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Biomedical subjects

M Cammisa

Publications and source records attributed to M Cammisa.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1991

Relative protection from cerebral atherosclerosis of young patients with homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia.

It is well known that hypercholesterolemia is correlated with coronary atherosclerosis, but no definite information is available on its association with cerebrovascular atherosclerosis. We studied 10 young patients (age 3-32 years) with homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (FH), together with 3 normal relatives as healthy controls. Extra- and intracranial Doppler examination, MRI and cerebral blood flow by SPECT and 99mTc-HM-PAO were performed on all. Six out of 10 patients already had signs and symptoms of coronary heart disease, but all patients were free from ischemic brain lesions, as small as detectable at MRI, and had normal cerebral blood flow. Two patients presented significant stenosis of the carotid arteries at Doppler examination. Young patients with homozygous FH have early and clinically evident coronary atherosclerosis, while overt disease in the cerebral district is delayed despite the extremely elevated plasma cholesterol concentration. This was also confirmed by the autopsy of two patients, who died after the study and whose cerebral arteries were totally free from atherosclerotic lesions. The age, at which flow-reducing atherosclerotic lesions develop in hypercholesterolemic patients, differs with regard to the arterial district involved.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

[Diagnostic yield in rhino-sinusal inflammatory pathology: comparison of projective radiology, CT and MR].

In everyday practice, the radiologist is concerned with the diagnosis of inflammatory conditions of the nose and paranasal sinuses. This paper was aimed at evaluating and comparing the diagnostic efficacy of the main diagnostic imaging procedures currently available. Fifty-six patients were studied: 25 with computed radiography (CR) and CT, 21 with CR and MRI (0.22 T resistive magnet), and 10 with CR, CT, and MRI. From the diagnostic point of view, the conventional-like CR image was assumed as analog to the conventional radiographic (RX) one on the basis of previous personal experience. The following elements were separately considered for RX, CR, CT, and MRI: anatomical structure identificability, spatial resolution, dosimetry, time consumption, diagnostic results, and economics. A global performance index was calculated (RX less than 1; CR = 1; MRI ranging 1.2-2.2; CT = 7.3). CR was superior to RX, from both a diagnostic and a dosimetric point of view, but buying the equipment is nowadays expensive. CT and MRI were superior to both RX and CR in the diagnosis of inflammatory conditions of the nose and paranasal sinuses. When an inflammatory condition is unquestionable, MRI is more accurate than CT, but the latter (thanks to its optimal documentation of both bony walls and soft tissues) is superior to MRI in the differential diagnosis of a generic disease of the nose and paranasal sinuses--that is, when the inflammatory nature is questionable. MRI limitations were poor visualization of bone walls, high cost, and poor access. Thus, CT emerged as the technique of choice, thanks to its diagnostic results, easy access and low cost, with a negligible radiation dose to patients.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

[Vertebral collapse model: combined diagnostic imaging].

Ninety-eight consecutive patients with 344 collapsed vertebrae underwent conventional and/or digital radiography and MRI. Vertebral collapse was due to osteopenia (16 cases), trauma (17 cases), and vertebral osteonecrosis (3 cases). Other causes were: spondylodiscitis (9 patients), primary neoplasm (4 patients), metastases (37 patients), and hemomyelopathies (7 patients); 5 patients bore vertebral angiomas. Sixty-three patients also underwent CT and 25 bone scintigraphy. As far as collapsed vertebral endplates are concerned, according to a previous classification, outcomes were divided into 4 groups. Type 1 (focal concave collapse) was observed in 10% of benign lesions and in 1% of malignant ones; type 2 (diffuse concave collapse) in 24% of benign and in 16% of malignant lesions; type 3 (focal collapse with an acute angle) in 11% of benign and malignant lesions, and type 4 (diffuse collapse with an acute angle) in 11% of benign and in 26% of malignant lesions. Neural arch involvement was observed in 3% of benign lesions and in 16% of malignant ones; paravertebral soft-tissue involvement in 6% of benign and in 29% of malignant lesions; vertebral canal involvement in 11% of benign lesions and in 20% of malignant ones. The intervertebral disk proximal to vertebral collapse was more involved in benign lesions (24%) than in malignant ones (8%). MR signal followed 4 main patterns: low signal on T1-weighted images and high signal on proton-density and T2-weighted images (2% of benign lesions, 49% of malignant ones), low signal on all sequences (7% of benign lesions and 25% of malignant ones), isointense signal on all sequences (50% of benign and 21% of malignant lesions), and high signal on all sequences (41% of benign lesions and 0% of malignant ones).

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

[Preliminary experience of the study of the hand using digital radiology with photo-excitable phosphors and direct magnification. Comparison with the traditional high resolution technique].

Photostimulable phosphor computed radiography (CR) is a new technique. The authors applied direct magnification CR to hand study (IP matrix: 1770 x 2370), and compared the results with conventional radiography ones (high MTF industrial type film, without screens, 5 x optic enlargement reading). In both cases, a mammographic unit was employed for acquiring the images. Thirty patients affected with renal osteodystrophy, psoriatic arthropathy or rheumatoid arthritis, and 20 normal subjects were examined. Digital images were processed by a particular sensitometry curve and spatial filtering with unlinear unsharp masking: we obtained good visualization of small lesions (subperiosteal resorption, cortical bone tunnelling, minute periosteal necrosis), not inferior to that obtained with conventional techniques. CR has further advantages, such as low economic and biological cost, wide exposure and recording range, image processing, easy archiving and networking.

Arthritis, Psoriatic↗
PubMed1990

[High-resolution rapid multiplanar reconstructions in the CT study of the spine. Our experience].

The authors describe the utility of fast and high-resolution multiplanar CT reconstructions in the study of the rachis. Their experience is reported with an up-to-date software with 2 different representation modalities (CMR 01B). A "package" of contiguous axial images is obtained in a standard way; the images are then reformatted by computer to obtain (in just a few seconds) high-resolution reconstructed images in different planes (coronal, sagittal, and oblique). In the authors' opinion the method, in spite of some limitations, yields in most cases additional information which is not provided by conventional CT. Reconstructed images are most useful in the study of complex anatomical structures (such as vertebral metameres) along their anatomical planes.

Humans↗
PubMed1979

[Multi-institution, multidisciplinary radiology and endoscopy trial of the diagnostic accuracy of the double contrast examination of the stomach surface].

In 12 X-ray and gastroenterology departments 1570 patients, clinically suspected to have a gastric pathology, have been examined by double contrast (surface) examination of the stomach followed by gastroscopy. Diagnostic accuracy was 93% in respect of endoscopic data, assumed correct by hypothesis. On the basis of a cost and benefit evaluation, made according to the well known criteria, a wider routine use of the double contrast technique is proposed.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Immunocytochemical typing of fine needle aspirates by means of alkaline phosphatase anti-alkaline phosphatase method. A study of 16 selected patients.

The immunocytochemical characterization of neoplastic cells recognized by a large panel of monoclonal antibodies in fine needle aspirates obtained from 16 subjects with superficial or profound tumoral masses of unknown origin was carried out using alkaline phosphatase anti-alkaline phosphatase (APAAP) immunoenzymatic method. The patients were selected on the basis of particular clinical criteria or since a correct cytohistological diagnosis was not available. APAAP immunophenotyping allowed to establish the existence of non-Hodgkin lymphoma in 6 cases, hairy cell leukemia in 1 case and carcinoma in 5 cases, while in other 2 patients the existence of Hodgkin's disease was suspected and subsequently confirmed; only in 2 subjects diagnostic informations were lacking. Furthermore, the evaluation of growth fraction by means of Ki 67 monoclonal antibody revealed a high degree of malignancy in all cases of lymphoma. Although some cautions have to be considered in the interpretation of results, APAAP immunocytochemical typing of fine needle aspirates appears a simple and reliable noninvasive diagnostic tool in selected patients.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Short near-fainting in children with or without loss of conscience].

Short near-faints with or without loss of consciousness have different etiologies and pathogenesis and, according to these, they recur with various frequency. This subject was reported on several publications and here is again examined with the contribute of personal experience and the description of distinct cases. The following causes were examined: vagal hypertonia, digestive troubles (gastroesophageal reflux), metabolic troubles (cyclic ketosis, hypoglycemia and hypocalcemia with peculiar clinic manifestations). Among the neurological causes were examined: epilepsy, benign paroxysmal vertigos and, particularly, the so called breath-holding spells and the migraine, about that were reported a few examples of "migraine accompagnée". Among the cardiovascular causes (ischaemic cerebral crisis), -particular attention was dedicated to orthostatic hypotension syncope. A short hint about hysteria ends the exposition of psychical causes of short near-faints.

Age Factors↗