• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.377-380
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• 2017

An 8-year-old, shih-tzu female dog was referred due to neurological signs including paraparesis and back pain. On the complete blood count, hematologic analysis showed elevated leukocytosis. Serum biochemical analysis revealed elevated serum alkaline phosphatase concentration and C-reactive protein concentration. On the neurologic exam, the dog was suspected to have thoracolumbar myelopathy. On magnetic resonance imaging, there were masses within the spinal canal at L1-3 intervertebral disc space that were located dorsal to spinal cord. It was hyperintense on T1-, T2-weighted magnetic resonance images, Fluid-attenuated inversion recovery, and fat suppression images. The contrast-enhanced T1-weighted images showed no enhancement. The lesions were well circumscribed. The spinal cord was compressed and displaced ventrally by the mass. After removal of the masses via L1-L3 dorsal laminectomy, pyogranulomatous inflammation was confirmed by histopathological examination. Six months after surgery, the dog recovered uneventfully and remained fully ambulatory with no neurological deficits. This case demonstrates the utility of magnetic resonance imaging for the diagnosis of spinal canal pyogranulomatous inflammation.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.296-298
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• 2006

Droopy shoulder syndrome (DSS) is a rare disease, characterized by drooping shoulders, which stretches the brachial plexus, and causes pain, but without any signs of neurological impairment. These patients suffer from pain in the neck, shoulders, arms and hands, which result in long, graceful, swan necks, low-set shoulders, and horizontal or down sloping clavicles. No abnormalities in the vascular, neurological or electrical findings have also been known. The T1 and/or T2 bodies can be seen in the lateral view in a radiological study of the cervical spine. In the majority of cases, conservative treatments, such as postural correction and shoulder girdle strengthening exercise, are commonly recommended. However, DSS may be misdiagnosed as severe thoracic outlet syndrome or herniated cervical disc disease, leading to unnecessary and hazardous invasive treatments. The presented case was consistent with DSS, and was treated with stellate ganglion block, trigger point injection, and shoulder girdle strengthening exercise.

• Annals of Clinical Neurophysiology
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.1-4
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• 2007

Vertigo is an illusion of rotation, which results from an imbalance within the vestibular system. This review focuses on two common presentations of spontaneous vertigo: acute prolonged spontaneous vertigo and recurrent spontaneous vertigo. Common causes of acute prolonged spontaneous vertigo include vestibular neuritis, labyrinthitis, and brainstem or cerebellar stroke. The history and detailed neurological/neurotological examinations usually provide the key information for distinguishing between peripheral and central causes of vertigo. Brain MRI is indicated in any patient with acute vertigo accompanied by abnormal neurological signs, profound imbalance, severe headache, and central patterns of nystagmus. Recurrent spontaneous vertigo occurs when there is a sudden, temporary, and largely reversible impairment of resting neural activity of one labyrinth or its central connections, with subsequent recovery to normal or near-normal function. Meniere's disease, migrainous vertigo, and vertebrobasilar insufficiency (VBI) are common causes. The duration of the vertigo attack is a key piece of information in recurrent spontaneous vertigo. Vertigo of vascular origin, such as VBI, typically lasts for several minutes, whereas recurrent vertigo due to peripheral inner-ear abnormalities lasts for hours. Screening neurotological evaluations, and blood tests for autoimmune and otosyphilis are useful in assessment of recurrent spontaneous vertigo that are likely to be peripheral in origin.

• Journal of the Korean neurological association
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.341-344
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• 2018

It is uncommon for Fabry's disease (FD) patient to present with an isolated ischemic stroke without other typical symptoms or signs of FD. A 48-year-old woman presented with recurrent limb weakness and her brain magnetic resonance imaging revealed multiple ischemic brain lesions. Ten years ago, the patient had been diagnosed with heterozygote FD by the genetic test, but she had not shown any typical symptoms or sign of FD so far. Isolated organ involvement could occur in heterozygote FD.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.708-718
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• 2009

Objectives : The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between risk factors, warning signs, tongue diagnosis, pulse pattern, pattern identification and National Institute of Health Stroke Scale in acute stroke patients. Methods : We studied patients hospitalized within 4 wks after their ictus who were admitted at the Internal Medical Department at Kyunghee Oriental Medical Center, Kyunghee University East-West Neo Medical Center, Kyungwon University Songpa Oriental Medical Center, Kyungwon University Incheon Oriental Medical Center, Dongguk University Ilsan Oriental Medical Center from April 2007 to August 2009. We analyzed the relationship between risk factors, warning signs, tongue diagnosis, pulse pattern, pattern identification and National Institute of Health Stroke Scale in acute stroke patients. Results : 1506 subjects were included into the final analysis. 1. In the risk factors, the NIHSS mean score of atrial fibrillation was significantly higher than non-atrial fibrillation. 2. In the warning signs, the NIHSS mean scores of weakness, loss of eyesight, dysarthria, and sensory loss were significantly higher than in the non-warning signs. 3. There were no significant differences in lifestyle, tongue fur color, pattern identification between groups. 4. In the tongue color, the NIHSS mean score of red was significantly higher than pale or pale red. 5. There were significant differences statistically between forceful/weak, fine/not fine, slippery/not slippery pulse and NIHSS score. Conclusion : The above results show the relationship between risk factors, warning signs, tongue diagnosis, pulse pattern, pattern identification and National Institute of Health Stroke Scale in acute stroke patients. These results can be utilized in the future as a basis material.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.166-178
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• 2024

Objective: This study aimed to determine the predictive performance of non-contrast CT (NCCT) signs for hemorrhagic growth after intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) when stratified by onset-to-imaging time (OIT). Materials and Methods: 1488 supratentorial ICH within 6 h of onset were consecutively recruited from six centers between January 2018 and August 2022. NCCT signs were classified according to density (hypodensities, swirl sign, black hole sign, blend sign, fluid level, and heterogeneous density) and shape (island sign, satellite sign, and irregular shape) features. Multivariable logistic regression was used to evaluate the association between NCCT signs and three types of hemorrhagic growth: hematoma expansion (HE), intraventricular hemorrhage growth (IVHG), and revised HE (RHE). The performance of the NCCT signs was evaluated using the positive predictive value (PPV) stratified by OIT. Results: Multivariable analysis showed that hypodensities were an independent predictor of HE (adjusted odds ratio [95% confidence interval] of 7.99 [4.87-13.40]), IVHG (3.64 [2.15-6.24]), and RHE (7.90 [4.93-12.90]). Similarly, OIT (for a 1-h increase) was an independent inverse predictor of HE (0.59 [0.52-0.66]), IVHG (0.72 [0.64-0.81]), and RHE (0.61 [0.54-0.67]). Blend and island signs were independently associated with HE and RHE (10.60 [7.36-15.30] and 10.10 [7.10-14.60], respectively, for the blend sign and 2.75 [1.64-4.67] and 2.62 [1.60-4.30], respectively, for the island sign). Hypodensities demonstrated low PPVs of 0.41 (110/269) or lower for IVHG when stratified by OIT. When OIT was ≤ 2 h, the PPVs of hypodensities, blend sign, and island sign for RHE were 0.80 (215/269), 0.90 (142/157), and 0.83 (103/124), respectively. Conclusion: Hypodensities, blend sign, and island sign were the best NCCT predictors of RHE when OIT was ≤ 2 h. NCCT signs may assist in earlier recognition of the risk of hemorrhagic growth and guide early intervention to prevent neurological deterioration resulting from hemorrhagic growth.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.134-141
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• 2009

Purpose: Patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI) were referred from other hospitals for further management. In addition, patients routinely underwent computed tomography examinations of the head (HCT) in the referral hospitals. The purpose of this study was to evaluate retrospectively the utility of routine HCT scans according to the severity of TBI. Methods: Patients with TBI referred to our hospital between December 2005 and July 2008 were included in this study. We investigated HCT findings, indications for repeat HCT examinations (routine versus a neurological change), and neurosurgical interventions. The head injury severity was divided into three categories according to the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score, including mild, moderate, and severe TBI. The use of neurosurgical interventions between patients who underwent routine HCT scans and patients who underwent HCT scans for a neurological change were compared according to the severity of TBI. Results: A total of 81 patients met the entry criteria for this study. Among these patients, 67%(n=54) of the patients underwent HCT scans on a routine basis, whereas 33%(n=27) of the patients underwent HCT scans for a neurological change. A total of 21 patients showed signs of a worsening condition on the HCT scans. Neurosurgical intervention was required for 23(28.4%) patients. For patients who underwent routine HCT examinations, no patient with mild TBI underwent a neurosurgical intervention. However, one patient with moderate TBI and three(13%) patients with severe TBI underwent neurosurgical interventions. The kappa index, the level of agreement for HCT indications of intervention and referral reasons for intervention, was 0.65 for high hierarchy hospitals and 0.06 for low hierarchy hospitals. Conclusion: Routine serial HCT examinations in the referred hospitals would be useful for patients with severe head injury and for patients from low hierarchy hospitals where no emergency physicians or neurosurgeons are available.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Inherited Metabolic disease
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.52-73
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• 2011

Since we have started organic acid analysis on Jul. 1997, we have been collecting data about organic acidemias in Korea. The data presented here is our 3 years experience in organic acid analysis. We have collected 712 samples from major university hospitals all over the Korea, large enough for relatively accurate incidence of organic acid disorders. We are using solvent extraction method with ethylacetate, MSTFA for derivatization and quantitation of 83 organic acids simultaneously. Out of 712 patients sample, 498 patients sample (70%) showed no evidence of organic acid abnormalities. Out of 214 remaining samples we have found very diverse disorders such as methylmalonic aciduria(6), propionic aciduria (10), biotinidase deficiency (6), maple syrup urine disease (3), isovaleric aciduria (4), tyrosinemia type II (4), tyrosinemia type IV (1), glutaric aciduria type I (1), glutaric aciduria type II (22), 3-methylglutaconic aciduria type I (3), 3-methylglutaconic aciduria type III (7), HMG-CoA lyase deficiency (1), hyperglyceroluria (2), cytosolic 3-ketothiolase deficiency (55), mitochondrial 3-ketothiolase deficiency (3), 3-hydroxyisobutyric aciduria (2), L-2-hydroxyglutaric aciduria (2), fumaric aciduria (2), lactic aciduria with combined elevation of pyruvate (most likely PDHC deficiency) (28), lactic aciduria without combined elevation of pyruvate (most likely mitochondrial respiratory chain disorders) (35), SCAD deficiency (3), MCAD deficiency (1), 3-methylcrotonylglycineuria (1), orotic aciduria (most likely urea cycle disorders) (7) and 2-methylbranched chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency (1). In conclusion, though the incidence of indivisual organic acidemia is low, the incidence of overall organic acidemia is relatively high in Korea. Most of the patients showed some signs of neurological dysfunction. In other words, organic acid analysis should be included in the diagnostic work up of all neurological dysfunctions.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.118-121
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• 2009

Pituitary apoplexy is a clinical syndrome caused by an acute ischemic or hemorrhagic vascular accident involving a pituitary adenoma or an adjacent pituitary gland. Pituitary apoplexy may be associated with a variety of neurological and endocrinological signs and symptoms. However, isolated third cranial nerve palsy with ptosis as the presenting sign of pituitary apoplexy is very rare. We describe two cases of pituitary apoplexy presenting as sudden-onset unilateral ptosis and diplopia. In one case, brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed a mass in the pituitary fossa with signs of hemorrhage, upward displacement of the optic chiasm, erosion of the sellar floor and invasion of the right cavernous sinus. In the other case, MRI showed a large area of insufficient enhancement in the anterior pituitary consistent with pituitary infarction or Sheehan's syndrome. We performed neurosurgical decompression via a transsphenoidal approach. Both patients showed an uneventful recovery. Both cases of isolated third cranial nerve palsy with ptosis completely resolved during the early postoperative period. We suggest that pituitary apoplexy should be included in the differential diagnosis of patients presenting with isolated third cranial nerve palsy with ptosis and that prompt neurosurgical decompression should be considered for the preservation of third cranial nerve function.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.91-95
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• 2006

Chiari type 1 malformation is a developmental condition characterized by cerebellar herniation and syringohydromyelia in human beings. It has been reported as a common condition in the cavalier King Charles spaniel that is similar to human Chiari type 1 malformations. However, there are few documentations of diagnosed Chiari type 1 like malformation in other breed dogs. Abnormalities compatible with such a malformation were identified by magnetic resonance imaging in 24 dogs with neurologic signs in this study. The dogs were 15 females and 9 males. Their breed were variable, and 6 of the dogs were maltese, 5 were shih-tzu. The dogs had a variety of neurological signs and the severity of cerebellar herniation, syringohydromyelia, intracranial intra-arachnoid cyst or hydrocephalus.