Fifteen nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) studies of 14 patients with herniated lumbar intervertebral disks were performed on the UCSF NMR imager. Computed tomographic (CT) scans done on a GE CT/T 8800 or comparable scanner were available at the time of NMR scan interpretation. Of the 16 posterior disk ruptures seen at CT, 12 were recognized on NMR. Diminished nucleus pulposus signal intensity w...

The distribution and intensity of delta 5-3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3 beta-HSD) activity was examined histochemically in ovaries from Mongolian gerbils during pregnancy and undergoing lactational delay. In all of the ovaries examined the corpora lutea showed the strongest level of activity, but like the interstitium and granulosa, there was no relationship between the enzyme pattern ...

Radiation nephropathy was first recognized in 1906. The kidney is a radiosensitive organ with a tolerance dose (5% complications in 5 years) of 20 Gray. The imaging findings of acute and chronic radiation induced renal injury are previously described. Radiation-induced adrenal injury, to our knowledge, has not been described in the literature. Unlike the kidneys and other upper abdominal organs...

To assess the usefulness of MR in defining the changes of lumbar arachnoiditis, we reviewed retrospectively the MR, plain-film myelographic, and CT myelographic findings in 100 patients referred for evaluation of failed-back-surgery syndrome. In 11 of 12 cases of arachnoiditis demonstrated by plain-film and CT myelography, an abnormal configuration of nerve roots was seen by MR. The correlated ...

A 44-year-old male presented with acute onset retention of urine and low back pain. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the lumbar spine demonstrated an extradural mass extending from the lower border of the L3 vertebra to upper border of L5 vertebra. Axial imaging showed the posterolaterally located mass lesion on left side, producing significant compression and displacement of thecal sac and ...

Intervertebral intradural lumbar disc herniation (ILDH) is a quite rare pathology, and isolated intradural lumbar disc herniation is even more rare. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) may not be able to reveal ILDHs, especially if MRI findings show an intact lumbar disc annulus and posterior longitudinal ligament. Here, we present an exceedingly rare case of an isolated IDLH that we initially mis...

Why DOC? Cervical spondylosis is unique to the cervical spine because of the anatomy and presence of the uncovertebral joints and spinal cord. This is often manifest over several segments with mass effect on the ventral thecal sac and cord from ventral disease (DOC) and posterior ligamentous hypertrophy. On MR imaging, we are often faced with a low-signal, posterior extension of the disc margin...

The synthesis of progesterone by the corpus luteum is essential for the establishment and maintenance of early pregnancy. Regulation of luteal steroidogenesis can be broken down into three major events; luteinization (i.e., conversion of an ovulatory follicle), luteal regression, and pregnancy induced luteal maintenance/rescue. While the factors that control these events and dictate the final s...