ohio-Nuclear Delta 50 scanner. Findings with newer scanners may or may not corroborate the validity of some aspects of our observations.

Body Weight↗

Correlation between computed tomography and autopsy in premature and full-term neonates that have suffered perinatal asphyxia.

The findings at autopsy were correlated with the computed tomographic (CT) diagnosis in 90 neonates that had suffered perinatal hypoxia and had CT within 10 days before autopsy. CT was accurate in the diagnosis of supratentorial hemorrhage whether it was subependymal, intraventricular, or intracerebral. Infratentorial hemorrhage was difficult to detect or localize with accuracy. Correlation between areas of hypodense brain tissue seen on CT and areas of ischemic brain damage other than hemorrhage at autopsy was poor. Diagnosis of generalized cerebral edema by CT, however, was very good.

Asphyxia Neonatorum↗

Diastematomyelia in children: metrizamide and CT metrizamide myelography.

Diastematomyelia is an uncommon dysraphic lesion of the spine which has been diagnosed more frequently since the advent of newer diagnostic methods. A series of 21 cases was examined using metrizamide myelography and computed tomographic metrizamide myelography (CTMM) over a 3-year period. These examinations, in addition to plain radiographs of the spine, have demonstrated certain features of diastematomyelia hitherto unreported. A bony or cartilaginous spur was an uncommon finding, occurring in only six cases. Also, the split spinal cord was found within an unsplit dural sac in 15 cases. Coexistent tethering of the spinal cord, even in the absence of a spur, was present in 16 of the 21 cases. CTMM proved superior to metrizamide myelography in demonstrating the spinal cord anomalies; plain films and CT are complementary in showing the bony anomalies. The radiographic investigative protocol of diastematomyelia includes plain anteroposterior and lateral spine films, metrizamide myelography, and CTMM. Conventional tomography and plain CT are unnecessary; improved density resolution and availability of computed radiographic anteroposterior and lateral scout views will further reduce the need for plain films and intrathecal injection of contrast medium.

Adolescent↗

The isolated fourth ventricle in children: CT and clinical review of 16 cases.

Isolated fourth ventricles were diagnosed by computed tomography (CT) in 16 children in a 3 year period. They all had had shunting of the lateral ventricles for hydrocephalus, and all needed subsequent shunt revisions. Seven patients without signs of raised intracranial pressure clinically had new posterior fossa signs at different intervals after lateral ventricular shunting. The clinical findings in the other nine patients were much less specific and in some cases the isolated fourth ventricle was an incidental finding. CT is essential for the diagnosis. The isolated fourth ventricle needs to be differentiated from posterior fossa cysts and cystic tumors. Shunting of the fourth ventricle improved the clinical condition in six of 14 children.

Brain Diseases↗

Neuroradiological findings in a child with primary leptomeningeal melanoma.

A case of primary leptomeningeal melanoma in a child is presented. The patient was studied with multiple neuroradiological methods, however computed tomography (CT) provided the most important information. The CT findings with leptomeningeal tumor, although not completely specific, do suggest the diagnosis, thus providing important information to explain the acute onset of symptoms in a previously healthy child. This case also differs from previously reported cases in terms of the type of hydrocephalus associated with the tumor.

Cerebral Ventriculography↗

Normal cord in infants and children examined with computed tomographic metrizamide myelography.

Computed tomographic metrizamide myelography (CTMM) was performed on 25 infants and children and 2 adults with normal spinal cords. Both the cord and the cauda equina were precisely outlined. The most detailed information was obtained with a small window setting, with the image subsequently magnified and color-reversed. Hounsfield-unit measurements alone were inaccurate. Advantages of CTMM include: high accuracy in demonstrating the intrathecal contents of the spine; less need for general anesthesia; and the need for a smaller amount of water-soluble contrast material than in conventional myelography. In selected cases of intraspinal abnormality in children, CTMM is recommended.

Adolescent↗

Computed tomographic metrizamide myelography in syringohydromyelia.

Four patients with surgically verified syringohydromyelia, including 2 with and 2 without a collapsing cord, were examined with computed tomographic metrizamide myelography (CTMM). When the cord is collapsed, or a contrast-containing cyst is observed on the scan, no further examination is necessary. If the cord is not collapsed, it is difficult to differentiate an intramedullary cyst from a tumor. Flattening of the ventral border of the cord in the supine position, coupled with an increased transverse diameter and alteration of the normally smooth, oval shape are suggestive of syringohydromyelia.

Adolescent↗

Craniosynostosis: correlation of bone scans, radiographs, and surgical findings.

Skull scintigraphy was performed in 68 children with suspected craniosynostosis after injection of technetium-99m methylene diphosphonate. The scans demonstrated four patterns of sutural activity: normal, absent, increased, and wide. When correlated with surgical findings, "absent" indicated fused sutures, "increased" indicated fusing hyperactive sutures or sutures reacting to fusion elsewhere, and "wide" indicated splite sutures. Upon correlation with the radiographs, it was found that when the radiograph was normal, the scan contributed little; when the radiograph was abnormal or equivocal, the scan was often of great assistance in confirming fused sutures and detecting other abnormal sutures.

Child, Preschool↗

CT metrizamide myelography for intraspinal and paraspinal neoplasms in infants and children.

Computed tomography (CT) metrizamide myelography is an accurate and satisfactory method for examining the spinal cord in infants and children with suspected intraspinal neoplasms. It was performed in 13 infants and children and in one adult with intra- and paraspinal neoplasms. CT metrizamide myelography in paraspinal masses provides the total geography of the mass; that is, possible intraspinal extension, as well as the paraspinal portion itself. As such, it is superior to conventional myelography.

Adolescent↗

The radiographic features of unilateral megalencephaly.

Unilateral megalencephaly is a rare anomaly of the brain which causes enlargement of a lobe or an entire hemisphere. The radiological features of the disease are a poorly defined unusual mass effect on PEG, angiography and CT scan. Pathologically, the disease is thought to be due to abnormal cell migration in the 3rd month in utero.

Brain↗

The clival-perpendicular or modified Water's view in compound tomography.

The air gap type of CT scanner with tilting gantry allows the use of head positions other than the standard semi-axial. The modified Water's or clival-perpendicular position is especially useful in the diagnosis of posterior fossa disease. The position offers a view that is approximately coronal to the clivus and tentorium. The clival-perpendicular view easily separates the supra- and infratentorial compartments. It also helps to differentiate extra- and intra-axial lesions and to locate the fourth ventricle, and it gives far better vertical orientation of posterior fossa pathology.

Adult↗

Neuroradiologic study of hamartomas of the tuber cinereum and hypothalamus.

Five cases, four histologically proven, of hamartoma of the tuber cinereum and hypothalamus in children are reported. The ages of the patients range from 2 to 12 years. Three cases had pubertas praecox, and in all of these the hamartoma was located in the basal cistern between the chiasm and pons and had a collar button shape and size typical of hamartoma of the tuber cinereum. In the third case, a huge calcified mass in the suprasellar region was initially thought to be craniopharyngioma. The fourth case had a hamartoma within the substance of the hypothalamus and presented with hyponatremia and temporal lobe seizures.

Age Factors↗