Dural tail sign adjacent to different intracranial lesions on contrast-enhanced MR images

Introduction: The aim of this study is to determine the prevalence of dural tail sign (DTS) in meningiomas, glioblastomas multiforme, metastasis, pituitary macro-adenomas, acoustic neuromas, medulloblastomas, lymphomas and Wegener’s granulomatosis, and to reveal if DTS is specifi c for meningiomas. Methods: In this retrospective, cross sectional study 96 patients were included with 95 intracranial and 1 extracranial lesions. The study was conducted in the period from January 2008 to May 2010 and the group pattern was made consecutively. The patients underwent surgery and all 96 lesions were examined by histopathology analysis. DTS was analysed on contrast T1- weighted spin echo images after injection of 0.1 mmol/kg gadolinium contrast medium. The presence of this sign was defi ned using Goldsher et al’s criteria. Results: Histopathology results of the 96 lesions revealed the presence of: 35 meningiomas, 25 glioblastomas multiforme, 13 metastasis, 10 pituitary adenomas, 5 acoustic neuromas, 4 medulloblastomas, 3 lymphomas and 1 Wegener’s granulomatosis. On the contrast-enhanced T1 MR images, DTS was noted in 31 (32.3%) lesions, in the following histological samples: meningioma, GBM, adenoma, schwannoma, medulloblastoma and Wegener’s granulomatosis, while in the cases of metastasis and lymphomas DTS was not noted. We found the dural tail sign to have a sensitivity of 68.6% and specifi city of 88.5% in the diagnosis of meningioma. Conclusion: The dural tail is a common but not a pathognomic sign of meningioma on contrast-enhanced T1 MR images. Other intracranial lesions, such as glioblastoma multiforme, pituitary adenoma, schwannoma, medulloblastoma and Wegener’s granulomatosis may also be represented with this sign

Fostering the practice of rooming-in in newborn care

Practice of rooming-in meant that baby and mother stayed together in the same room day and night in the hospital, right from the time of delivery till the time of discharge. Adoption of rooming-in offers multiple benefits to the newborn, mother, and mother-child as a unit. It is a cost-effective approach where<br />fewer instruments are required and spares additional manpower. Rooming-in endeavors the opportunity to contribute signifi cantly in the child’s growth, development and survival by assisting in timely initiation of breastfeeding. To ensure universal application of rooming-in in hospitals, a comprehensive and technically sound strategy should be formulated and implemented with active participation of healthcare professionals. Measures such as advocating institutional delivery through outreach awareness activities; adoption of baby-friendly hospital initiative; inculcating a sense of ownership among health professionals, can be strategically enforced for better maternal and child health related outcomes