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Significant Pathology (significant + pathology)
Selected AbstractsThe dynamic fetal brainJOURNAL OF CLINICAL ULTRASOUND, Issue 5 2007Dena Towner MD Abstract Purpose. To evaluate fetuses with normal intracranial anatomy in the second trimester that became abnormal in the third trimester. Methods. We sonographically examined 6 fetuses with a normal second-trimester head sonogram that presented later in pregnancy with an abnormal head sonogram. Results. Four categories of intracranial pathology were depicted: obstructive hydrocephalus, intraventricular intracranial hemorrhage, non-intraventricular intracranial hemorrhage, and porencephaly. Conclusions. Despite a normal midtrimester intracranial examination, evaluation of the fetal intracranial contents should be undertaken in subsequent sonographic examinations, because significant pathology can develop spontaneously. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Ultrasound, 2007 [source] Assessment of referral patterns for CT KUB in a tertiary settingJOURNAL OF MEDICAL IMAGING AND RADIATION ONCOLOGY, Issue 6 2009H Jo Summary The purpose of this study was to assess the referral patterns and the use of unenhanced renal tract CT (CT KUB) for investigating patients presenting with clinically suspected renal colic. We retrospectively reviewed 500 consecutive CT KUB studies requested for suspected renal colic carried out at a single institution between December 2006 and July 2007. Follow-up radiology reports and discharge summaries on the hospital clinical Intranet were also reviewed. Studies were analysed for characteristics including patient demographics, referring clinical team, time of referral, final diagnosis and requirement for further imaging. The majority of requests were from Emergency (ED) or Urology Departments (49%, 245 out of 500, and 37%, 186 out of 500, respectively). The positive rate for urolithiasis was 67% (337 out of 500), the negative rate was 25% (123 out of 500), and 8% (40 out of 500) of patients had alternative significant findings. Female patients were more likely to have a negative study than male patients (35 versus 20%, P < 0.0001) and more likely to have alternative significant pathology (12 versus 6%, P < 0.0001). Patients referred by specialities other than Urology and ED were more likely to be female and have a negative or alternative finding (P < 0.0001). CT KUB is a widely used first method of investigation for patients with suspected renal colic with a high positive predictive value allowing rapid diagnosis and intervention. However, given the high rate of negative or alternative findings on CT KUB in young women, especially those referred by specialities other than ED or Urology, ultrasound should be considered as an alternative imaging method to minimise unnecessary radiation exposure. [source] Loss of synaptophysin-positive boutons on lumbar motor neurons innervating the medial gastrocnemius muscle of the SOD1G93A G1H transgenic mouse model of ALSJOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE RESEARCH, Issue 5 2005Da Wei Zang Abstract Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a common form of motor neuron disease (MND) that involves both upper and lower nervous systems. In the SOD1G93A G1H transgenic mouse, a widely used animal model of human ALS, a significant pathology is linked to the degeneration of lower motor neurons in the lumbar spinal cord and brainstem. In the current study, the number of presynaptic boutons immunoreactive for synaptophysin was estimated on retrogradely labeled soma and proximal dendrites of , and , motor neurons innervating the medial gastrocnemius muscle. No changes were detected on both soma and proximal dendrites at postnatal day 60 (P60) of , and , motor neurons. By P90 and P120, however, , motor neuron soma had a reduction of 14 and 33% and a dendritic reduction of 19 and 36%, respectively. By P90 and P120, , motor neuron soma had a reduction of 17 and 41% and a dendritic reduction of 19 and 35%, respectively. This study shows that levels of afferent innervation significantly decreased on surviving , and , motor neurons that innervate the medial gastrocnemius muscle. This finding suggests that the loss of motor neurons and the decrease of synaptophysin in the remaining motor neurons could lead to functional motor deficits, which may contribute significantly to the progression of ALS/MND. © 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Optometrists' examination and referral practices for patients presenting with flashes and floatersOPHTHALMIC AND PHYSIOLOGICAL OPTICS, Issue 3 2002A. Alwitry Introduction:,Patients experiencing flashes and floaters commonly present to their optometrist. Some of these patients may have significant pathology, yet there is a great deal of variability with regard to examination technique and referral practice. Methods:,A questionnaire survey was undertaken to determine the current management of patients presenting to their optometrist with flashes and floaters. All practising community optometrists within Southern Derbyshire received a questionnaire and 74 (56.9%) completed replies were received. Results:,Optometrists estimated that an average of 14 patients per month per optometrist presented with symptoms of flashes and/or floaters. Mydriasis was utilised routinely for examination in approximately half of the patients. Mean relative confidence was 2.0 at identifying a vitreous haemorrhage and 6.5 for vitreous pigment (complete confidence = 0, complete lack of confidence = 10). Eight percent of responders were unfamiliar with the clinical sign of vitreous pigment, and 17% identifying this sign did not refer all such patients to the hospital services. Conclusions:,Patients presenting to their optometrists with flashes and/or floaters make up a sizeable part of the community optometrist's workload and the management of these patients is highly variable. A large proportion of these patients are examined without mydriasis, even in the presence of various risk factors for retinal detachment. There is a relative lack of confidence amongst optometrists with regards the detection of vitreous pigment and the prognostic implications of this finding. Educational measures such as study days may help the level of understanding and heighten the appreciation of the implications of flashes and floaters and the various clinical signs encountered. [source] The frequency of significant pathology in women attending a general gynaecological service for postcoital bleedingBJOG : AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF OBSTETRICS & GYNAECOLOGY, Issue 1 2001Adam N. Rosenthal Objectives To document the frequency of pathology in women who complain of postcoital bleeding. To determine whether negative cervical cytology excludes serious pathology in women with postcoital bleeding. To determine whether postcoital bleeding increases the risk of serious pathology in women with an abnormal smear. Design A retrospective study. Setting A university teaching hospital. Population 314 women with postcoital bleeding seen in the gynaecology service from first January 1988 to 31 December 1994. Methods Women were identified from the computerised records of the colposcopy service and copies of correspondence, which was routinely retained on computer. The latter was searched for the text strings coital and intercourse. Main outcome measure Histopathological diagnosis. Results Twelve women (4%) had invasive cancer: 10 were cervical or vaginal cancers and two endometrial cancers. Eight of the 10 cervical or vaginal cancers were clinically apparent. Four women of these 10 had had a normal smear before being referred for further investigation of postcoital bleeding. Two of these cancers were visible only with the aid of the colposcope. Thus, 0.6% of women attending a gynaecology service with postcoital bleeding, a normal looking cervix and a normal smear had invasive cancer of the cervix. Cervical intraepithelial neoplasia were found in 54 women (17.%) and 15 women (5%) had cervical polyps. Nineteen of the 63 women (30%) with significant pathology had a normal or inflammatory cervical smear. No explanation for the postcoital bleeding was found in 155 women (49 %). Conclusions Although invasive cancer is rare in women with postcoital bleeding, it is much commoner than in the general population. It seems likely that cervical intraepithelial neoplasia is also associated with postcoital bleeding, perhaps because the fragile cervical epithelium becomes detached during intercourse. Postcoital bleeding should continue to be regarded as an indication of high risk for invasive cervical cancer and for cervical intraepithelial neoplasia. Prompt referral to a colposcopy clinic is indicated, but most women with postcoital bleeding will have no serious abnormality. [source] Do patients require outpatient follow-up after rapid referral double contrast barium enema?COLORECTAL DISEASE, Issue 7 2009O. Odofin Abstract Introduction, In our hospital, patients above the age of 40 years referred with a change in bowel habit without rectal bleeding undergo a double contrast barium enema (DCBE) ideally within 2 weeks. Results of benign studies are sent to a consultant colorectal surgeon and a routine clinic visit arranged. The aim of this study was to identify whether, following DCBE, patients (i) presented at a later date with colorectal cancer and (ii) needed assessment in clinic. Method, This is a review looking at all patients who underwent DCBE prior to routine clinic visit between January 2004 and December 2005. Hospital databases were cross-referenced to identify any patients presenting with a new diagnosis of colorectal malignancy between DCBE and April 2007. Clinic letters were reviewed to identify the number of outpatient visits prior to discharge and reasons for continued follow-up. Results, During the study period, 521 patients (age range 31,93 years, 316 female) had DCBE prior to assessment in clinic. Diagnoses: cancer 48 (9.2%), polyps 13 (2.5%), colitis 3 (0.6%), no significant pathology 457 (87.7%). Of this latter cohort, 387 (84.7%) were discharged after one clinic visit; 54 (11.9%) attended twice and 11 (2.4%) were seen more than twice. Reasons for multiple attendances were management of haemorrhoids/anal fissure or investigations of unrelated symptoms. No new cancers were identified in this cohort between January 2004 and April 2007. Conclusion, Double contrast barium enema is a safe screening tool following a ,2-week rule' referral with CIBH. Following a report of no significant pathology, there is no need to arrange routine follow-up. [source] The BSG/ACPGBI guidelines for colonoscopic screening: what are we missing?COLORECTAL DISEASE, Issue 7 2008A. Subramanian Abstract Introduction, Before publication of the British Society of Gastroenterology and Association of Coloproctology of Great Britain and Ireland guidelines in 2002, screening for people with a family history of colorectal cancer was sporadic and largely dependant on unvalidated local guidelines. Since 1990 we have been screening patients with both high and moderate risk family histories of colorectal cancer using local protocols which were more liberal than the new guidelines. In this study, we have analysed the pathology that would have been missed if we had been using the new guidelines in the period 1990,2002. Method, A total of 399 consecutive patients with a positive family history of colorectal malignancy underwent screening endoscopy according to local guidelines. Demographic, endoscopic and pathologic data were prospectively collected. Patients were retrospectively divided into those who would have been screened under the new guidelines (group 1) and those who would not (group 2). The recorded pathology was graded as significant or insignificant and the findings compared between the two groups. Results, A total of 399 patients underwent 557 endoscopies of which 278 (50%) were indicated under the new guidelines (group 1) and 279 (50%) were not indicated (group 2). A significant pathology or carcinoma was found in 15.8% of group 1 endoscopies and 10.0% of group 2 endoscopies. This difference was significant. Conclusion, If we had been using the new guidelines in the period 1990,2002, we would not have performed 279 (50%) of the 557 procedures, but would not have discovered significant pathology in 10% of the moderate risk endoscopies representing 39% of the significant pathology, which was actually present in this population. [source] | ||||||||||