Putamen volume is seen to alter in neurological and psychiatric disorders like Parkinson's disease, depression, schizophrenia, Alzheimer's disease, and in individuals treated with antipsychotics. To establish a trend in volume changes in pathologic states, studies on factors influencing normal variation in a given population become essential. This study aimed to evaluate the normal variations in putamen volume in the Indian population and correlate them with the effects of age and sex. Bilateral symmetry was also evaluated. The study included MR images of 98 individuals aged 10-87 years. Axial sections of T2-weighted spin echo sequences were used to estimate putamen volume. The putamen was delineated manually and its volume was estimated using Cavalieri's principle. Linear regression and paired t-test were used to analyze data. Bilateral putamen volume reduced with age in both sexes. This was statistically significant (P < 0.05) except for the left putamen volume in males. There was no significant age-adjusted effect of sex on putamen volume in both hemispheres (P > 0.05). Age and sex interaction was not found to be statistically significant. Hemispherical asymmetry was not established as the difference between the right and left putamen volume did not reach statistical significance in both males and females (P > 0.05). In conclusion, this study demonstrated an age related decline in the volumes of both putamen in males and females. The rate of volume reduction was not affected by sex. The study failed to establish a significant sex difference and hemispherical asymmetry in putamen volume. Clin. Anat. 30:461-466, 2017. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Introduction:Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is the current imaging tool of choice in the investigation of patients with seizures. The advent of high-resolution MRI with a dedicated seizure protocol has significantly increased the chances of identifying a cause, resulting in a positive clinical impact on the management of these patients.Aims:The aims of this study were to evaluate the diagnostic efficacy of standard MRI, identify whether there is an increase in the diagnostic yield with the addition of dedicated seizure protocol, and compare the diagnostic yields of MRI and electroencephalogram (EEG) individually and in combination.Subjects and Methods:This is a prospective study of 129 consecutive patients who presented with new-onset seizures over an 18-month period. The MRI scans performed on 1.5T were reviewed for their diagnostic yield and their association with abnormal electrical activity on EEG. Chi-square test of significance (P < 0.05) was used to test for the difference in proportion. The correlation between MRI brain and EEG was studied using McNemer test.Results:MRI detected potentially epileptogenic lesions in 59 patients (47%). The frequency of epileptogenic lesions was highest in patients who had focal-onset seizures (81%). The most common lesion type was infection and inflammation (28%), with neurocysticercosis being the most common, followed by mesial temporal sclerosis, ischemia, and tumor. About 37% of epileptogenic lesions were missed by standard protocol, which were detected on a dedicated seizure protocol MRI. The diagnostic yield of EEG was 31%. Abnormal MRI and EEG were concordant in 18% of patients, with EEG being normal in 37% of patients with epileptogenic lesions.Conclusions:MRI detects epileptogenic lesions in almost one half who presented with new-onset seizures and of these, more than third of them were detected using a “dedicated seizure protocol.” While almost 50% with seizures will have a cause identified on MRI, the sensitivity can be substantially improved by utilizing a dedicated seizure protocol.

Background Our study aims to compare non-invasive imaging such as topical computed tomography dacryocystography (CTD) and topical magnetic resonance dacryocystography (MRD) in patients with epiphora. Purpose To evaluate the practicability of topical contrast media during helical CTD and topical saline during MRD to reveal obstruction in the nasolacrimal drainage system (NLDS). Material and Methods Twenty participants with nasolacrimal duct obstruction were observed for two years. Ten participants underwent CTD and the other 10 participants underwent MRD. Images were analyzed by two radiologists. Participants were also asked about the level of discomfort of the contrast material versus the saline solution. Results The NLDS was seen on both CTD and MRD. Very good agreement between the two observers (κ value > 0.81) was seen according to the κ statistics. CTD multiplanar and 3D images allowed for precise diagnosis of the point of obstruction whereas, the MRD did not require any contrast material and showed the point of obstruction. Saline was more comfortable for the patients than topical contrast ( P < 0.05). Conclusion Topical CTD and MRD are non-invasive techniques that can visualize the degree and level of obstruction in the NLDS than conventional invasive cannulation dacryocystography. CTD is useful in visualizing the point of obstruction and smaller drainage structures. However, it is a source of ionizing radiation to the lens. The benefit of MRD is that it requires no contrast or radiation; however, it is poor in depicting the bone anatomy and smaller drainage structures. Finally, saline was better tolerated by patients than topical contrast

Background: Hydrocephalus is an active distension of the ventricular system of the brain resulting from inadequate passage of CSF from it s point of production within the cerebral ventricles to its point of absorption into the systemic circulation. Subjects and Methods: This study evaluating the efficacy of Computed Tomography in the diagnosis of Hydrocephalus was done on 74 cases. All the cases were studied on a Siemens Somatom ARC Computed Tomography system which is a modified Third generation machine. Factors of 130 KV and 70 MA were a constant for all cases and factors of 110 KV and 50 MA were used for infants. Demographic profile and radiological parameters were studied and tabulated on Microsoft excel file. Results: Tubercular meningitis was the commonest cause of hydrocephalus, with aqueduct, stenosis and tumours as the second important causes. All patients with possible hydrocephalus should have an initial, complete noncontrast CT scan with serial sections from vertex down through the upper cervical region to i. demonstrate size of all ventricles and cisterns to help rule out low lying tumors, the Chiari I and Chiari II malformation. Conclusion: CT is a valuable tool with a very high diagnostic sensitivity and helps in early detection of hydrocephalus and its management.

OBJECTIVE:This study was conducted to determine whether there is superior diagnostic accuracy for the detection and exclusion of bronchiectasis using 16-slice CT of the chest (1 mm) compared with conventional high-resolution CT (HRCT) of the chest (10 mm). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A prospective study was carried out in the department of radiology KIIMS Bangalore over a one-year period during June 2012 -July 2013 in patients who were referred for chest CT from medicine department and pulmonologist for the investigation of bronchiectasis. All scans were performed using a 16-slice CT scanner. In addition to contiguous 1 mm slices, conventional HRCT images (1.25 mm slice every 10 mm) were prepared. Both datasets were dual read. RESULTS: There were 40 patients with a median age of 59 years (range, 52-73 years), comprising 13 males and 27 females. 7 of 40 scans had no bronchiectasis in either dataset. 29 patients had bronchiectasis diagnosed on both HRCT and 1 mm scans. Two patients had tubular bronchiectasis on the HRCT scans, which was not confirmed on the 1 mm scans. Four patients had confirmed tubular bronchiectasis on the 1 mm scans, which was not identified on HRCT scans. 24 extra lobes demonstrated bronchiectasis on the 1 mm vs. the HRCT scans; of these, half were labeled as definite bronchiectasis on the 1 mm scan. There was a 32.8% increased confidence with the 1 mm scans compared with conventional HRCT of the chest in the diagnosis of bronchiectasis (p, 0.001). In conclusion, there is improved diagnostic accuracy and confidence for diagnosis and exclusion of bronchiectasis using 16-slice chest CT (1 mm cuts) compared with conventional HRCT of the chest.