HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Figures Only Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Phillips, J. A. Articles by Kellermier, H. C. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Phillips, J. A. Articles by Kellermier, H. C. Social Bookmarking                      What's this? Hotlight (NEW!) What's Hotlight?

Imaging Appearance of Intrathecal Catheter Tip Granulomas: Report of Three Cases and Review of the Literature

¹ Department of Radiology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, UPMC Presbyterian, 200 Lothrop St., Pittsburgh, PA 15213.
² Division of Neuroradiology, Department of Radiology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, UPMC Presbyterian, Pittsburgh, PA.
³ Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, UPMC Presbyterian, Pittsburgh, PA.
⁴ Division of Neuropathology, Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, UPMC Presbyterian, Pittsburgh, PA.

OBJECTIVE. The purpose of this article is to discuss the clinical, radiologic, and pathologic features of intrathecal catheter tip inflammatory masses and to review the literature regarding this phenomenon.

CONCLUSION. Formation of inflammatory masses at catheter tips can complicate chronic intrathecal opioid administration and have devastating neurologic sequelae. It is critical that radiologists recognize this entity and prompt immediate neurosurgical evaluation.

Keywords: catheter tip • complications • granuloma • inflammatory mass • intrathecal • opioid

CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    What's this?