Angiofibroma

This is a coronal CT image showing a angiofibroma. The lesion is filling the left nasal cavity and ethmoid sinus, blocking the maxillay sinus, and causes the septum to deviate to the right. This image is from http://www.emedicine.com/ENT/topic470.htm. A angiofibroma is a benign vascoformative tumor occuring mostly is adolescent males. These tumors contain testosterone receptors and may grow during testosterone administration. Angiofibromas arise from the wall of the nasal cavity. The symptoms depend on the size and location of the tumor. The tumor can cause periodic nosebleeds, facial swelling, nasal congestion, hyponasal speech, or otorrhea. The tumor is diagnosed by having a CT scan, MRI scan, or a sinus xray. They can be treated by surgically removing them or radiation treatments if it extends into the cranium.

retinoblastoma

Retinoblastoma is a childhood cancer arising from immature cells in one or both eyes. This cancer can metastasize to the brain, central nervous system and the bones in some cases. It usually occurs in younger children, but can occur at any age. 90% of patients have no family history of this disease. It is curable if caught early enough, but 87% of children with this disease die. Common signs of this disease is a white glow in the pupil in low lighting. White pupil in a color photo, as seen in the picture on the top, or crossed or misaligned eyes. Retinoblastoma can be treated by removing the affected eye before the cancer spreads, chemotherapy, or radiation beam treatments. The image on top is from http://www.retinoblastoma.net/whatisrb.html. The image on the bottom is a CT scan of a patient with retinoblastoma from http://www.emedicine.com/oph/topic346.htm.

Prolactinoma

This is a MR saggital image of 13 year old girls pituitary gland with a Prolactinoma. This girl was having symptoms of breast discharge and headaches. http://goldbamboo.com/pictures-t1660.html

Prolactinoma is a benign tumor of the pituitary gland that produces prolactin hormone. This is the most common type of pituitary tumor. 25 to 35 percent of all pituitary adenomas are Prolactinomas. The cause of these tumors is unknown. It has been found that most pituitary tumors are not genetically passed from parent to offspring. The symptoms are caused by too much prolactin in the blood or by pressure of the tumor on surrounding tissues. Woman may be complaining of menstruation disruption, unexplained milk secretion, visual problems, or infertility. Men may complain of impaired sexual function, headaches, visual problems, or milk secretion. When going to the doctor, the doctor will test if the prolactin levels in the blood are high. If so they may order a thyroid test, CT, or MRI. These tumors can be treated with surgery, medicine, or radiation treatments. These treatments are done to return prolactic levels to normal, reduce the tumor size, correct visual problems, and restore normal pituitary function.

Labyrinthitis

http://www.emedicine.com/ent/topic409.htm This is an image that depicts Labyrinthitis ossificans in the right cochlea. The superior image is prior to giving contrast. The inferior image is post contrast. The inferior image shows enhancement of the right cochlea showing inflammation.

Labyrinthitis is inflammation of the inner ear. The inner is ear is made up of 3 semicircular canals that help control balance. When the inner ear becomes inflamed it can cause vertigo, nausea, vomiting, ear loss (usually temporary), and/or roaring sounds in the ear. The vertigo begins suddenly often one to two weeks after the flu, cold, viral, or bacterial infection. The cause for this inflammation is not clear. It is often triggered by an upper respiratory infection, middle ear infection, or rarely, by bacterial infection. Labyrinthitis is usually diagnosed with medical history and physical examination. If the cause for vertigo is unclear the doctor may request additional tests such as a CT or MRI exam. The inflammation usually goes away on its own in several weeks. If its cause is bacterial you will need antibiotics to cure it.

Glioblastoma Multiforme

This image is of a glioblastoma multiforme in a fifteen year old boy's brain. These tumors are grade four astrocytomas. They are the most common and most aggressive type of primary brain tumors. They make up 52% of all brain tumors. These types of tumors have a survival rate of about five years. This is a very low survival rate, and usually only occurs in patients that receive treatment. This treatment can consist of surgery, radiation treatments, steroids, or chemotherapy. After seeing the tumor on a CT or MRI scan the tumor can be diagnosed by either stereotactic biopsy or craniotomy. If diagnosed during craniotomy a partial resection of the tumor can also be done then. These tumors can cause seizures, nausea, vomiting, headaches, hemiparesis, or progressive memory, personality, or neurological deficits.(Editors Encyclopedia Wikipedia Online, last modified Jan. 2008) I have seen glioblastomas on MRI of the brains several times in my work and clinical environment. From my experience it is the most common brain tumor I have seen.

Editors Encyclopedia Wikipedia Online. (modified Jan. 2008) Glioblastoma Multiforme.Wikimedia Online. Retrieved Jan. 20, 2008, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glioblastoma_multiforme