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Background: The most feared complication while inserting C2 screws is vertebral artery injury. This article proposes predicting the position of the vertebral artery on a true lateral X-ray of the axis vertebra from the background information acquired from the computed tomography (CT) scan utilizing fluoroscopy. Methods: Spiral CT scans of 33 C2 vertebrae were performed utilizing a 16-slice CT scanner lateral X-rays of C2 were then obtained before and after painting the vertebral artery grooves with barium. The space available for transarticular and C2 pedicle screw insertion above the vertebral artery groove in the isthmus was then calculated as a ratio for both X-rays and CT scans. Results: There was no statistically significant difference between the (mean) ratios calculated by CT scan and X-rays regarding the space available for transarticular and C2 pedicle screw insertion (left side: 0.3894 vs 0.3897; right side: 0.3892 vs 0.3925; P > 0.05). The Kappa test revealed that CT scan and X-ray findings were in agreement in majority of the bones (left side: n = 24, 72.7%, right side: n = 22, 73.3%; P < 0.05). Conclusion: A thorough understanding of a true lateral view X-ray based on background information extracted from three dimensional CT scans helps predict the highest point of the vertebral artery groove. This proves useful for placement of C2 transarticular and pedicle screws during regular "open" and "minimally invasive" spine surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To review the role of high resolution chest computed tomography (HRCT) in ocular sarcoidosis in a high TB endemic population.Methods: This was a retrospective study.Results: Out of 140 cases, 54 had ocular sarcoidosis, while 86 cases had ocular tuberculosis. Abnormal HRCT findings was noted in 52 cases (96.3%) of ocular sarcoidosis compared with 55 cases (64.7%) of ocular tuberculosis (p = 0.001). Mediastinal lymphadenopathy was the most common finding in both groups (p = 0.544). Hilar lymphadenopathy and fissural nodules were significantly seen in ocular sarcoidosis (p = 0.001). Necrosis was seen in three cases of ocular sarcoidosis. In nearly half of the cases, it was not possible to differentiate between sarcoidosis and tuberculosis on HRCT.Conclusions: HRCT is a useful diagnostic tool in ocular sarcoidosis. Bilateral hilar lymphadenopathy and fissural nodules are significant findings in ocular sarcoidosis. A confident diagnosis of ocular sarcoidosis is made by the amalgamation of results of clinical, radiologic, and other laboratory investigations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]