The precise segmentation of optic disc is a major task in developing automated systems for diagnosis of retinal diseases using colored fundus images. The noise, illumination effects, blood vessels and lesions like exudates make it really challenging to build an efficient OD segmentation method using fundus images. This paper presents a novel method for accurate segmentation of optic disc in the presence of noise and other lesions. The proposed methodology comprises of four modules i.e preprocessing, vessel segmentation, bright region extraction and detection of optic disc. The proposed system is tested and validated on publicly available fundus image databases and images gathered locally for real images. The experimental results show the validation of the proposed system.

Pulmonary artery aneurysms and pseudoaneurysms are rare vascular anomalies in children that can lead to massive hemoptysis resulting in severe morbidity and even mortality. High level of clinical suspicion, timely diagnosis, and prompt management are important for a better outcome. Here, we report a case of a 14-year-old adolescent with β-thalassemia major who presented with life-threatening hemoptysis due to pulmonary artery pseudoaneurysm and was successfully treated with coil embolization.

Superior mediastinal syndrome is a life-threatening pediatric oncological emergency that requires high level of awareness and clinical suspicion to avoid misdiagnosis and devastating outcomes. Early diagnostic evaluation and management of underlying etiology are of utmost significance for optimal results. In children, it is most commonly caused by non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and T-cell lymphoblastic leukemia. We report a case of a six-year-old boy with superior mediastinal syndrome secondary to T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia, initially misdiagnosed as foreign body aspiration and underwent a procedure with a life-threatening outcome.