Neuroimaging clinics of North America
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Neuroimaging Clin. N. Am. · Feb 2013
ReviewPitfalls in image guided tissue sampling in the head and neck.
Image-guided tissue sampling is becoming increasingly important for management of head and neck cancers. Ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration (UG-FNA) is safe, effective, and has many advantages compared with palpation-guided FNA and computed tomography-guided FNA. ⋯ Proper technique and recognition of pitfalls are critical to successful UG-FNA. Computed tomography-guided FNA is valuable for tissue sampling from deep lesions and for those without a sonographic window for UG-FNA.
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Thyroid cancer includes several neoplasms originating from the thyroid gland-from indolent and curable histologies of differentiated thyroid carcinoma to aggressive anaplastic thyroid carcinoma. Differentiation of thyroid nodules is problematic on CT and MR imaging unless there is evidence of extrathyroidal extension. Evaluation of regional lymph nodes is often performed clinically or with ultrasound. ⋯ Nuclear scintigraphy is useful for staging and treatment of distant metastasis in differentiated thyroid carcinoma. PET may have a role in aggressive cancers. Accurate staging affects surgical management and subsequent therapy.
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Neuroimaging Clin. N. Am. · Feb 2013
ReviewPitfalls in the staging of cancer of nasopharyngeal carcinoma.
Although nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is the most common primary malignancy of the nasopharynx, it is an uncommon malignancy in much of the Western world. Over the last several years, there have been important changes in the terminology used for histologic classification of NPC and important changes to the American Joint Committee on Cancer TNM staging of NPC. Accurate imaging assessment is critical for diagnose, to stage and plan radiation treatment, and for ongoing follow-up and surveillance. This article emphasizes important nasopharyngeal anatomy landmarks and the imaging appearances and pitfalls of NPC, its patterns of spread, and posttreatment appearances.
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Neuroimaging Clin. N. Am. · Feb 2013
ReviewPitfalls in the staging of cancer of the laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma.
Laryngeal carcinoma is a devastating malignancy that severely affects patients' quality of life, with compromise of ability to talk, breathe, and swallow. Accurate tumor staging is imperative, because treatment plans focus on laryngeal conservation therapy whenever possible. Although the mucosal extent of tumor and vocal cord mobility is best assessed with endoscopic evaluation, cross-sectional imaging is essential for accurate T-staging, because only cross-sectional imaging can assess the submucosal extent of the tumor, cartilage invasion, and extralaryngeal spread. This article reviews topics crucial for interpreting imaging studies of patients with laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma.
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Neuroimaging Clin. N. Am. · Nov 2012
ReviewNeurosurgical aspects of central nervous system infections.
Infections of the central nervous system (CNS) can be severe, disabling, and potentially fatal. Infections of the central nervous system (CNS) can be severe, disabling, and potentially fatal. Appropriate recognition of symptoms facilitates expeditious evaluation, prompt diagnosis, and timely treatment. ⋯ This review explores the presentation, pathogenesis, evaluation, and treatment of the most common infections of the CNS. Discussion of treatment options also includes possible neurosurgical interventions. The infections considered are cerebral abscess, subdural empyema, meningitis, encephalitis, toxoplasmosis, neurocysticercosis, diskitis, and spinal epidural abscess.