Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to G Wilms.
The MRI findings at 1.5 Tesla of central pontine myelinolysis in 2 alcoholic patients are reported. The lesion was confined to the pons in both cases, with strong hyperintensity on T2-weighted and hypointensity on T1-weighted images. In both cases MRI revealed typical symmetrical sparing of the ventrolateral tracts in the pons.
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Transcatheter arterial embolization was attempted in ten patients with gynaecological bleeding. It concerned eight malignant lesions (five cases of spinocellular carcinoma of the uterine cervix, one case of endometrium carcinoma, one case of choriocarcinoma and one case of vulvovaginal metastasis of hypernephroma), and two benign lesions (one uterine arteriovenous malformation and one bleeding after curettage). Bleeding could be stopped in six patients and considerably reduced in two. In two patients selective catheterization of the uterine artery was impossible due to atherosclerotic tortuosity in one and tumoral invasion in the other.
A case of Moya-Moya disease confirmed by cerebral angiography in a 10-year-old girl is reported. Hypertrophic collateral circulation is easily visualized by MRI. MR angiography very accurately demonstrated the vascular obstruction and the collateral circulation. As MR angiography is not invasive, it promises to become a valuable alternative to conventional angiography in the diagnosis of Moya-Moya.
Percutaneous transluminal atherectomy with the Simpson atherectomy catheter was performed in 5 patients with severe atheromatous stenoses of the femoropopliteal arteries. In all patients plaque material was removed with successful restoration of vessel patency. Further clinical follow-up will have to determine whether recurrence rate of stenosis will be lower with this method than with conventional balloon angioplasty.
Outpatient angiography of the abdominal aorta and the peripheral arteries of the under limbs was performed in 100 patients with complaints of peripheral vascular disease. In all patients small 5F catheters, a low-osmolar contrast medium and intraarterial digital subtraction angiography could reduce the local and general invasiveness of the angiographic procedure. Two complications occurred. In one patient thrombosis at the puncture site was noted. In another patient, an onset of angina pectoris was a minor and transitory complication. In 42 out of the 100 patients, treatment was conservative so that hospitalization could be avoided. With newer technical equipment angiography can be performed safely on an outpatient basis with important costsaving for the community. The late occurrence of some complications though, requires good information of the patient.
A case of meningeal cyst of the spinal canal in the lumbosacral region is described. A CT scan showed a soft tissue mass associated with bone erosion. Myelography and computerised tomographic myelography revealed a cyst filling with contrast and thus CSF containing. The diagnosis of meningeal cyst was confirmed in a non-invasive way by MRI showing a mass with the same signal intensities as CSF on both T1 and T2 weighted images. Final characterisation of meningeal cysts in one of the three categories comprising spinal extradural meningeal cyst without spinal nerve root fibers (type I), spinal extradural meningeal cyst with spinal nerve root fibers (type II) and intradural meningeal cyst (type III) is impossible without operative inspection and histological examination.
In order to evaluate the diagnostic contribution of brain SPECT imaging with 99mTc-HMPAO in cerebrovascular disease, we examined 92 stroke cases (144 lesions), 2 hematoma cases and 30 cases with transient neurologic symptoms. Abnormal tracer distribution is visible as zones of either hypoactivity or hyperactivity (border zone hyperemia or luxury perfusion). Remote vascularization changes could also be found (crossed cerebellar diaschisis or ipsilateral cortical perfusion reduction in thalamic or capsula interna lesions). Both X-ray CT and blood flow SPECT have comparable sensitivity in the exploration of cerebral infarction, with detection in, respectively, 89.5% and 87.5% of the lesions. False negative scintitomographic images are frequently recorded in small lacunar infarcts within the basal ganglia and white matter (capsula interna). Some early infarcts and asymmetry of brain perfusion in patients with transient neurologic symptoms are frequently not detected by CT. An additional advantage of blood flow SPECT is its ability to visualize remote blood flow changes and the changing pattern of vascularization of ischemic lesions and their surrounding areas including hyperemia.
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The use of intrarectally administered plain tap water as a contrast medium for CT scan of the rectum and sigmoid combined with iv iodine contrast medium was prospectively studied in 28 patients. This method allowed correct demonstration of mural wall abnormalities in all patients and therefore represents a simple, inexpensive, and efficient modality for CT study of the rectum and sigmoid.
Glossopharyngeal neurinomas are rare entities. Only 16 cases have been described so far in the literature. Our experience with 2 cases demonstrates the non-specific and discrete clinical presentation of the ninth nerve neurinoma, but illustrates also some typical radiological aspects, enabling a more precise preoperative diagnosis. Two cases are presented and a survey of the literature is given.
Seventy-nine intra-operative balloon angioplasties were performed in 72 patients undergoing a vascular reconstructive procedure over a 7-year-period (1981 through December 1987). The primary purpose of balloon angioplasty was either to increase inflow (26 procedures) or outflow (53 procedures) in association with a planned vascular operation and to avoid more extensive operative procedures in high risk patients. Peroperative balloon angioplasty involved atherosclerotic stenotic lesions in 26 iliac, 37 femoro-popliteal and 10 crural arteries. In 6 cases distal graft anastomotic stenoses were dilated. Follow-up ranged from 2 to 78 months (mean 32.4 months). The overall initial success rate was 84.8% and five procedure related complications were seen. One iliac restenosis with distal thrombosis, two superficial femoral artery dissections, one tibial artery thrombosis necessitating below knee amputation and one distal popliteal embolus after superficial femoral artery dilatation. There were no postoperative deaths. Fifty-one patients remained asymptomatic during follow-up. One iliac, eight femoro-popliteal and two tibial arteries restenosed with or without occlusion and thrombosis. The 3-year cumulative patency rate for the iliac and femoro-popliteal angioplasties is 80.2%. Intra-operative balloon angioplasty broadens the surgical therapeutic armamentarium available to correct multiple symptomatic arterial lesions. In addition this technique offers several advantages over a two stage procedure.
This study is a clinical evaluation on 5 volunteers and 20 patients of an improved sequence using rephasing gradients for motion compensation, applied to MR imaging of the brain at 1.5 T. The sequence is a double spin echo sequence with a normal first echo at TE = 15 ms and a second echo at TE = 90 ms with first and second order motion compensation in the readout gradient direction; the band width of the second echo is halved for improved S/N. Results demonstrate a dramatic improvement in image quality. Vascular and CSF flow are rephased, ghosting is reduced and signal voids no longer exist. Most remarkable is the substantial suppression of artifacts from voluntary movements such as from swallowing or rotation of the eyes. ECG triggering does not further improve image quality and is thus no longer needed.
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Pseudoangiomatous dilatation of retromedullary veins at myelography was noted in three cases of intramedullary spinal cord tumours. This concerned two haemangioblastomas at levels Th8 and L1, respectively, and an ependymoma of the conus terminalis. MRI accurately demonstrated the tumoural mass, together with the enlarged and tortuous draining perimedullary veins. In patients with dilated vascular shadows on myelography, MRI should be performed before medullary angiography to differentiate between spinal vascular malformations and intramedullary tumours with enlarged draining veins.
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The authors studied retrospectively the clinical aspects of 15 patients presenting a carotid cavernous sinus fistula. Therapeutic indications and results of treatment are discussed. All patients had prooptosis, chemosis and dilated episcleral vessels. 12 patients were treated by embolisation or surgery, treatment was successful in 8 patients. 3 patients had a conservative follow-up because their symptoms were minimal.