Computed tomography was performed in five patients with myositis ossificans circumscripta. In three cases, and possibly four, CT scans obtained during the active stage of the pathologic process demonstrated findings that in general corresponded to the "zone phenomenon" seen on histology, although a distinct peripheral ring of ossification was not always present. In these patients, CT was useful in limiting the differential diagnosis and obviating surgery. In the fifth patient, with long-standing myositis ossificans, CT showed complete ossification indicative of the mature phase of the pathologic process and was helpful in planning surgical resection.
Hamster flora introduced into germfree mice reduced the cecum to conventional size, suppressed populations of Escherichia coli and Clostridium difficile to the same degree that mouse flora did, and corrected the hypocellularity that is characteristic of the small bowel of germfree mice. A highly toxigenic strain of C. difficile readily induced cecitis in germfree and antibiotic-treated conventional mice, and histological examination frequently revealed pseudomembranes. Toxins A and B were both detected in ceca of animals with colitis. Gnotobiotic mice provide a model in which to study the role of the indigenous microflora in protecting against antibiotic-associated colitis.
The authors present a unique case of an intradural extramedullary ganglioneuroma in the thoracic spine of an adult. Intraspinal ganglioneuromas are rare, benign tumors of sympathetic nervous tissue origin, but exclusively intradural ganglioneuromas have not been reported.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.