Clinical problem solving. Learning from our errors.
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Biopsy↗
Biomedical subjects
E S Lathi
Publications and source records attributed to E S Lathi.
Radiation-induced malignant fibrous histiocytoma of the brachial plexus.
Brachial plexopathy is a common and disabling complication in cancer patients most often attributed to metastasis or radiation-induced fibrosis. Occasionally, other rare but potentially treatable causes are found. A 73 year old woman had a left radical mastectomy followed by radiation to the chest wall and axilla 24 years ago. She recently presented with left arm pain, chronic, nonprogressive lymphedema, profound distal arm sensory loss and progressive severe hand weakness. There was moderate atrophy of all intrinsic hand muscles, anesthesia of the hypothenar eminence and 4th and 5th digits, and no adenopathy or palpable mass in the axilla. EMG confirmed a brachial plexopathy. MRI showed loss of tissue planes consistent with radiation fibrosis, but CT showed a discrete mass in the brachial plexus. Open biopsy showed pleomorphic spindle shaped cells with immunoperoxidase stains consistent with malignant fibrous histiocytoma. Radiation-induced malignant fibrous histiocytoma may present with a brachial plexopathy in the absence of a palpable mass and should be considered in the differential diagnosis of brachial plexus lesions in cancer patients. CT scanning through the plexus may be useful when MRI is normal or equivocal.
Aged↗
Spinal cord compression secondary to extramedullary hematopoiesis: a noninvasive management based on MRI.
We report the first case of spinal cord compression secondary to extramedullary hematopoiesis in which the diagnosis was made by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Based on the great advantage of this imaging test that visualizes the entire spine, the noninvasive approach to such patients, using low-dose radiation therapy and guided by MRI is discussed. This management appears to be both efficacious and safe.
Adult↗
Clinical features and mechanism of occipital infarction.
To clarify the clinical features and mechanism of infarction in the posterior cerebral artery territory, we investigated 35 consecutive patients who presented with homonymous visual field defects and occipital infarction documented by computed tomography. Cerebral angiographic findings in 23 patients, and the clinical features of rare transient ischemic attacks and maximal deficit occurring at stroke onset, were consistent with embolism of the posterior cerebral artery. Visual field defects were the only neurological abnormality in 17 patients; the remainder had additional findings. Three patients had a major brainstem stroke. Stroke in the posterior cerebral artery territory was found in a heterogeneous group of patients, although embolism was the most common stroke mechanism. Several distinct patient groups were identified: cardiac source embolism (10 patients), vertebrobasilar atheroma with local embolism (6), migraine (5), systemic illness with presumed coagulopathy (3), and "unknown source embolism" after negative cardiac investigation (11 patients). During follow-up, 26 patients had no further neurological events (the majority on anticoagulation or antiplatelet treatment), 3 suffered new strokes, and 6 died.
Basilar Artery↗
A prospective study of radiofrequency rhizotomy in the treatment of posttraumatic spasticity.
Posttraumatic spasticity severely impedes rehabilitation potential and nursing care. Treatment of severe spasticity has included medical therapy, spinal cord ablative procedures, anterior and posterior root lesions and peripheral denervations, and tendon releases. Open rhizotomy and percutaneous radiofrequency rhizotomy have achieved good results. We prospectively studied 25 patients with severe spasticity to assess the efficacy of percutaneous radiofrequency rhizotomy. All or most of the prospectively identified goals were accomplished in 24 of the 25 patients, with improvement persisting during an average follow-up period of 12 months. The improvement due to decreased tone was much greater than the improvement due to increased range of motion.
Adolescent↗
Cerebral embolism as the initial manifestation of peripartum cardiomyopathy.
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Adult↗
"Wrong-way eyes" in supratentorial hemorrhage.
A patient developed conjugate horizontal eye deviation to the side opposite a large frontal-perisylvian hemorrhage from a ruptured aneurysm. Autopsy examination confirmed the hemispheric locus of the hemorrhage and failed to disclose any lesion of the brainstem or thalamus to explain the "wrong-way" eye deviation.
Cerebral Hemorrhage↗