Auditory spatial deficits in brainstem disorders

Purpose Brainstem disorders seem to negatively influence the central auditory system, causing spatial hearing deficits. Material and methods We tested 11 patients with brainstem lesions due to ischemic stroke (IS), multiple sclerosis (MS), or cerebellopontine angle tumor (CPAT) together with 50 age- and sex-matched healthy volunteers. We used pure tone audiometry (PTAud), brainstem auditory evoked potentials (BAEPs) and the horizontal minimum audible angle test (HMAAT) for 8 azimuths with binaural stimulation. Results The chosen patients and the controls had normal or near normal hearing in PTAud. BAEPs interaural wave I–V latency difference was over 7 times longer in the patients group compared to the controls. Additionally, 9 of the 11 patients (81.1%) had abnormal HMAAT results. The biggest quantitative disturbances in HMAAT were present in the CPAT and the MS patients. The sound localization ability in HMAAT was significantly worse in the patients in 0° azimuth in comparison with the controls, and in 45° and 90° azimuth in patients with auditory pathway involvement compared with the ones without the involvement. Conclusions Our study confirms the strong relationship between various brainstem pathologies and sound localization disability and sheds some light on the complexity of the relationship

Złamania podstawy czaszki. Prezentacja dwóch przypadków ze złamaniem kości skroniowej

Approximately 1/3 of head trauma patients receive skull fractures and approximately 18% of all skull fractures involve temporal bone. The common sequelae of a temporal bone fracture include hearing loss, facial nerve weakness, vestibular dysfunction and cerebrospinal fluid leakage. This article reports on causes, classification, symptoms, diagnostics and management of temporal bone fractures. We have described 2 patients with temporal bone fracture recently management in our Department.Urazy głowy w 1/3 przypadków przebiegają ze złamaniem kości czaszki, w tym w około 18% obejmują kość skroniową. Następstwami złamania kości skroniowej są: niedosłuch, krwawienie z ucha, niedowład lub porażenie nerwu twarzowego, dysfunkcja błędnika oraz płynotok uszny. W pracy przedstawiono podział złamań kości skroniowej, przyczyny ich powstawania, objawy, diagnostykę oraz postępowanie. Całość zilustrowano opisem dwóch przypadków chorych leczonych z powodu złamania kości skroniowej

MRI in patients with urethral stricture: a systematic review

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is gaining acceptance as a diagnostic tool in urethral stricture disease. Numerous publications emphasize on the advantages of MRI including its ability to determine periurethral spongiofibrosis, thus overcoming the main limitation of retrograde urethrography (RUG). It is also becoming an alternative for sonourethrography (SUG), which is a highly subjective examination. Magnetic resonance urethrography (MRU) has become an increasingly appreciated tool for diagnosing patients with urethral stricture disease. Obtained data provides radiologists and urethral reconstructive surgeons with additional information regarding anatomical relationships and periurethral tissue details, facilitating further treatment planning. Considering the great prevalence of urethral stricture disease and necessity of using accurate, and acceptable diagnostic method, this review was designed to provide radiologists and clinicians with a systematic review of the literature on the use of MRI in the urethral stricture disease

Is hepatotropic contrast enhanced MR a more effective method in differential diagnosis of hemangioma than multi-phase CT and unenhanced MR?

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Cavernous hemangiomas are the most frequent neoplasms of the liver and in routine clinical practice they often need to be differentiated from malignant tumors and other benign focal lesions. The purpose of this study is to evaluate whether diagnostic accuracy of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of hepatic hemangiomas, showing atypical pattern on US, improves with the use of Gd-BOPTA in comparison with contrast-enhanced multi-phase computed tomography (CT).</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>178 consecutive patients with ambiguous hepatic masses showing atypical hyperechoic pattern on grey-scale US, underwent unenhanced and contrast-enhanced multi-phase multi-detector CT and MR (1.5T) with the use of liver-specific contrast medium gadobenate dimeglumine (Gd-BOPTA). After intravenous contrast administration arterial (HAP), venous-portal (PVP), equilibrium phases (EP) both in CT and MR and additionally hepatobiliary phase (HBP) in MR were obtained. 398 lesions have been detected including 99 hemangiomas and 299 other lesions.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>In non-enhanced MDCT examination detection of hemangiomas was characterized by sensitivity of 76%, specificity of 90%, PPV of 71%, NPV of 92% and accuracy of 86%.</p> <p>Non-enhanced MR examination showed sensitivity of 98%, specificity of 99%, PPV of 99%, NPV of 99% and accuracy of 99%.</p> <p>After intravenous administration of contrast medium in MR the mentioned above parameters did not increase significantly.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Gd-BOPTA-enhanced MR in comparison with unenhanced MRI does not improve diagnostic accuracy in discriminating hemangiomas that show non-specific appearance in ultrasound examination. Unenhanced MR as a method of choice should directly follow US in course of diagnostic algorithm in differentiation of hemangiomas from other liver tumors.</p

The modern indications for cochlear implantation

Celem pracy jest przedstawienie nowoczesnych wskazań do leczenia głuchoty u osób dorosłych metodą implantacji ślimakowej. Głównymi wskazaniami do zastosowania wszczepu ślimakowego są znaczny lub głęboki obustronny niedosłuch odbiorczy przy braku korzyści ze stosowania aparatów słuchowych. W procesie kwalifikacji chorego do implantacji istotne są oceny audiologiczna, otoneurologiczna, otochirurgiczna, radiologiczna, logopedyczna oraz psychologiczna. Autorzy przedstawiają ogólne zasady działania implantu ślimakowego oraz technikę operacyjną. Przedstawiono zasady rehabilitacji chorego po operacji, w której uczestniczy zespół złożony z audiologa, inżyniera biomedycznego, logopedy i psychologa.The aim of this paper was describing the modern indications for deafness treatment in adults with cochlear implantation method. The main indications for cochlear implant are considerable and profound sensorineural hearing loss with no benefit from hearing aid use. The examination by audiologist-otoneurologist, radiologist, speech therapist and psychologist is very important during qualification process for cochlear implantation. The authors present general principles of cochlear implant action and surgical technique. The rules of postoperative rehabilitation are also presented where take p art team collected with audiologist, biomedical engineer, speech therapist and psychologist

Feasibility of Intravoxel Incoherent Motion (IVIM) and Dynamic Contrast-Enhanced Magnetic Resonance Imaging (DCE-MRI) in Differentiation of Benign Parotid Gland Tumors

Aim: The aim of this prospective study is to identify quantitative intravoxel incoherent motion and dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging parameters of the most frequent benign parotid tumors, compare their utility and diagnostic accuracy. Methods: The study group consisted of 52 patients with 64 histopathologically confirmed parotid focal lesions. Parametric maps representing apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC), pure diffusion coefficient (D), pseudo-diffusion coefficient (D*), perfusion fraction (FP) and transfer constant (Ktrans), reflux constant (Kep), extra-vascular extra-cellular volume fraction (Ve), and initial area under curve in 60 s (iAUC) have been obtained from multiparametric MRI. Results: Statistically significant (p &lt; 0.001) inter-group differences were found between pleomorphic adenomas (PA) and Warthin tumors (WT) in all tested parameters but iAUC. Receiver operating characteristic curves were constructed to determine the optimal cut-off levels of the most significant parameters allowing differentiation between WT and PA. The Area Under the Curve (AUC) values and thresholds were for ADC: 0.931 and 1.05, D: 0.896 and 0.9, Kep: 0.964 and 1.1 and Ve: 0.939 and 0.299, respectively. Lesions presenting with a combination of ADC, D, and Ve values superior to the cut-off and Kep values inferior to the cut-off are classified as pleomorphic adenomas. Lesions presenting with combination of ADC, D, and Ve values inferior to the cut-off and Kep values superior to the cut-off are classified as Warthin tumors. Conclusions: DWI, IVIM and quantitative analysis of DCE-MRI derived parameters demonstrated distinctive features of PAs and WT and as such they seem feasible in differentiation of benign parotid gland tumors

Feasibility of Intravoxel Incoherent Motion (IVIM) and Dynamic Contrast-Enhanced Magnetic Resonance Imaging (DCE-MRI) in Differentiation of Benign Parotid Gland Tumors

Aim: The aim of this prospective study is to identify quantitative intravoxel incoherent motion and dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging parameters of the most frequent benign parotid tumors, compare their utility and diagnostic accuracy. Methods: The study group consisted of 52 patients with 64 histopathologically confirmed parotid focal lesions. Parametric maps representing apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC), pure diffusion coefficient (D), pseudo-diffusion coefficient (D*), perfusion fraction (FP) and transfer constant (Ktrans), reflux constant (Kep), extra-vascular extra-cellular volume fraction (Ve), and initial area under curve in 60 s (iAUC) have been obtained from multiparametric MRI. Results: Statistically significant (p < 0.001) inter-group differences were found between pleomorphic adenomas (PA) and Warthin tumors (WT) in all tested parameters but iAUC. Receiver operating characteristic curves were constructed to determine the optimal cut-off levels of the most significant parameters allowing differentiation between WT and PA. The Area Under the Curve (AUC) values and thresholds were for ADC: 0.931 and 1.05, D: 0.896 and 0.9, Kep: 0.964 and 1.1 and Ve: 0.939 and 0.299, respectively. Lesions presenting with a combination of ADC, D, and Ve values superior to the cut-off and Kep values inferior to the cut-off are classified as pleomorphic adenomas. Lesions presenting with combination of ADC, D, and Ve values inferior to the cut-off and Kep values superior to the cut-off are classified as Warthin tumors. Conclusions: DWI, IVIM and quantitative analysis of DCE-MRI derived parameters demonstrated distinctive features of PAs and WT and as such they seem feasible in differentiation of benign parotid gland tumors

Evaluation of Subcortical Structure Volumes in Patients with Non-Specific Digestive Diseases

(1) Background: To evaluate volume of subcortical structures such as hippocampus, globus pallidus, putamen, thalamus, nucleus accumbens, amygdala, caudate in patients with non-specific digestive diseases (functional dyspepsia&mdash;FD, irritable bowel syndrome&mdash;IBS) and non-specific inflammatory bowel diseases&mdash;IBD (colitis ulcerosa and Crohn&rsquo;s disease) in comparison to healthy control group (CON). (2) Material: The analysis included data obtained from 57 patients (FD-18, IBS-20, IBD-19) and 19 persons in control group. Both groups underwent examination in a 3T scanner (Achieva TX Philips Healthcare). (3) Results: Significant differences between the IBD group and Control group in volume of left thalamus and IBD group vs Control group in volume of right thalamus. (4) Conclusions: The brain-gut axis hypothesis explains connection between biological behavior, emotions and cognitive functions in patients with gastrointestinal disease. We found that there is a difference between volume of thalamus in IBD patients in comparison to both IBS and control group and it occurred to be smaller. Excess inflammation can be linked with psychological disorders like depressive symptoms, sleep difficulties and/or fatigue. Therefore, there is a need for using treatment both for depressive symptoms and IBD to reduce the causes and effects of inflammation

Evaluation of changes in the parameters of brain tissue perfusion in multi-slice computed tomography in patients after carotid artery stenting

Background: CT perfusion of the brain allows functional evaluation of cerebral blood flow. Patients with chronic internal carotid artery (ICA) stenosis may suffer from malperfusion. Improvement of cerebral blood flow and remission of neurological symptoms indicate the effectiveness of treatment of internal carotid artery stenosis. Material/Methods: The aim of the study was to analyze alterations within cerebral perfusion parameters in CT brain perfusion examination in patients who were scheduled for endovascular therapy due to ICA stenosis. Forty patients with ICA stenosis of over 79% who were included in this prospective study underwent perfusion CT examination twice - 24 hours prior to stenting and after 6-8 weeks following the procedure. CBF, CBV, MTT and TTP were evaluated. Results: Prior to endovascular therapy, an increase in MTT and TTP, and a decrease in CBV and CBF were observed within arterial supply of the hemisphere ipsilateral to stenosis. After the procedure, a decrease in MTT and TTP was seen in all cases, while no statistically significant changes of CBF or CBV were observed. MTT proved to be the most sensitive indicator of ICA stenosis, as its values allowed differentiation between critical and non-critical stenosis. No correlation between the degree of ICA stenosis and TTP values was found. Mild cerebral hyperperfusion syndrome (CHS) was observed in only one patient and the difference between pre-treatment MTT values calculated for both hemispheres was shown to be a prognostic factor for CHS incidence. Conclusions: Endovascular stent placing in patients with hemodynamically significant internal carotid artery stenosis results in alteration of perfusion parameters, especially concerning TTP and MTT