Lumbar Compression Fractures

Lumbar Compression Fractures

Lumbar compression fractures occur when the vertebra in the spine collapse from the normal height to about half its size. A compression fracture is when the bone tissue of the vertebral body collapses. At times there can be multiple compression fractures of the spine. Osteoporosis is the most common cause of compression fractures. Other may include tumors and trauma to the back. If it results in any damage to the spinal cord symptoms may include numbness, tingling, and weakness. Depending on the area of the back, most compression fractures do not cause neurological symptoms. A spine x-ray shows at least one compressed vertebra that is shorter than the other vertebra. If there is no history of trauma, a bone density test needs to be done to evaluate for osteoporosis. If checking for a tumor that possibly made the vertebra weak, a CT or MRI scan can be used for evaluation. Majority of lumbar compression fractures are caused by osteoporosis in the elderly. These fractures generally do not cause spinal cord injury. Treatment includes treating the osteoporosis, employ back braces, or a minimally invasive technique.

Thoracic Spinal Stenosis & Thoracic Foraminal Stenosis

Thoracic Foraminal Stenosis & Thoracic Spinal Stenosis

Thoracic spinal stenosis occurs when the spinal cord or nerves are compressed by either the narrowing in the spinal canal or vertebrae. The size of the spinal cord will remain the same in the thoracic area; the canal is narrower in that region. Normally thoracic spinal stenosis is associated with either the cervical or lumbar region. The ribs provide more stability to the thoracic spine. Spinal stenosis can cause weakness in your extremities. Most cases will occur in the lower back than in the thoracic region. Thoracic foraminal stenosis symptoms are often the same. The difference in thoracic foraminal stenosis is one or more vertebral foramen is being affected. The foramen can become compressed overtime with age. Thoracic foraminal stenosis may be either congenital or degenerative. As degeneration occurs the person will experience worse pain. These symptoms can be reduced by anti-flammatory over the counter medications, laminectomy, and spinal fusions.

Clay-Shoveler's Fracture

Clay-Shoveler’s Fracture

The clay-shoveler’s fracture is an oblique fracture of the lower cervical or upper thoracic spinous processes. These fractures commonly occur at the levels of C6, C7, and T1. The clay-shoveler’s fractures results from hyper flexion of the neck. Hopefully, the avulsion fracture is only with the spinous process and does not extend into the lamina, which has a better chance for some type of spinal cord injury. These fractures can happen to laborers who perform activities involving lifting weights with arms extended. Symptoms include burning, “knife-like” pain at the level of the fractured spine between the upper shoulder blades. Most clay-shoveler receives no treatment. Pain medication, physical therapy, and massages can help reduce the symptoms. These fractures are diagnosed by an x-ray exam of the spine.

Carotid Body Tumor

Carotid Body Tumor



A Carotid body tumor is a mass that is found in the upper neck that branches off the carotid artery. Carotid body tumors are also called Chemodectoma or Paraganglioma. There are many paragangliomas in the head and neck, but carotid body tumors are the most common. Carotid body tumors are painless neck masses that lay lateral to the tip of the hyoid bone. These tumors cause a lateral displacement and widening of carotid artery bifurcation that is best demonstrated on radiographic imaging studies. The tumors measure approximately 4.0 cm in their greatest dimension, and they often lack a capsule. Most paragangliomas are benign neoplasm. Although these types are not normally deadly, they can be locally aggressive; therefore, many times, removal of the tumor is recommended.

Mucous Cyst

Mucous Cyst

A mucous cyst is a thin painless sac on the inner surface of the lips. It contains clear fluid. The sac is bluish clear in color. The sac can occur on the inside of the lip, tongue, palate, inside the cheeks, the floor of the mouth, or around tongue or lip piercings. A mucous cyst often can be left alone. Normally a mucous cyst will rupture spontaneously. Opening the top of the sac with a sterile needle will help it go away. If the cyst returns, it may need to be removed surgically. Oral surgeons and some dentists can easily remove the sacs if they continue to cause discomfort. Mucous cysts are common. Sucking the lip membranes into the teeth are thought to cause cysts. When the cysts are positioned on the floor of the mouth they are called ranula, when positioned on the gums they are called epulis. There is no known prevention for mucous cysts. They are diagnosed by visual examination.

ACHONDROPLASIA

Achondroplasia is a disorder of bone growth that causes the most common type of growth hormone deficiency. Achondroplasia is a genetic condition that results in abnormally short stature and is the most common cause of short stature. Although Achondroplasia means “without cartilage formation,” the defect in achondroplasia is not in forming cartilage but in converting it to bone, particularly in the long bones. Achondroplasia is one of the oldest known birth defects. Symptoms of Achondroplasia may include bowed legs, decreased muscle tone, disproportionately large head to body size ratio, prominent forehead, shortened arms and legs, short stature abnormal hand appearance, and spinal stenosis. People with achondroplasia seldom reach five feet in height. Infants who receive the abnormal gene from both parents do not often live beyond a few months. Complications may include clubbed feet and hydrocephalus (fluid build up in the brain).

T1 weighted MRI image of a child with Achondroplasia.

Blowout Fractures

Blowout Fractures are caused by direct trauma to the eye by on object larger in diameter than the orbital rim. There are two theories behind the mechanics of the blowout process. The first theory is the buckling theory. It postulates that the orbital rim buckles under sufficient force and subsequently causes fractures in the orbital wall and floor. The retropulsion theory claims that when excessive force is applied over the orbit that the intraorbital pressure increases beyond the capacity of the bony structures to contain the pressure. Decompression must then occur through fracturing of the orbital wall and floor. In either case, the end result is fracturing of the orbital wall and floor as result of a blunt force trauma to the orbit.




Radiographically, fragments may be visualized in the maxillary sinus. The maxillary sinus may also appear opacified due to blood filling the cavity. Surgical repair may be necessary and is often performed by emplacing an orbital implant.

Orbital Pseudotumors

Orbital Pseudotumors are caused when tissues around the eye become inflamed. Certain orbital inflammations can look like tumors and are therefore call Pseudotumors. Orbital Pseudotumors can affect one or both eyes of relatively young patients (less than 50 years old). They are not considered cancer, because orbital Pseudotumors cannot invade other tissues or spread throughout the body. Most common symptoms include pain to the eye, decreased vision, eyelid swelling, and red eye. Severe cases of orbital Pseudotumors may push the eye forward to the extent that the lids can no longer protect the cornea, leading to drying of the affected eye. There is no known cause for orbital Pseudotumors. In most mild cases there is no need for treatment. Severe cases may require high does of steroids or surgical removal.

This is an axial contrast CT of the orbits shows abnormal right scleral thickening, assiciated with stranding in the orbital fat and mild thickening of the extraocular muscle tendon attachments. The right medial rectus muscle is slightly larger than the left.

Craniopharyngioma


A benign tumor that develops near the pituitary gland is a craniopharyngioma. The pituitary gland is a small endocrine gland at the base of the brain. Craniopharyngioma is a benign, slow growing tumor that predominantly involves the sella and suprasella space. These craniopharyngiomas behave like malignant tumors. They can metastasis, and patients can have severe symptoms that usually require surgery. Craniopharyngioma causes symptoms in three different ways: by increasing the pressure on the brain, disrupting the function of the pituitary gland, and by damaging the optic nerve. Increasing pressure on the brain may cause headache, nausea, vomiting, and difficulty with balance. Hormone imbalance that can lead to excessive thirst and urination is caused when the pituitary gland is damaged. Surgery is normally the main treatment for craniopharyngioma. However, radiation treatment instead of surgery may be the best choice for some patients. Both CT and MRI scans are used in diagnosing craniopharyngioma.

Bell’s palsy

Bell’s palsy is a temporary form of facial paralysis that occurs with damage to the seventh cranial nerve. This nerve controls facial movement. It is linked to inflammation of the nerve in the area where it travels through the bones of the skull. Sometimes the condition results in permanent changes. Most often, 60%-80% of cases go away completely with a few weeks to a few months. This disorder is not life threatening. Symptoms are normally sudden. The following are symptoms that may be experienced: change in facial expression, difficulty with drinking or eating, drooling, droopy eyelid, dry eye, facial paralysis, headache, loss of sense of taste, twitching in face and weakness in the face. Most of the time there is no treatment, only relieving symptoms. MRI is most often used to determine Bell’s palsy, because MRI is the only modality that can clearly demonstrate the nerves.

ENCEPHALITIS

Encephalitis means inflammation of the brain. It is normally caused by a virus. The disease is most commonly seen in children, the elderly, and people with weakened immune systems. Encephalitis can be caused by many different types of viruses/bacteria and transmitted in various methods. Some of these methods are as follows herpes simplex virus (HSV), lyme disease, mosquitoes, childhood illness, and bacterial inflammation. Milder cases of Encephalitis may cause fever, headache, poor appetite, loss of energy, and a general feeling of malaise. In more severe cases a person will experience high fever, severe headaches, nausea and vomiting, stiff neck, confusion, seizure, hallucinations, memory loss, drowsiness, or a coma. CT scans and MRI studies are frequently ordered on someone experiencing symptoms of Encephalitis. The studies will check for swelling, bleeding, or other abnormalities of the brain.

MY NAME IS KIMBERLY DUNCAN. I AM WEEKEND OPTION XRAY TECH AT GATEWAY HOSPITAL. I AM VERY EXCITED ABOUT GOING BACK TO SCHOOL TO FINISH MY BACHELOR IN CT/MRI. I WORKED IN CT FOR THREE YEARS AND NOW HELP OUT WHEN BUSY ON THE WEEKENDS. I AM MARRIED WITH TWO KIDS. AUSTIN IS 7 AND PRESTON IS 4.