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We describe a patient with Susac's syndrome presenting with the triad of encephalopathy, branch retinal artery occlusion and hearing loss. MRI has some characteristic features and can be helpful in establishing the diagnosis, particularly in an early stage before the classic triad is complete. Besides MRI often allows to differentiate this rare disorder from more common neurologic diseases like multiple sclerosis.

The diagnosis of transient headache with neurological deficits and CSF lymphocytosis (HaNDL) is essentially based on the clinical and CSF findings, and the absence of MRI abnormalities. We present a young man with the clinical characteristics of HaNDL, but also an area of diffusion restriction in the splenium of the corpus callosum (SCC). When considering the limited experience with this MRI technique in this disorder, we wonder if a normal MRI can be maintained as an indispensable criterion for diagnosis. Similar MRI abnormalities limited to the SCC have been found in mild forms of meningoencephalitis, but their origin remains obscure. In at least some cases not only a clinical, but also a radiological overlap could exist between both disorders.

Objectives: Epidemiological studies indicate that acute uncomplicated urinary tract infections (UTI) in women can be successfully treated with short treatment regimens. However, the findings from the literature do not match experiences in daily practice., Methods: A randomised, controlled trial evaluating the microbiological and clinical (self-reported) cure rates of a three-day vs. five-day treatment regimen with trimethoprim for UTI in women., Results: No statistically significant difference in bacteriological cure rate was found between the three-day and five-day regimen. One day after the shorter regimen 44% of women considered themselves as 'not-recovered' due to persistence of the symptoms compared with 35% after the five-day treatment (p > 0.05). Three days after therapy these percentages were 30 and 25% respectively., Conclusion: The relatively high percentage of persistent symptoms one day after the three-day regimen might be responsible for general practitioners believing that short regimens are not successful. It is therefore advisable that if urine samples are controlled to wait at least three days after finishing treatment.

The MRI findings at 1.5 Tesla of central pontine myelinolysis in 2 alcoholic patients are reported. The lesion was confined to the pons in both cases, with strong hyperintensity on T2-weighted and hypointensity on T1-weighted images. In both cases MRI revealed typical symmetrical sparing of the ventrolateral tracts in the pons.

TSH response to I.V. TRH and suppression of cortisol secretion by dexamethasone were studied in 51 depressive inpatients. There was no significant relationship between the results on both tests, considering blunted TSH responses to TRH and nonsuppression on the DST. Both tests were not complementary in identifying various subgroups of depression as far as the predictive value of a positive result on either or both tests is concerned. Methodological and clinical issues regarding these markers are briefly discussed.