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Biomedical subjects

M S Huckman

Publications and source records attributed to M S Huckman.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1982

Transient global amnesia after cerebral angiography. Report of seven cases.

Because of a case of typical transient global amnesia following cerebral angiography, the records of all patients undergoing cerebral angiography during a seven-year period were reviewed. Six other cases were discovered. All patients had either transfemoral catheter or brachial angiograms performed immediately before the development of amnesia. Spasm of a vertebral artery was noted in one case. None had clinically obvious seizures. All recovered within 24 hours. This only recently reported complication of cerebral angiography is consistent with a vascular etiology of the syndrome of transient global amnesia when not associated with angiography, although a direct toxic effect of the contrast material cannot be excluded.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1981

A correlative study of computed tomography and histology in human and experimental vasogenic cerebral edema.

The computed tomography (CT) scans of nine patients with vasogenic cerebral edema and five monkeys with cryogenic lesions were correlated with histologic findings. The areas of diminished density on the CT scan corresponded to foci of histologically recognizable edema. The attenuation number of the edematous tissue in the human varied from 18.0 to 28.8 Hounsfield units (HU: 1,000 scale) and in the monkey from 27.0 to 34.7 HU. There was a rough correlation between the extent of decrease in the attenuation number and the degree of staining of edematous tissue by the periodic acid-Schiff method. The decreased attenuation number of edematous tissue signifies dilution by edema fluid only when it is above 20 HU or represents a change of less than 12 HU. Lower numbers imply an additional process, possibly transformation of complex into neutral lipids. It is our belief that cerebral edema in the human can be quantitatively studied with the presently available CT scanners.

Adult↗
PubMed1981

Cerebellar atrophy: relationship to aging and cerebral atrophy.

We studied the incidence of computed tomography evidence of cerebellar atrophy in 20 elderly patients with dementia, 20 age-matched controls, and 40 younger normal subjects. Cerebellar vermian atrophy was present in 6 of 20 demented patients, 7 of 20 elderly controls, and 1 of 40 younger controls. There was no other atrophy of infratentorial structures except for occasional enlargement of the cisterna magna and cerebellopontine angle cisterns. Vermian atrophy did not correlate with cerebral atrophy (enlargement of either lateral ventricles or cortical sulci). None of these patients had clinical signs of cerebellar dysfunction. Therefore, atrophy of the cerebellar vermis may occur selectively with aging, without atrophy of the cerebral cortex, and without clinical manifestations.

Adult↗
PubMed1981

Cerebellar atrophy demonstrated by computed tomography.

We studied 55 cases of cerebellar atrophy identified by computerized tomography. Atrophy was determined by subjective assessment and objective measurements (superior cerebellar cistern, fourth ventricle, and brainstem). Different patterns of cerebellar atrophy were related to clinical diagnoses. A high incidence of vermal atrophy was observed in primary cerebellar degeneration and chronic alcoholism. More than half the patients with alcoholism had hemispheral atrophy. Vermal atrophy and enlargement of superior cerebellar cisterns (but not hemispheral atrophy) were associated with carcinomatous cerebellar degeneration. Atrophy caused by chronic phenytoin usage showed a specific pattern of enlargement of the cisterna magna, cerebellopontine angle, and superior cerebellar cisterns. Supratentorial atrophy was increased significantly only in the alcoholics. In general, limb ataxia, dysarthria, and nystagmus were related to hemispheral but not to vermal atrophy.

Adult↗
PubMed1979

Transfemoral cerebral arteriography versus direct precutaneous carotid and brachial arteriography: a comparison of complication rates.

Cerebral arteriograms in 1,141 consecutive patients, which were done either as direct percutaneous carotid or brachial studies or as transfemoro-cerebral catheter studies, were reviewed. While the overall complication rate for the direct percutaneous studies was higher, the incidence of neurologic complications, both transient and permanent, was higher in the transfemoral group. This higher incidence of neurologic complications may be related to the frequent irrigation of the catheter, which increases the probability of embolism. The incidence of serious complications was lower than in previous studies, perhaps because gravely ill patients are more likely to undergo computed tomographic scanning.

Angiography↗
PubMed1978

Predictors of mortality in presenile and senile dementia.

Forty-seven hospitalized patients with a diagnosis of presenile or senile dementia and without focal neurological disease of major systemic illness were given complete neurological, neuroradiological, and neuropsychological examinations. Mortality at one year after hospitalization was determined, 12 patients being lost to follow-up. Of the remaining 35 patients, 19 were alive and 1l had died. These groups did not differ in age, education, length of dementia history, sex, race, or degree of cerebral atrophy (by computerized tomography). Significant differences were found in degree of electroencephalographic abnormality and in 8 of 14 cognitive measures, the the largest single difference being on a test of expressive language. Discriminant function analysis made with the cognitive measures as dependent variables yielded a correct prediction (classification analysis) of mortality in all but 1 case (97% accuracy). These results suggest that (1) degree of functional brain impairment rather than degree of cerebral atrophy may be the more important influence on mortality in dementia patients without focal lesions, (2) short-term survival may be accurately predicted in such patients by tests of cognitive functioning, and (3) expressive language deficit in such patients may indicate a particularly poor prognosis for survival.

Aged↗
PubMed1977

Use of automated measurements of mean density as an adjunct to computed tomography.

A system integrated with a first-generation computed tomography (CT) head scanner is described. With the assistance of an additional program and minimal hardware changes, it was possible to examine specific areas on the preinfusion studies and obtain instantaneous printouts of a number of parameters including mean densities. This measurement technique was then applied to the preinfusion scans of "lucent" lesions--abscesses, glioblastomas--as well as "dense" lesions--recent hemorrhages, some uncalcified meningiomas, and some metastatic melanomas. These five lesions had characteristic mean attenuation values that seem to allow classification of each of the five entities. Hardware and software changes are described and practical application of the system is discussed.

Absorptiometry, Photon↗
PubMed1977

Computed tomography of porencephaly and other cerebrospinal fluid-containing lesions.

The EMI head scanner was used to review a large number of cases of porencephaly; computed tomographic scanning was found to be the most satisfactory method of evaluating these lesions. The nuclide brain scan has not usually been of significant value for diagnosis, and although angiography and pneumoencephalography were used for correlation in some cases, the CT scan is often the only neuroradiological procedure necessary to achieve the correct diagnosis. Porencephalic areas usually have a well-defined border, have the density of cerebrospinal fluid, and do not change in density following the use of contrast medium enhancement.

Adult↗
PubMed1977

The rubber circle: a technique for analyzing computed tomography scans.

The authors describe a technique for automated analysis of lesions demonstrated by computed tomography. A seed circle may be superimposed on a lesion by an operator controlled program. By selecting density limits, the program will then automatically outline a particular area of abnormal density and calculate the statistics of the pixels within that area. The information may be viewed on the computer terminal or recorded on the printer. The system may be superimposed on first generation EMI scanners without additional hardware. The time for obtaining the information roughly approximates that of systems employing manually operated cursors.

Computers↗
PubMed1976

Cerebral ventricular enlargement. Chronic alcoholics examined by computerized tomography.

Computerized tomography was used to measure cerebral ventricular size in hospitalized alcoholic patients, all of whom had evidence of liver disease. Twelve alcoholic patients with neurologic symptoms such as withdrawal seizures, neuropathy, and drug overdose were included. All these patients had normal results from the mental status examinations by the time of discharge. Alcoholic patients had a much higher mean ventricular size compared to 60 control patients. One third of the alcoholics had markedly enlarged ventricles as opposed to only one of the 60 controls.

Adult↗
PubMed1976

Computed tomography in the diagnosis of pseudotumor cerebri.

The authors reviewed 17 patients with the clinical diagnosis of benign intracranial hypertension (pseudomotor cerebri). All of these patients underwent CT scans of the head which were interpreted as normal. Comparison of mean ventricular size with that of a group of control subjects showed no significant difference. On the basis of this study and others cited, there would appear to be almost no instances in which invasive neuroradiological procedures would be required to confirm the diagnosis of pseudotumor cerebri.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1976

Contiguous internal carotid arteries in empty sella syndrome.

The cavernous portions of the right and left internal carotid arteries were seen to be nearly contiguous in a patient with empty sella syndrome. On the basis of previous reports, in which specific measurements of the cavernous portions of the internal carotid arteries are given, the authors believe that this case is unique. Carotid angiography may be used to diagnose this syndrome in the presence of a large sella turcica.

Adult↗