Thallium poisoning is known for its diverse manifestations and these can delay the diagnosis if a clear history of poisoning is not forthcoming. A 42 year old man presented on the third day of illness with flaccid quadriparesis and paresthesia, which were confused with Guillain-Barré syndrome. Because of associated loose motions, skin lesions, and liver and kidney dysfunction arsenic poisoning was considered. In the second week he developed ophthalmoplegia, nystagmus, and neck tremor and later developed alopecia, and thallium poisoning was suspected. His serum thallium level on the 18th day of illness was 40 980 µg/ml. He was subjected to haemodialysis, potassium supplementation, laxatives, and B complex supplementation. He showed significant improvement after haemodialysis and at three months he was able to walk with support. At six months of follow up he was independent for activities of daily living. Severe paresthesia, ophthalmoplegia, cerebellar and extrapyramidal signs, and alopecia are highly suggestive of thallium poisoning. Haemodialysis may be effective even in the third week of poisoning.T hallium is highly reactive heavy metal, which exists as monovalent and trivalent ionic forms. It is used in rodenticides, for optical lenses, in green coloured fireworks, semiconductors, low temperature thermometers, and in imitation jewellery. Many thallium salts are colourless, odourless, and tasteless hence it is a favoured homicidal poison. Soluble thallium salts such as sulphate, acetate, and carbonate have higher toxicity and their fatal dose is 10-15 mg/kg. Thallium poisoning commonly occurs after oral ingestion but can also occur after inhalation of contaminated dust or after dermal absorption.1 Thallium is a protoplasmic poison and may disrupt the sulphhydryl group on the mitochondrial membrane and interferes with the functioning of sodiumpotassium ATPase for which thallium has 10 times greater affinity than potassium. The clinical picture of thallium poisoning is non-specific and variable, depending on the dose and route of administration. In the early stage, thallium poisoning is managed by gastric lavage, laxatives, forced diuresis, haemodialysis, and Prussian blue.1 2 We report a patient with thallium poisoning who was referred to us with suspected Guillain-Barré syndrome; he responded well to haemodialysis in the third week. We highlight the distinguishing features of thallium poisoning, especially in the early stage of poisoning, and the utility of haemodialysis in management. CASE REPORTA 42 year old businessman was referred to our neurology unit recently with suspected Guillain-Barré syndrome. He had noticed severe paresthesia all over his body and abdominal cramps for three days. He also had pain in his abdomen and a few loose stools. The next day he developed progressive walking difficulties and he was unable to stand on the day of admission to our institute. There was no history of preceding fever, vaccination, diabetes, or hypertension. He occasionally smoked and consumed alcohol. One day before...
There is some overlap in SUV between fracture-/bone-associated lesions and culprit lesions with a tendency of most non-culprit lesions to have lower SUV and no associated soft-tissue component. In such scenario, intensely tracer-avid, larger non-fracture lesions with soft-tissue component may lead to identification of culprit lesion among multiple lesions. Following detection of culprit lesion, surgical removal is the best treatment. RFA is alternative to surgery in cases where surgery is not possible owing to osteopenia/poor bone health. Advances in knowledge: The main challenge in patients of long-standing OOM is the presence of multiple skeletal lesions (both tumour- or tracer-avid fractures), and it is confusing to identify culprit lesion. This was noted in our study with Ga-DOTANOC and has not been mentioned in studies performed withGa-DOTATATE/TOC PET/CT. In such scenario, Ga-DOTANOC PET/CT needs to be reviewed and read thoroughly to localize the culprit lesion out of the multiple tracer-avid lesions.
Cavernous hemangiomas occur rarely in the cavernous sinus and are difficult to diagnose preoperatively. The imaging of these lesions resembles other benign paracavernous lesions such as schwannomas and meningiomas. Profuse intraoperative bleeding may be encountered during surgical resection of these lesions. A preoperative diagnosis is therefore important to alert the surgeon. We report on the imaging characteristics of two different histopathological types of cavernous sinus cavernous hemangiomas and the use of contrast-enhanced MRI, diffusion-weighted MRI and magnetic resonance spectroscopy in the differential diagnosis of these lesions.
Background/Objective: Percutaneous biopsy (PB) and transjugular liver biopsy (TJLB) are 2 main ways of obtaining liver tissue. We evaluated the indications, success rate, tissue yield, and complications of TJLB in comparison to PB in children. Methods: Electronic records of children undergoing liver biopsy (LB) were reviewed. Clinico laboratory data including indication, type of biopsy, complications, and tissue yield (length and number of complete portal tracts [CPT]) were noted. Results: Five hundred forty LB (indication: neonatal cholestasis [42.9%], chronic liver disease [43.7%], liver failure [3.7%], focal lesions [3.3%] and others [6.3%]) were done. Four hundred seventy-three were PB (317 boys, 14 [1--216] months) done by percussion (322 [68%]), real-time ultrasound guidance (125 [26.4%]), or plugged method [26 (5.5%)]. Sixty-seven (12.4%) were TJLB [38 boys, 140 (24--216) months], done in patients with contraindications for PB. Technical success (67/68 vs 473/473; P = 0.7) and complications (4 [6%]; vs 15 [3.3%]; P = 0.2) of TJLB and PB were similar. Major complications (0.5%) included supraventricular tachycardia (n = 1) in TJLB and hemoperitoneum (n = 2) in PB. Tissue yield of TJLB was poorer in terms of length (1.0 [0.2--2.0] vs 1.1 [0.4--2.1] cm; P < 0.001), CPT (4 [0--9] vs 5 [2--17]; P < 0.001) and adequacy for reporting (56/67 vs 459/473; P < 0.001). Biopsy yield of <6 CPT was predicted by cirrhosis at histology and TJLB. No factor identified risk of complications with LB. Conclusions: LB is a safe procedure and only 12% children require TJLB because of contraindications of PB. Technical success and complications are similar but tissue yield is poorer in TJLB than PB. Presence of cirrhosis and TJLB adversely affected tissue yield.
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