JUVENILE ANGIOFIBROMA

Juvenile angiofibroma is a benign tumor, found commonly in young boys, that appears in the nasopharynx. This condition is relatively uncommon. Patients usually display symptoms of frequent nose bleeds, nasal congestion, bloody discharge from nose, and even hearing loss.
The tumor contains several blood vessels and can spread to surrounding bone. Surgery may be needed to remove the tumor, especially if the airway is being blocked. Sometimes emoblization is successful to stop the tumor from bleeding.
Additional information on juvenile angiofibroma is available at http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001572.htm.

RETINOBLASTOMA

Retinoblastoma is a malignant tumor occuring in the retina of the eye. This disease is found to be genetic related and is commonly associated with children under the age of 5. Patients with retinoblastoma usually show symptoms of leukocoria or white bloches in the eye when exposed to light. Retinoblastoma can occur in one eye or both, however in severe cases, the cancer can spread to the brain by the optic nerve. In some cases, a patient may experience blindness in the effected eye since the retina is an important aspect of vision.


Currently, chemotherapy is the most common treatment for retinoblastoma. Physicians usually try to refrain from removing the effected eye, which was a previously used method of treatment. Other experimental methods such as thermotherapy, cryotherapy, radiotherapy, or laser therapy can be used for treatment, although they have a few disadvantages. For additional information concerning retinoblastoma and the alternative treatments, please search this link http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Retinoblastoma.

Empty Sella Syndrome (ESS)

Empty sella syndrome(ESS) is a disease in which the sella turcica appears empty on radiographic images due to the shrinkage of the pituitary gland. ESS is commonly found in two forms, primary ESS and secondary ESS. Primary ESS(PESS) causes the shrinkage or flattening out of the pituitary gland from an increase in pressure. The increase in pressure could be caused from fluid build up in the skull or a tiny anatomical abnormality above the pituitary gland. The next type, secondary ESS(SESS), occurs from trauma, surgery, or radiation therapy. The pituitary gland will appear smaller in the secondary form also.

ESS in either form is not life threatening, however patients may expierence problems with pituitary gland functions along with some endocrine disfunctions. Surgery may be necessary to treat other medical problems cause indirectly by this syndrome.

Above is a T1 MR sagitial image in which the patient has PESS.