Kallmann's syndrome is characterized by hypogonadotropic hypogonadism and anosmia. Postmortem studies have revealed either hypoplasia or aplasia of the rhinencephalon, respectively, in patients with hyposmia and anosmia. This anatomical defect has now been demonstrated in vivo in four patients with Kallmann's syndrome by magnetic resonance imaging.

The existence of chronic trichinosis as a disease entity is still a matter of debate. For 10 years after an outbreak of infection with Trichinella spiralis, we conducted a prospective controlled study of the patients involved. At the termination of this investigation, we undertook clinical, biochemical, serological, immunologic, neuroradiological, radiological, and psychological studies of 128 originally infected persons and 16 controls. The categories of symptoms most often documented in persons who had been infected were muscular (90%), ocular (59%), neurological (52%), and psychological (52%). Impaired muscle strength (56%), conjunctivitis (55%), and impaired coordination (32%) were the clinical manifestations most frequently encountered. Thirty-eight percent of the 128 originally infected patients still had IgG antibodies to T. spiralis after 10 years. Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain revealed no abnormalities. No calcifications of residual larvae were detected by mammography or muscle biopsy. The level of performance in psychometric tests was lower in the originally infected population than in the general population. Although patients who had had trichinosis differed significantly from controls in terms of a variety of parameters even after 10 years, we found insufficient evidence on which to conclude that chronic trichinosis exists as a distinct entity.

MR is the only noninvasive procedure that can demonstrate changes in the medullary space. If it is combined with bone marrow scintigraphy and conventional x-ray film diagnostics, it can yield a comprehensive diagnosis of bone marrow infiltrations in the regions of the pelvis, thighs and lumbar vertebral column in leukaemia or malignant lymphomas. The T1 relaxation times of the malignant infiltrations are enhanced compared with normal fatty marrow. MR tomography of the bone marrow is particularly suitable for determining the therapy or follow-up control of a malignant systemic disease.

No abstract

No abstract