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C Ruosi

Publications and source records attributed to C Ruosi.

6 recordsLinked to original sources

The acromegalic arthropathy.

Since the initial definition of acromegaly over 100 yr ago, extraordinary efforts have been made to control GH levels and the pituitary tumor. Criteria of cure have been evolving constantly and all previous statements should be revised according to modern criteria of disease control. Arthropathy is undoubtedly the most important cause of morbidity and functional disability of acromegaly, and bone alterations are highly characteristic of this syndrome. They involve theoretically all bones and, particularly, the appendicular and the axial skeleton. Radiographic changes at different joint sites are more common than symptoms related to their involvement. There is a progression in the acromegalic arthropathy, resembling that described for the acromegalic cardiomyopathy or for the acromegalic features at other organs, such as thyroid, breast and prostate. At early stage, cartilage hypertrophy predominates, and then degenerative changes start until osteoarthritis features occur. Arthropathy can be reversed by normalizing GH and IGF-I levels only at the initial stage. If the disease is left untreated for long time, the osteo-articular sequelae cannot be modified by any treatment of acromegaly.

Acromegaly↗

Prevention of venous thromboembolism in spinal surgery.

Deep vein thrombosis (DVT), and its most feared complication, pulmonary embolism (PE), still have a high incidence with high risk for patients' health. Proven prophylactic measures are available but are generally underused, and DVT is still considered the most common cause of preventable death among hospitalized patients. The rationale for prophylaxis of venous thromboembolism is based on the clinically silent nature of the disease, the relatively high prevalence among hospitalized patients and the potentially tragic consequences of a missed diagnosis. During the last 15-20 years, spine surgery has changed radically, developing into a well-defined area of specialist surgery, and some attention is now being given to DVT events in spine surgery. The incidence of DVT during spine surgery is not documented in the literature, because only case reports or retrospective studies are reported. It would therefore be very helpful to initiate a multicenter study in order to understand this problem better and to develop, if possible, some guidelines on prophylactic measures in spine surgery. In doing so, we need to consider each patient's pattern, any risk factors and every kind of surgical technique related to DVT, in order to improve the outcome of the patient and to reduce any medicolegal problems that could arise from a thrombotic complication or an epidural hematoma, with its high potential for irreversible consequences.

Humans↗

Uncommon clinical course of multiple osteochondromatosis in a patient with a long-term history of Cushing's disease.

Cushing's disease (CD), the chronic endogenous hypercortisolism derived from an ACTH-secreting pituitary adenoma, and multiple osteochondromatosis (MO), a congenital mesoderm dyschondroplasia, represent two distinct rare neoplastic diseases. Clinical appearance of MO usually occurs during the first-second decade of life. In fact, the growth of osteochondromas parallels the patient's growth, then becoming quiescent after the closure of the epiphyses and the achievement of final stature. Here we describe an uncommon case of a patient with a long-term history of childhood-onset CD, who surprisingly developed MO during the third decade of life, after the remission of CD. Indeed, a female patient had been followed for CD from the age of 12 to the age of 24 years, when CD definitively remitted. At the age of 26 the patient complained progressively worsening backache and pain at level of hips and feet. Standard radiography of skeleton showed multiple bone dysmorphisms at level of the four limbs, spine and pelvis consistent with multiple osteochondromas and exostoses. A diagnosis of MO was performed. Total body bone scintigraphy with 99mTc-MDP revealed an increased uptake of the radioligand, suggesting an increased metabolic turnover in correspondence of the majority of the osteochondromas. However, the negativity of the majority of the lesions at 99mTc-DMSA scintigraphy and the histological diagnosis of benign osteochondroma of the only positive lesion at 99mTc-DMSA evidenced that the high metabolic activity of the osteochondromas was not due to malignant transformation. However, the activity of the lesions was highly surprising considering that they usually become quiescent after the achievement of the final stature. In last analysis, the uncommon characteristics of MO and, particularly, its occurrence after stable remission of hypercortisolism, suggests a possible role of glucocorticoids in influencing the clinical course of the skeletal disease. The inhibitory effect of hypercortisolism on bone growth and maturation could explain the block in the proliferation of skeletal lesions during the developmental age, where CD was in the active phase, and the opposite effect of stimulation of the ostochondromas growth during stable normalization of cortisol secretion, after CD remission.

Adrenocorticotropic Hormone↗

Intervertebral disc herniation at D3-4 Case report.

The authors report a case of intervertebral disc herniation at D3.4 which they removed surgically from a posterior approach. They emphasize the extreme rarity of this localisation. The hernia was calcified, extruded and displaced posterolaterally and medially, causing pressure on the anterior aspect of the spinal cord with neurological signs of the pareto-spastic type. The operation was successful, with relief of pain and regression of the neurological symptoms.

Adult↗