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Biomedical subjects

L Azizi

Publications and source records attributed to L Azizi.

11 recordsLinked to original sources

Brain donation for research: strong support in Australia.

Permission by families for transplant donation has decreased in Australia. We do know that Australians are interested in donating organs. What has not been explored is how people feel about donating brain tissue for medical research. This study examines the verbal responses of the next of kin, on the day of autopsy of the deceased, to the question of brain donation for medical research. On the day of autopsy a telephone call was made to the next of kin. Families were asked to consider donating the brain tissue of the deceased to medical research. All responses were recorded. Fifty-eight per cent of families contacted by telephone gave permission for the brain donation. The main reasons given for donating the brain to research were wanting to help others, and the family knowing the deceased's wishes. This is an excellent response from families and more encouraging than the literature would predict. Further education and awareness about brain donation is needed and may be achieved effectively by combining donation options with the Australian Organ Donor Register.

Australia↗

[External phased-array MR imaging preoperative assessment of rectal cancer].

The main problem associated with rectal cancer treatment is tumor recurrence. Randomized controlled studies have shown that adjuvant preoperative radiation therapy is effective for reducing local recurrence. These studies have also demonstrated that there are groups of rectal cancer patients with differing degrees of risk for local recurrence. At one end of the spectrum is the low-risk group: patients with superficial rectal cancer, who can be treated with surgery alone. At the other end is the high-risk group: patients with a close or involved resection margin at total mesorectal excision, the very advanced tumors that require a longer course of chemotherapy and radiation therapy, and extensive surgery. Paramount for this selection and differentiated treatment is a reliable preoperative test that can be used to distinguish these groups of patients. In this review article, we will discuss the role of high-resolution phased array MRI among the other imaging modalities such as endorectal MRI, endorectal US, and CT. We will also discuss and illustrate MR imaging results in terms of T stage, circumferential resection margin, locally advanced rectal cancer, and N stage.

Humans↗

[D-Dimer determination combined with clinical probability for the diagnosis of leg venous thrombosis].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the results of combination of D-Dimer test and simple clinical model for the diagnosis of deep vein thrombosis (DVT). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Inclusion: clinical suspicion of DVT. Non inclusion criteria were Clinical model performed by the referring physician included probability varying from high to low. D-Dimer test was performed by five different rapid techniques. Standard of reference was Doppler ultrasonography (DU) performed by a senior radiologist. RESULTS: Eight hundred and fifty-four DU were performed on a 14 months time period, including 206 suspicion of pulmonary embolism, 109 postoperative time period, 120 non-included or excluded patients, 278 incomplete observations, 141 complete observations. DVT was present in 33 cases and absent in the other 108 cases (prevalence 23%). Sensitivity and negative predictive value of the five tests were between 82 and 97% and 90 et 97%. The most sensitive test had a specificity of 36% and a positive predictive value of 32%. Combination of clinical model and D-Dimer test did not improve the diagnostic accuracy. CONCLUSION: None of the test evaluated in the present study, even when combined with the clinical model results, did allow the exclusion of DVT.

Formycins↗

Merkel cell carcinoma: a rare cause of hypervascular nasal tumor.

Cutaneous neuroendocrine carcinoma, first described in 1972, is an aggressive disease usually occurring in sun-exposed skin. Other sites have been described, however; such tumors occasionally occur within the nasal fossa. A high rate of metastasis (>30%) explains the poor prognosis. Descriptions of the imaging features of these tumors, mainly located in cutaneous region, are rare. We therefore present the imaging features of two cases of Merkel cell carcinoma involving the sinonasal region, suggestive of a hypervascular tumor.

Aged↗

[Infectious aneurysms of the cavernous carotid artery].

We describe 3 patients who developed infectious aneurysms of the cavernous carotid artery. The aneurysms were due to sphenoidal sinusitis in two patients and due to endocarditis in one. The acute and septic onset of the cavernous sinus syndrome, suggested thrombophlebitis of the cavernous sinus in all 3 patients. The diagnosis was established by magnetic resonance imaging and magnetic resonance angiography. Therapeutic internal carotid artery occlusion was indicated for a fissuration of their aneurysm manifested (n=3) by an episode of epistaxis (n=2) and blood in sphenoid sinus (depicted by MRI) in one case. We discuss the pathophysiology and management of bacterial aneurysms of the cavernous carotid artery. Close clinical and imaging follow-up should be performed for patients under antibiotherapy. Selective angiography with therapeutic occlusion of the carotid artery is discussed in patients with persistence of symptoms or if clinical findings are suggestive of fissuration or if aneurysmal sac diameter increases on follow-up imaging studies.

Adult↗

Cervical carcinoma: computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging for preoperative staging.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the accuracy of computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the evaluation of invasive cervical cancer. METHODS: Seventy-nine women with untreated cervical cancer underwent pre-treatment MRI (n = 71) and/or CT (n = 37) within 4 weeks of surgical evaluation. Twenty-nine women had both MRI and CT. Images were evaluated for tumor detection, size, stromal invasion, local extension, and nodal metastases. RESULTS: Tumor size was evaluated accurately by MRI, with a correlation coefficient of 0.93. Magnetic resonance estimates of tumor size were within 0.5 cm of the surgical sample in 64 of 69 women (93%). Magnetic resonance was 88% accurate evaluating the presence of stromal invasion and 78% accurate for depth of stromal invasion. Computed tomography could not evaluate tumor size or stromal invasion because it could not distinguish cancer from the surrounding normal cervical tissue. In evaluating stage of disease, MRI had an accuracy of 90%, compared with 65% for CT (P < .005). Magnetic resonance imaging was more accurate than CT (94 versus 76%, P < .005) in assessing parametrial invasion. Both modalities were comparable in evaluating lymph node metastases (86% each). In determining operative candidates (stage I and minimal IIA), MRI was 94% accurate, compared with 76% for CT (P < .005). CONCLUSION: Compared with CT, MRI offered significantly improved evaluation of tumor size, stromal invasion, and local and regional extent of disease in pre-treatment imaging for cervical cancer.

Adult↗

Ovarian cancer recurrence: value of MR imaging.

PURPOSE: To assess magnetic resonance (MR) imaging in depiction of ovarian tumor recurrence and for identification of patients who may not benefit from surgical reexploration. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In a prospective study, 34 patients (mean age, 57.07 years) with surgically staged ovarian cancer underwent MR imaging before reexploration. Findings at MR imaging and surgery were correlated. MR imaging tumor depiction was correlated with tumor size, presence of ascites, and CA-125 levels. RESULTS: Tumor recurrence was identified in 29 patients at surgery. MR imaging depicted tumor in 20 patients. Accuracy for lesions smaller than 2 cm was 35% and increased to 82% for lesions larger than 2 cm (P < .01). MR imaging had low sensitivity for depiction of implants in the peritoneum and mesentery. Ascites improved depiction of smaller lesions (< 2 cm). MR imaging in combination with CA-125 levels improved detection of recurrent disease (CA-125 measurement alone 53% vs CA-125 measurement and MR imaging 75%, P = .048). CONCLUSION: MR imaging is a useful adjunct to the clinical examination to identify patients with recurrent disease and those in whom reexploration may not be beneficial.

Adult↗