PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

G Chaljub

Publications and source records attributed to G Chaljub.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Transition from film to electronic media in the first-year medical school gross anatomy lab.

For the benefit of the first-year gross anatomy students, we digitized and published on a Web site images that had been collected over a 30-year period. We provided a CD-ROM (compact disk, read-only media) containing the image set in higher quality format to students and faculty. We supplemented basic images with hot topics such as CT angiography, virtual colonography, computer-aided diagnosis, and 3D post-processing. Full motion video and moving JPEG (Joint Photo Expert Group) animations were integrated into the atlas. On the post course questionnaire medical students reported that the images on CD-ROM were helpful during the course and for review prior to examinations. Faculty and medical students used the CD-ROM for problem-based learning sections and facilitator training. The images were clear and easily projected during review sessions and were useful for the small group sessions, where they served as examples of normal anatomy.

Anatomy, Cross-Sectional↗

MR imaging of cavernous sinus invasion by mucormycosis: a case study.

Cavernous sinus thrombosis is a serious condition, which, if not recognized early, can lead to a fulminant course. Knowledge of risk factors along with early recognition of signs and symptoms may alter the course of this condition. We present a case of a patient with cavernous sinus thrombosis with characteristic findings on MRI. Biopsy of the sinuses revealed mucromycosis as the offending agent.

Biopsy↗

Projectile cylinder accidents resulting from the presence of ferromagnetic nitrous oxide or oxygen tanks in the MR suite.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to alert MR users to the potentially lethal consequences of projectile cylinder accidents in the MR environment. CONCLUSION: Projectile cylinder tank accidents still occur and may be increasing, despite adherence to screening policies before MR imaging and safety education of hospital personnel. Four of the last five accidents at our institutions occurred within the past 3 years.

Accidents↗

Osteoma of the internal auditory canal.

OBJECTIVE: To review presenting symptoms and illustrate management options for this uncommon lesion. DESIGN: Case series and literature review. SETTING: Tertiary referral center. PATIENTS: Three cases of osteoma of the internal auditory canal are presented. Additional cases from the literature, diagnosed by radiographic appearance or gross description, are included for comparison. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Response of clinical symptoms. RESULTS: Presenting symptoms are highly variable. Available reports do not adequately define the natural history of the lesion. CONCLUSION: The lack of a consistent presentation despite a similar radiographic appearance suggests that the osteoma is often an incidental finding.

Adult↗

Oncocytoma in melanocytoma of the spinal cord: case report.

OBJECTIVE AND IMPORTANCE: Oncocytoma in the central nervous system is extremely unusual. The first reported example of oncocytoma in a melanocytoma of the spinal cord was successfully excised, and its pathological appearance is described. CLINICAL PRESENTATION: A 71-year-old woman presented with a 25-year history of back pain and myelographic evidence of a lumbar spinal cord mass. After declining surgical treatment for two decades, she elected eventually to have the mass excised. Preoperative magnetic resonance imaging revealed a large intraspinal mass that spanned spinal levels L3 through S1. TECHNIQUE: The mass was excised en bloc through posterior laminectomies, and histopathological analysis revealed a benign neoplasm composed predominantly of monotonous sheets of plump oncocytes. Electron microscopy confirmed that the cytoplasm of the oncocytes was packed full of mitochondria. Focal areas of the tumor contained spindle cells, with abundant intracytoplasmic granular deposits of brown melanin pigment that contained melanosomes. Positive Fontana-Masson, HMB-45, and S-100 staining confirmed the final diagnosis of melanocytoma, oncocytic variant. CONCLUSION: The first reported case of oncocytoma arising in spinal melanocytoma is described. After surgical excision, the patient recovered completely and has remained free of symptoms for 4 years.

Adenoma, Oxyphilic↗

Continuous speech recognition in MR imaging reporting: advantages, disadvantages, and impact.

OBJECTIVE: Our objective was to describe our experience with a commercially available continuous speech recognition system, highlighting the advantages, disadvantages, and costs compared with those of conventional transcription for MR imaging reports. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data from 5072 reports generated in our MR imaging section during a 9-month period after the implementation of a commercial continuous speech recognition system were compared with 4552 reports produced during the same period 1 year earlier. Information pertaining to the use of continuous speech recognition, report turnaround time, word recognition rate, report appearance, and equipment costs was collected. RESULTS: After its system installation, continuous speech recognition was used to dictate 81.8% of all reports. The mean report turnaround time decreased from 87.8 to 43.6 hr, and report availability at 24 hr increased from 10.5% to 62.5%. The system was found to have an average word recognition accuracy of 92.7% for spontaneous dictation. Mean report length declined from 95 to 60 words, with an increase in spacing errors from 0.3 to 8.0 per 1000 words and a decrease in spelling errors from 3.0 to 0.8 per 1000 words. Initial hardware and software costs were approximately $10,000, compared with a yearly cost of $12,000 for human transcription. CONCLUSION: Although the technology is still evolving and was evaluated in its earliest implementation stages, continuous speech recognition nonetheless markedly improved report turnaround time and proved cost-effective.

Cost-Benefit Analysis↗

Intracranial and intraspinal meningeal melanocytosis.

We describe a 35-year-old man with a history of remote closed head injury who presented with new neurologic deficits. A noncontrast head CT scan showed hyperattenuation involving both temporal lobes, frontal lobes, basal meninges, and cerebellum. A subsequent contrast-enhanced MR examination of the brain showed enhancement in the basal cisterns extending into the upper cervical spine and throughout the spinal canal. Gross, histologic, and immunohistochemical analysis revealed meningeal melanocytoma.

Adult↗

External canal cholesteatoma.

OBJECTIVE: External canal cholesteatoma (ECC) may develop spontaneously or as a consequence of infection, trauma, or surgery. There is little information on the relative incidence of ECC according to cause. An analysis of cases was conducted to compare the clinical, surgical, and radiographic features of different types of ECC. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective case review. SETTING: Tertiary referral center. PATIENTS: All patients with cholesteatoma of the external auditory canal. INTERVENTION: Treatment was variable, ranging from local debridement and topical antibiotics to tympanomastoidectomy. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Assignment of cause is based on the combination of clinical history, physical examination, and radiographic appearance. RESULTS: A total of 39 patients were reviewed, 5 of them with bilateral lesions. The cause was iatrogenic in 15, spontaneous in 13, trauma in 6, congenital in 2, postinflammatory in 2, and postobstructive in 1. Surgery was performed in 25 cases. Successful results were obtained in most patients. CONCLUSION: The cause of an ECC is determined on the basis of clinical features and radiographic appearance. The treatment plan is influenced by the cause of the ECC. Surgery is frequently necessary in congenital, posttraumatic, postobstructive, and iatrogenic ECC. Spontaneous lesions are usually controlled with office debridement.

Adolescent↗

Blastomycosis of the lumbar spine: case report and review of the literature, with emphasis on diagnostic laboratory tools and management.

We report on the conservative and surgical management of a patient with blastomycosis of the lumbar spine, causing severe and crippling deformity. The diagnosis was made through biopsy. Curative removal, reconstruction and realignment of the spine were achieved. Imaging modalities were highlighted, with a detailed discussion of the histology and conservative and surgical management. We emphasize the importance of early, aggressive treatment of blastomycosis to prevent deformity and disability, and to enable identification of the best management of a destructive lesion with deformity. This case demonstrates that empirical treatment should not be used in cases of unusual sinus and abscess locations. Specific diagnosis and early treatment are indicated to prevent dreadful complications and spinal deformity resulting from blastomycosis. Aggressive antifungal therapy can cure the disease but does not control complications related to deformity. The latter can only be addressed by surgical reconstruction. We review the literature of surgical treatment, focusing on abscess drainage, bone fusion and posterior instrumentation in the absence of addressing the deformity component.

Adult↗

Spinal-cerebrospinal fluid leak demonstrated by radiopharmaceutical cisternography.

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leaks are known to occur under several conditions: lumbar puncture performed for contrast myelography, spinal surgery, spinal stab wounds, fracture of the thoracic spine, inadvertent spinal puncture during epidural anesthesia, traumatic lumbar meningocele, and bronchopleural subarachnoid fistula due to bronchogenic carcinoma. Spontaneous spinal leaks are uncommonly encountered in neurosurgical practice, but they are increasingly recognized as a cause of spontaneous intracranial hypotension. Most CSF leaks are located at the cervicothoracic junction or in the thoracic spine. The disease is often self-limiting. A CSF leak can be detected directly by accumulation of radioactivity outside the subarachnoid space or suggested indirectly by the rapid disappearance of tracer from the subarachnoid space and early appearance in the urinary bladder. In this paper we present two unusual cases of CSF leak identified by radiopharmaceutical cisternogram.

Adult↗

The effectiveness of gallium citrate Ga 67 radionuclide imaging in vertebral osteomyelitis revisited.

We investigated the role of gallium citrate Ga 67 scanning in diagnosing spondylodiscitis. Scans of 41 patients with suspected spondylodiscitis showed increased radionuclide uptake in 39 patients; these findings correlated with those of magnetic resonance imaging and were proved by biopsy. Two patients with negative findings on gallium scans had been strongly suspected of having spondylodiscitis; biopsy findings in these patients showed degenerative changes. Thirteen patients had negative cultures, while 22 had polygenic infections and 4 had granulomatous infections. Gallium scanning proved to be 100% sensitive, specific, and accurate. The interrater accuracy was excellent. Follow-up scans were used to track therapeutic progress. We recommend complementary bone and gallium scans in cases of suspected spinal infections. If the scan is positive, a biopsy should be done. If the scans are negative, no further investigation is needed.

Adolescent↗

Intracranial chondromyxoid fibroma. Report of a case and review of the literature.

Chondromyxoid fibroma is an unusual benign tumor of cartilaginous derivation. We describe a rare example of chondromyxoid fibroma of the frontal-sphenoid junction with orbital infiltration in a 35-year-old Hispanic woman who presented with frontal headaches. Gross total excision was performed. The excised mass was composed of neoplastic cells with chondrocytic features within a myxoid matrix. Bony infiltration was present without infiltration of dura mater or brain tissue. The lack of mitotic activity, low cell density, lack of nuclear pleomorphism, and a fused lobular architectural pattern indicated that the lesion was a chondromyxoid fibroma. The lack of hyaline cartilage helped differentiate the lesion from enchondroma. Our case demonstrates the uncommon occurrence of intracranial chondromyxoid fibroma with orbital infiltration. When faced with an intracranial chondrocytic tumor, it is important to distinguish this neoplasm from enchondroma and chondrosarcoma.

Adult↗