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Biomedical subjects

F Brunelle

Publications and source records attributed to F Brunelle.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Fetal lung volume: estimation at MR imaging-initial results.

PURPOSE: To plot normal fetal lung volume (FLV) obtained with fast spin-echo magnetic resonance (MR) images against gestational age; to investigate the correlation between lung growth and fetal presentation, sex, and ultrasonographic (US) biometric measurements; and to investigate its potential application in fetuses with thoracoabdominal malformations. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In a prospective multicenter study, 336 fetuses suspected of having central nervous system disorders underwent fast spin-echo T2-weighted lung MR imaging. Data obtained at 21-38 weeks gestation in 215 fetuses without thoracoabdominal malformations and with normal US biometric findings were selected for an FLV normative curve. FLV measurements obtained at pathologic examination with an immersion method were compared with MR FLV measurements in 11 fetuses. MR FLV values in 16 fetuses with thoracoabdominal malformations were compared with the normative curve. RESULTS: Normal FLV increased with gestational age as a power curve; the spread of values increased with age. Interobserver correlation was excellent (R(2) = 0.96). FLV measurements at MR imaging were 0.90 times those at pathologic examination. A constant ratio (0.78) between FLV on the left and right sides was observed. No significant difference in FLV was observed between fetal presentations. Normal FLV was observed in all fetuses with cystic adenomatoid malformations and in four of six with oligohydramnios. Lowest FLV values were observed in fetuses with diaphragmatic hernia. CONCLUSION: In fetuses with normal lungs, FLV distribution against gestational age is easily assessed in utero with fast spin-echo T2-weighted MR imaging. These preliminary findings illustrate the potential for comparing FLV measurements in fetuses at risk of lung hypoplasia with normative values.

Abnormalities, Multiple↗

Prenatal diagnosis and postnatal follow-up of pericallosal lipoma: report of seven new cases.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Pericallosal lipomas are rare tumors. Few reports have included their imaging characteristics. Furthermore, little is known about their evolutive course. Our purpose was to describe the imaging features of seven cases of pericallosal lipoma diagnosed in utero and followed up after birth. METHODS: We reviewed seven cases of pericallosal lipoma diagnosed by obstetric sonography (n = 7) and examined by fetal MR imaging (n = 5). Analysis of the complementary findings provided by fetal MR imaging was conducted. All findings were correlated with the postnatal imaging and clinical findings. RESULTS: Obstetric sonography easily showed the pericallosal lipoma in all seven patients. In one, however, it was misinterpreted as intracranial hemorrhage. The morphology and integrity of the underlying corpus callosum were less easy to assess by using sonography. Fetal MR imaging confirmed the fatty content and location of the lesion in all five cases. It showed the choroidal extension in two patients and the type of associated callosal anomaly in another patient better than did sonography. In two patients, the lipoma grew, as revealed by subsequent postnatal MR imaging. The results of the neurologic examinations remained normal for the five surviving patients at a mean follow-up of 3 years (1 month-9 years). CONCLUSION: Obstetric sonography is able to easily show pericallosal lipoma. Fetal MR imaging may be useful to characterize the lipomatous nature and the extension of the lipoma and the status of the corpus callosum. Long-term follow-up is necessary to understand the clinical consequences of such lesions.

Agenesis of Corpus Callosum↗

[Prenatal semiology of diastematomyelia].

Diastematomyelia is a rare spinal malformation characterized by a division of the spinal cord. More often, the two hemicords are separated by a midline and sagittal osseous or fibrocartilaginous spur. In this report we describe two cases of diastematomyelia detected at routine second trimester detailed sonography and further assessed by MRI and spiral CT with surface shaded 3D-reconstructions. In addition to providing diagnosis, prenatal evaluation helps differentiate between diastematomyelia with good or bad prognosis.

Adult↗

[Melorheostosis associated with arteriovenous malformation of the ear].

BACKGROUND: Melorheostosis is a rare bone dystrophy that may be associated with various vascular malformations. We report a case of arteriovenous fistulae of the ear associated with melorheostosis limited to the same side of the body. CASE REPORT: A 13 year-old boy presented a congenital port-wine nevus of the right side of the head complicated by an arteriovenous fistulae and angiomatous nodules of the ear. He was treated by laser, surgery of the nodules, arterial embolisations and sclerotherapy. In 1999, he had a benign trauma of the right hand. The X-ray showed hyperostosis resembling wax flowing down a candle reaching the carpus and some of the metacarpals and the phalanges of the right hand, typical of melorheostosis. The complete radiographic check-up showed the same characteristic appearance on the right side of the skull and the long bones of the right upper limb. Except a deformation of the right fingers, there were no others symptoms. DISCUSSION: Melorheostosis is a rare, sporadic and benign bone dysplasia that may be localized to a single limb or disseminated. The diagnosis is usually made in late childhood. Pain, stiffness, deformation of a limb are the main clinical manifestations. The skin may be erythematous and sclerotic. The radiographic appearance is characteristic with hyperostosis on one side of the bone resembling wax flowing down a candle. A vascular abnormality is present in 17 p. 100 of cases (hemangiomas, aneurysms, renal artery stenosis.). In these cases, melorheostosis is usually limited to the same side of the vascular lesion. We report the first case of arteriovenous fistulae of the ear associated with melorheostosis, on the same side of the body. The physiopathology of melorheostosis is still unknown but the association with a homolateral vascular abnormality suggests a localized defect in embryogenesis of the vascular and skeletal systems.

Arteriovenous Fistula↗

Emergency management of deeply comatose children with acute rupture of cerebral arteriovenous malformations.

PURPOSE: To assess the impact of emergency management on mortality and morbidity of acute rupture of cerebral arteriovenous malformations resulting in deep coma in children, and the factors predicting outcome. METHODS: Retrospective chart review of 20 children with a Glasgow Coma Scale < or = 8 with acute hemorrhagic stroke from a cerebral arteriovenous malformation rupture was conducted. Protocol included: early resuscitation with tracheal intubation and ventilation after induction of anesthesia with sufentanil, and benzodiazepine, and mannitol 20% or hypertonic saline 7.5% infusion for life-threatening brain herniation. Radiological exploration was limited to contrast-enhanced CT scan preceding immediate surgical decompression. Postoperatively, children were deeply sedated and intracranial pressure monitoring allowed titration with osmotherapy, vasopressors, hyperventilation or barbiturate coma to control cerebral perfusion pressure. Analysis used stratification of the type of hemorrhage (supra or infra tentorial), location (intraparenchymal and subarachnoid, intraparenchymal and intraventricular or intraventricular alone) and relationship between presentation, evolution with resuscitation, type of cerebral lesion, and outcome. RESULTS: Patients had a severe initial presentation (median Glasgow Coma Scale five), eight had unilateral and eight bilateral third nerve palsy. Compressive hematoma in supratentorial localisation represented 75% of the cases. Global mortality was 40%. Persistence of mydriasis after resuscitation increased mortality to 75%. Massive intraventricular flooding was associated with increased mortality. Good functional outcome was achieved in survivors. CONCLUSION: Acute rupture of an AVM can result in rapidly progressing coma. Emergency management with early resuscitation, minimal radiological exploration before rapid surgical decompression results in a mortality rate of 40%, but a good functional outcome can be expected in the survivors.

Acute Disease↗

Intracranial venous anomalies associated with atretic cephalocoeles.

BACKGROUND: Midline scalp lesions are frequent in children. They include soft-tissue masses and atretic meningocoeles. Their recognition is important as their treatment differs. Intracranial venous anomalies are known to be associated with atretic cephalocoeles. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective study was undertaken to assess the frequency of intracranial venous anomalies associated with atretic meningocoeles (AT). Thirty-one patients with AT were studied by MRI. There were 13 meningocoeles and 14 encephalocoeles; 4 have not yet received surgery. RESULTS: Venous anomalies were found when the cephalocoeles lay above the torcular. They include absence of the straight sinus and duplication of the longitudinal sinus. CONCLUSION: Venous anomalies are frequent in atretic cephalocoeles and are part of the dysraphic state.

Arteriovenous Malformations↗

Role of embolisation in the treatment of bronchopulmonary sequestration.

BACKGROUND: Sequestrations represent bronchopulmonary malformations that are increasingly diagnosed antenatally. After birth, the therapeutic approach in asymptomatic children is debated, as some may spontaneously regress. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of embolisation of the feeding systemic artery in the treatment of bronchopulmonary sequestration. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixteen children with bronchopulmonary sequestration were treated by endovascular embolisation of the feeding systemic artery. RESULTS: Ten patients were considered cured by embolisation alone. One patient was operated on after unsuccessful embolisation, three had partial regression of the lung mass and two are still under follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Our experience indicates that bronchopulmonary sequestrations in children can be treated by embolisation alone.

Angiography↗

Noninvasive diagnosis of brain tumours in children.

The author reviews the progress made during the last 25 years in noninvasive diagnosis of brain tumours in children. MRI has replaced all other modalities available at that time. The diagnosis is still based on a precise anatomical analysis of the lesion rather than on other specific findings. New techniques, such as spectroscopy and diffusion, may help to characterise further brain tumours in children preoperatively.

Brain↗

Cerebral white matter disease in children may be caused by mitochondrial respiratory chain deficiency.

Several mitochondrial diseases are known to occasionally involve the cerebral white matter, namely Leigh syndrome, Kearns-Sayre syndrome, and MELAS syndrome, but in these cases the major finding is alteration in the basal ganglia and brainstem. Here we report on severe diffuse white matter involvement and respiratory chain enzyme deficiency or mitochondrial DNA rearrangement in 5 unrelated families. It is interesting that white matter lesions were the only abnormal neuroradiologic feature in 3 of the 5 families, and multiple small cyst-like white matter lesions were found in 2 of 5 probands. Respiratory chain deficiency should be considered in the diagnosis of severe white matter involvement in childhood.

Adolescent↗

Practical management of hyperinsulinism in infancy.

Hyperinsulinism in infancy is one of the most difficult problems to manage in contemporary paediatric endocrinology. Although the diagnosis can usually be achieved without difficulty, it presents the paediatrician with formidable day to day management problems. Despite recent advances in understanding the pathophysiology of hyperinsulinism, the neurological outcome remains poor, and there is often a choice of unsatisfactory treatments, with life long sequelae for the child and his or her family. This paper presents a state of the art overview on management derived from a consensus workshop held by the European network for research into hyperinsulinism (ENRHI). The consensus is presented as an educational aid for paediatricians and children's nurses. It offers a practical guide to management based on the most up to date knowledge. It presents a proposed management cascade and focuses on the clinical recognition of the disease, the immediate steps that should be taken to stabilise the infant during diagnostic investigations, and the principles of definitive treatment.

Genetic Therapy↗

Loss of imprinted genes and paternal SUR1 mutations lead to focal form of congenital hyperinsulinism.

Persistent hyperinsulinaemic hypoglycaemia of infancy (PHHI) is a heterogeneous disorder characterized by profound hypoglycaemia due to inappropriate hypersecretion of insulin. An important diagnostic goal is to distinguish patients with a focal hyperplasia of islet cells of the pancreas (FoPHHI) from those with a diffuse abnormality of islets (DiPHHI), because the management differs significantly. The intriguing similarity between islet cell hyperplasia and tumourigenesis prompted us to investigate whether the imprinted genes in the 11p15 region are involved. Results showed that diffuse forms are caused by constitutional homozygous or compound heterozygous mutations of the SUR1 gene. In contrast, focal forms are caused by loss of the maternally inherited 11p15 region, resulting in both loss of the maternally expressed tumour suppressor genes accounting for hyperplasia and somatic reduction to hemizygosity or homozygosity of the paternally inherited SUR1, limited to the lesion. Thus, this somatic disorder, which leads both to beta-cell proliferation and to hyperinsulinism, can be considered the somatic equivalent, restricted to a microscopic focal lesion, of constitutional uniparental disomy associated with unmasking of a heterozygous parental mutation.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

[Ulnar dimelia: imaging modalities and surgical implications].

PURPOSE: To report 2patients with ulnar dimelia. METHODS: Plain radiographs (2patients), angiography (1patient), MR (2patients), CT (2patients) with 3Dreconstruction (1patient) were performed. RESULTS: Unilateral polydactyly with absence of the thumb, ulnar duplication with absence of radius were observed in both patients. Shoulder dislocation was present in one patient. Vascular anomalities were observed in one patient who underwent angiography but did not interfere with polydactyly surgical treatment and pollicisation. CT with 3D helped in delineating the elbow and shoulder bone abnormalities and thus in planning elbow osteotomies. MR was helpful in imaging muscle anatomy. CONCLUSIONS: Ulnar dimelia or "mirror hand" is a rare congenital disorder of the upper limb. Approximately 70cases have been reported, including 3 with shoulder dislocation. A multimodality imaging approach, exploring the various aspects of the malformation is mandatory to help the surgeon in order to obtain a functional and aesthetic upper limb after complex surgical procedures taking into account the various aspects of the malformation.

Adolescent↗

[Brain functional MRI: physiological, technical, and methodological bases, and clinical applications].

Brain functional MRI (fMRI) provides an indirect mapping of cerebral activity, based on the detection of the local blood flow and oxygenation changes following neuronal activity (BOLD contrast, Blood Oxygenation Level Dependent). fMRI allows us to study non invasively the normal and pathological aspects of cortical functional organization. Each fMRI study compares two different states of activity. Echo-Planar Imaging (EPI) is the technic of choice that makes it possible to study the whole brain at a rapid pace. Activation maps are calculated from a statistical analysis of the local signal changes. Functional MRI is now becoming an essential tool in the neurofunctional work-up of many neurosurgery patients, as well as the reference method to image normal or pathologic functional brain organization in adults and children.

Adult↗

Clinical features of 52 neonates with hyperinsulinism.

BACKGROUND: Neonatal hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia is often resistant to medical therapy and is often treated with near-total pancreatectomy. However, the pancreatic lesions may be focal and treatable by partial pancreatic resection. METHODS: We studied 52 neonates with hyperinsulinism who were treated surgically. The type and location of the pancreatic lesions were determined by preoperative pancreatic catheterization and intraoperative histologic studies. Partial pancreatectomy was performed in infants with focal lesions, and near-total pancreatectomy was performed in those with diffuse lesions. The postoperative outcome was determined by measurements of plasma glucose and glycosylated hemoglobin and by oral glucose-tolerance tests. RESULTS: Thirty neonates had diffuse beta-cell hyperfunction, and 22 had focal adenomatous islet-cell hyperplasia. Among the latter, the lesions were in the head of the pancreas in nine, the isthmus in three, the body in eight, and the tail in two. The clinical manifestations were similar in both groups. The infants with focal lesions had no symptoms of hypoglycemia and had normal preprandial and postprandial plasma glucose and glycosylated hemoglobin values and normal results on oral glucose-tolerance tests after partial pancreatectomy (performed in 19 of 22 neonates). By contrast, after near-total pancreatectomy, 13 of the patients with diffuse lesions had persistent hypoglycemia, type 1 diabetes mellitus developed in 8, and hyperglycemia developed in another 7; overall, only 2 patients with diffuse lesions had normal plasma glucose concentrations in the first year after surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Among neonates with hyperinsulinism, about half may have focal islet-cell hyperplasia that can be treated with partial pancreatectomy. These neonates can be identified through pancreatic catheterization and intraoperative histologic studies.

ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters↗