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We retrospectively reviewed the medical records and conventional angiograms of 21 patients with known sickle cell disease, who underwent a total of 50 magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) studies. MRA and conventional angiography were assessed separately for evidence of stenosis or occlusion. Follow up MRI/MRA studies were also assessed for evidence of progression, regression or stability of the disease in these patients. In the carotid circulation, MRA made the correct diagnosis in 85% of the vessels evaluated with a sensitivity of 80.5% and a specificity of 94%. MRA was also found to show evidence of disease progression, more often than did MRI or the clinical condition of the patients.

GF is a rare but serious life-threatening complication after BS. Successful outcome is achievable with comprehensive management, including reconstructive surgery and visceral transplantation.

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Objective High-grade gliomas (HGGs) carry dismal prognosis with survival typically reported as less than a year. We explored the predictive value of qualitative and quantitative evaluations of post-treatment 99m-technetium-labelled methoxyisobutylisonitrile (99mmTc-MIBI) brain single-photon emission computed tomography-computed tomography (SPECT/CT) tumor uptake in relation to overall survival (OS) in patients with HGG. Methods Thirty patients with pathologically or radiologically documented high-grade glioma (HGG) were prospectively recruited for this study (24 male, 6 female; mean age 43 ± 14 years). All patients had a clinical or radiological suspicion of residual/recurrent tumor after initial therapy. 99mTc-MIBI brain SPECT/CT scanning was performed, and the scans were evaluated qualitatively on a five-point probability score (1–5, scores ≥3 considered positive for residual/recurrent tumor); and quantitively via drawing volumes of interest (VOI) on the suspected lesions and normal contralateral brain tissue. All patients were followed up for 1 year or till death. Results Positive visual MIBI results were associated with poor survival. Among 10 patients with negative MIBI scores, only two patients died (OS = 75%), while 11/20 patients reported positive on MIBI died, with a median survival of 9 months (OS = 14.5%; P = 0.03). All patients with active isocontour volume ≤1.96 cm3 were alive at the end of the study, compared to a median survival of 9 months and OS of 12% for patients with an isocontour volume of >1.97% (P = 0.003). Conclusion In patients with HGG, post-therapy brain SPECT/CT with 99mTc-MIBI can provide useful prognostic information.

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The incidence of pseudo aneurysm after total hip arthroplasty is extremely rare. The most common mechanism of vascular injury is due to direct trauma during the operative procedure, and the most reported cases are acute in presentation. We reported an unusual case of ruptured pseudo aneurysm and control of life-threatening intra-operative hemorrhage of the external iliac artery in a male patient, 68 years old, with displaced total hip arthroplasty (THA), planned for removal, occurring 2 years after the last hip surgery, in Armed Forces hospital, Southern region, Saudi Arabia. This case highlights the importance of prompt recognition of life-threatening intra-operative hemorrhage to save the patient's life and the limb.

BACKGROUND Fusarium spp. infections have become an emerging and lethal threat to the immunocompromised patient population, especially those with neutropenia. Recently there have been increased reports in solid organ transplant recipients. Presentation is commonly as soft tissue infections several months post-transplant. With high morbidity and mortality, efficacious antifungal therapy is essential. This remains challenging with limited data and no established clinical breakpoints defined. CASE REPORT We report on a modified multi-visceral transplant patient that developed a Fusarium infection only 7 weeks post-transplant in the native hard palate and esophagus, without any soft tissue lesions, which persisted despite aggressive combination treatment with amphotericin B lipid complex and voriconazole. CONCLUSIONS Fusarium spp. infection in solid organ transplant is a significant challenge without clear diagnostic clinical indicators of infection, or specific time of onset, in addition to possible emergence of a more aggressive drug-resistant strain.