血清UA、CysC、Lp-PLA2与急性脑梗死合并脑白质疏松症患者预后的关系研究

摘要 目的：探讨血清尿酸（UA）、胱抑素C（CysC）、脂蛋白相关磷脂酶 A2（Lp-PLA2）水平与急性脑梗死合并脑白质疏松症患者预后的关系。方法：选择2020年3月至2022年12月中国人民解放军联勤保障部队第九六0医院收治的113例急性脑梗死合并脑白质疏松症患者,检测血清UA、CysC、Lp-PLA2水平。随访1个月,根据改良Rankin量表（mRS）评分将患者分为预后良好组（0～2分,75例）和预后不良组（3分及以上,38例）。多因素Logistic回归分析急性脑梗死合并脑白质疏松症患者预后不良的危险因素,受试者工作特征曲线（ROC）分析血清UA、CysC、Lp-PLA2对急性脑梗死合并脑白质疏松症患者预后不良的预测价值。结果：预后不良组血清UA、CysC、Lp-PLA2水平高于预后良好组（P＜0.05）。多因素Logistic回归分析显示重度脑白质病变、高入院时NIHSS评分,高血清UA、CysC、Lp-PLA2水平是急性脑梗死合并脑白质疏松症患者预后不良的危险因素（P＜0.05）。联合血清UA、CysC、Lp-PLA2预测急性脑梗死合并脑白质疏松症患者预后的曲线下面积（AUC）为0.916,高于单独预测。结论：急性脑梗死合并脑白质疏松症患者血清UA、CysC、Lp-PLA2水平增高且与预后不良有关,联合血清UA、CysC、Lp-PLA2预测急性脑梗死合并脑白质疏松症患者预后不良价值较高。     

缺血性脑卒中患者脑内微出血的发生及危险因素

目的:探讨脑内微出血(CMB)在缺血性脑卒中患者中的发生及相关危险因素。方法:连续选取住院的缺血性脑卒中患者250例,分析其磁共振成像(MRI)表现。根据有无CMB将患者分为CMB组(80例)及无CMB组(170例)。详细记录临床资料,观察CMB的个数、陈旧性腔隙性脑梗死的个数和脑白质改变(WMC)的严重程度。结果:单因素分析显示年龄、高血压病、既往脑梗死病史、脑白质改变、陈旧性腔隙性脑梗死及口服抗血小板聚集药物史与CMB的发生有关。Logistic回归分析显示高血压、既往有脑梗死病史及WMC分值为CMB的独立危险因素。结论:CMB与脑微血管病变之间有密切关系,高血压、既往有脑梗死病史及WMC分值为缺血性脑卒中患者发生CMB的独立危险因素。     

RDW联合血清CRP、PCT、sTLT-1与急性脑梗死患者脑梗死体积、神经功能受损程度和预后的关系研究

摘要 目的：观察红细胞分布宽度（RDW）联合血清C反应蛋白（CRP）、降钙素原（PCT）、可溶性骨髓细胞样转录因子-1（sTLT-1）与急性脑梗死（ACI）患者脑梗死体积、神经功能受损程度和预后的关系。方法：选择我院2019年4月至2021年10月期间收治的100例ACI患者作为研究对象,将100例患者根据入院时美国国立卫生研究院卒中量表（NIHSS）评分分为轻中度损伤组（61例,NIHSS≤15分）和重度损伤组（39例,NIHSS>15分）;根据不同脑梗死体积分为小灶梗死组（41例,梗死体积<5 cm³）、中灶梗死组（35例,5 cm³≤梗死体积≤15 cm³）、大灶梗死组（24例,梗死体积>15 cm³）;根据出院时改良Rankin量表（mRS）分为预后不良组（31例,mRS>3分）和预后良好组（69例,mRS≤3分）。对比不同脑梗死体积、不同NIHSS评分、不同预后ACI患者的RDW和血清CRP、PCT、sTLT-1水平,ACI患者预后不良的影响因素采用单因素及多因素Logistic回归分析。结果：小灶梗死组、中灶梗死组、大灶梗死组患者的RDW和血清CRP、PCT、sTLT-1依次升高,组间对比差异均有统计学意义（P<0.05）。重度损伤组的RDW和血清CRP、PCT、sTLT-1水平高于轻中度损伤组（P<0.05）。预后不良组的RDW和血清CRP、PCT、sTLT-1水平高于预后良好组（P<0.05）。预后良好组、预后不良组在脑梗死分型、吸烟史、性别、入院时NIHSS评分、年龄、梗死体积、饮酒史方面对比差异有统计学意义（P<0.05）。多因素Logistic回归分析结果显示：入院时NIHSS评分偏高、梗死体积偏大、脑梗死分型为完全前循环脑梗死、RDW偏高、CRP偏高、PCT偏高、sTLT-1偏高是ACI患者预后不良的危险因素（P<0.05）。结论：RDW和血清CRP、PCT、sTLT-1水平可有效反映ACI患者脑梗死体积、神经功能受损程度,且ACI患者的预后受到入院时NIHSS评分、梗死体积、脑梗死分型、RDW、CRP、PCT、sTLT-1等多种因素的影响。     

急性脑梗死患者伴吞咽障碍的临床特征及发生卒中相关性肺炎的影响因素分析

摘要 目的：分析急性脑梗死患者伴吞咽障碍的临床特征及发生卒中相关性肺炎（SAP）的影响因素。方法：选取 2019年 10月~2021年 10月本院收治的 190例急性脑梗死患者为调查研究对象,根据患者的洼田饮水试验评分分为吞咽良好组（98例）和吞咽障碍组（92例）,对比两组患者的临床资料,探讨急性脑梗死患者伴吞咽障碍的临床特征。并对 92例吞咽障碍组患者发病期间SAP发生率进行统计,并将患者分为 SAP组和非 SAP组,对两组患者的基础资料、临床资料等进行组间对比分析,并采用单因素分析和多因素 Logistic回归分析探讨影响急性脑梗死吞咽障碍患者发生 SAP的危险因素。结果：吞咽障碍组与吞咽良好组患者的性别、体质指数（BMI）、吸烟史、饮酒史、基础疾病史等比较无统计学差异（P>0.05）,而吞咽障碍组患者的年龄、美国国立卫生院神经功能缺损评分（NIHSS）、梗死面积、梗死部位脑干比例均高于吞咽功能良好组（P<0.05）。92例急性脑梗死伴吞咽障碍患者中有 34例患者发生 SAP,发生率为 36.96%。经单因素分析显示,SAP组与非 SAP组患者的性别、BMI、饮酒史、高血压病史、高脂血病史比较无统计学差异（P>0.05）,而 SAP组患者的年龄、NIHSS评分、吸烟史患者比例、糖尿病史患者比例均高于非 SAP组（P<0.05）。经 Logistic多因素回归分析显示,高龄、高 NIHSS评分、吸烟史、糖尿病史是急性脑梗死伴吞咽障碍并发 SAP发生的独立危险因素（P<0.05,OR＞1）。结论：急性脑梗死患者中高龄、神经功能缺损严重、梗死面积大以及脑干部位梗死患者易出现吞咽功能障碍,且有部分患者会出现 SAP,而高龄、高 NIHSS评分、吸烟史、糖尿病史是诱发 SAP发生的影响因素,值得临床关注。     

普外科手术后期并发脑梗死患者的相关危险因素病例对照研究

目的:探讨普外科手术后期患者并发脑梗死与其相关危险因素的关系,以指导普外科医生在术前和术中有效评估病人发生手术后期脑梗死的风险,并做到积极预防。方法:回顾性分析我院2009年~2014年普外科手术后期发生脑梗死的患者,采用病例对照研究的方法,将手术后发生脑梗死的患者36例作为病例组,按手术方式进行1:2配比,从相同手术方式且未发生脑梗死的的患者中随机抽取72例作为对照,采用SPSS13.0软件进行单因素和多因素条件Logistic回归分析。结果:单、多因素条件Logistic回归分析表明,高血压、糖尿病、血脂异常,术中低灌注均可能是普外科手术后期发生脑梗死的危险因素,多因素Logistic回归分析显示,在调整年龄和性别后,术中低灌注仍最容易发生脑梗死,其次为糖尿病和高血压病史。结论:普外科术中应注意血压的监测和控制,尽量避免或减少低灌注;术前良好控制血压、血脂、血糖有助于降低普外科手术后患者发生脑梗死的风险;普外科医生应根据手术患者危险因素的多少及严重程度,尤其对于高龄患者,选择合理的手术时机及手术方式可能归避手术后期脑梗死的发生。     

急性脑梗死超早期血浆TM、TAFI、IL-6、TNF-α水平与梗死体积的关系及诊断价值

目的：探讨急性脑梗死超早期血浆血栓调节蛋白（TM）、凝血酶激活纤溶抑制物（TAFI）、白细胞介素-6(IL-6)及肿瘤坏死因子-α(TNF-α)水平与患者梗死体积的关系及对梗死体积的诊断价值。方法：将2018年6月-2019年9月期间于西安医学院第二附属医院就诊的75例急性脑梗死超早期患者纳入观察组,并把75例同期陈旧性脑梗死患者纳入对照组。检测观察组治疗前（且发病6 h内）、治疗3 d后及治疗7 d后以及对照组入院时血浆TM、TAFI、IL-6及TNF-α水平。比较观察组与对照组治疗前上述指标的差异。将观察组按照梗死体积分为小体积梗死组（27例）、中体积梗死组（30例）及大体积梗死组（18例）,比较治疗前、治疗3 d及治疗7 d后三组上述指标的变化趋势及组间差异。采用有序Logistics回归分析治疗前上述指标与脑梗死体积的相关性;进行ROC分析治疗前上述指标对大体积梗死的诊断价值。结果：观察组治疗前（且发病6 h内）血浆TM、TAFI、IL-6及TNF-α水平均高于对照组（P<0.05）。随着病程的进展,治疗3 d后小体积梗死组、中体积梗死组及大体积梗死组上述指标均较治疗前降...     

老年骨关节置换术围术期发生脑梗死的危险因素分析及预防对策研究

目的:分析老年骨关节置换术围术期发生脑梗死的危险因素并研究其预防对策。方法:选择2015年1月-2016年6月我院收治的200例行关节置换术患者,对所有患者的性别、年龄、体重、身高、患病情况、置入假体类型、手术时间、术中出血量、术后引流量、切口长度、住院时间、下地时间及高血压、糖尿病、冠心病等合并症情况进行回归分析,明确患者围术期发生脑梗死的危险因素,并提出针对性预防措施。结果:入组200例行骨关节置换术患者,围术期发生脑梗死患者53例。单因素分析结果显示年龄是否超过65岁、吸烟与否、疾病类型、麻醉方式、有无冠心病、糖尿病、高血压等合并症的骨关节置换术患者围术期脑梗死的发生率存在显著性差异(P0.05)。而进一步logistics回归分析显示年龄超过65岁、吸烟、患者股骨颈骨折、手术麻醉为全麻、有冠心病、糖尿病、高血压等合并症是影响行骨关节置换术患者围术期发生脑梗死的独立危险因素(P0.05)。结论:年龄超过65岁、吸烟、患者股骨颈骨折、手术麻醉为全麻、有冠心病、糖尿病、高血压等合并症的骨关节置换术患者围术期更易发生脑梗死,对有上述特点患者应密切注意预后情况,给予精细的护理措施,防止脑梗死的发生。     

东菱克栓酶治疗急性脑梗死30例临床观察

1996～1998年我院用东菱克栓酶治疗急性脑梗死30例,疗效满意,现报告如下。1　临床资料1.1　一般资料　本组30例急性脑梗死患者均符合第二次全国脑血管会议制定的脑梗死诊断标准,均经头颅CT或MRI检查确诊有脑梗死病灶,并有明显的神经功能缺损定位体征,年龄45～79岁,平均67岁,男20例,女10例,男:女=2:1,既往史:高血压病史10例,冠心病房颤1例,糖尿病4例,颈椎病2例,慢阻肺并感染4例,病窦综合征1例,低血压2例,高血粘高血脂4例。梗死部位:基底节梗死12例,腔隙性脑梗死7例,右顶枕叶梗死2例,皮层下动脉梗死1例,双额颞叶多发性梗死4例,顶叶大片脑梗…     

C 反应蛋白、白细胞计数与脑梗死体积及近期预后的关系

目的:研究血清C反应蛋白水平、白细胞计数与急性脑梗死患者的梗死灶体积大小以及预后的关系。方法:检测70例急性脑梗死患者(CI组)、64例腔隙性脑梗死患者(LCI组)和80例健康人(对照组)的血浆CRP水平,并进行白细胞计数。在CI及LCI组人院当天和4周时进行临床神经功能缺损程度评分(NDS)评定以判断预后。结果:CI组血浆CRP水平高于LCI组及对照组(P<0.01),LCI组高于对照组(P<0.01);CI组白细胞计数高于LCI组及对照组(P<0.01),LCI组高于对照组(P<0.05);血浆CRP水平及白细胞计数正常组患者住院4周时显著进步和进步的比率明显高于血浆CRP水平及白细胞计数异常组(均P<0.01),而无变化和死亡的比率明显低于异常组(均P<0.01)。结论:ACI患者血浆CRP水平和白细胞计数均明显升高;脑梗死急性期血清CRP水平、白细胞计数可能与脑梗死患者梗死体积大小以及近期预后有密切的关系。     

应用手持激光器建立光化学法脑梗死动物模型

目的应用手持激光器作为光源建立光化学法局灶性脑梗死动物模型。方法将36只SD大鼠随机分为4组,即A组：开骨窗至硬脑膜,不注射玫瑰红,手持激光器照射5rain;B组：开骨窗至硬脑膜,注射玫瑰红,手持激光器照射5min;C组：保留颅骨内板,注射玫瑰红,手持激光器照射5min;D组：开骨窗至硬脑膜,注射玫瑰红,冷光源照射40rain。于术后24、48h对各组大鼠进行神经功能的行为学评分,进行MR扫描,术后48h处死动物,TTC染色测量梗死体积,光镜下观察病理改变,比较各组的模型制作成功率。结果不同方法进行动物模型制作时,24h神经功能的行为学评分有显著性差异,48h后差异消失。头部MR扫描显示,A组未见脑梗死形成,B组、c组全部有脑梗死灶形成,D组仅部分大鼠形成梗死灶,但体积明显较B、C组小,另外C组有2例合并硬膜外血肿。TTC染色A组未见梗死灶形成,B组、C组可见恒定的梗死灶,D组仅部分形成梗死灶。B、C、D组模型制作成功率分别为100％、80％、50％,将B组、C组合并为手持激光器组,与冷光源组（D组）比较,两种方法间有显著性差异（P=0．026）。结论应用手持激光器作为照射光源与冷光源相比,有更高的模型制作成功率。     

Outcome of Investigation of Patients with Presenile Dementia

Of 106 patients admitted for investigation to a neurological hospital with a presumptive diagnosis of dementia, 84 were confirmed to have intellectual impairment or loss of learning and memory function or both. A possible aetiology for the dementia was found in 36 of these 84 patients; the commonest causes discovered were intracranial mass lesions, arterial disease, and alcoholism. Fifteen of the 106 patients were found not to be demented but to have some other illness, most commonly depression. Of the whole series some 15% of the patients suffered from conditions that were amenable to treatment.     

不同部位梗死后痴呆的脑电图表现差异分析

目的:探讨不同部位脑梗死导致血管性痴呆的脑电图表现差异,为血管性痴呆的诊断分类提供客观依据。方法:80例诊断血管性痴呆的患者根据影像学表现分为多灶梗死后痴呆和关键部位梗死后痴呆。入选患者均于饱餐后2小时给予常规18导脑电图检查,记录时间为30分钟以上。结果:1多灶梗死后痴呆多表现为α节律减慢,6-8Hz为主;波幅低,以20-25Uv为主,α波频率调节差、节律不规则。低波幅θ波出现者27例,占71.1%,出现于各导联,出现δ波者17例,占44.7%。2关键部位梗死后痴呆的患者中,正常为6例,占13%。异常者39例,占87%。EEG改变主要表现为α指数减少,节律以7-9Hz为主的患者28例,占71.8%。低波幅θ波出现者17例,以前额为主,占43.6%。39例患者未出现δ波。结论:不同部位梗死后血管性痴呆的脑电图表现不尽相同,可以为血管性痴呆的分类诊断提供客观依据。     

扩布性阻抑与脑缺血

研究表明,扩布性阻抑（ＳＤ）不仅与脑缺血,偏头痛,癫痫,颅脑创伤等疾患有关,而且可影响睡眠类型,觉醒等生理过程。本文重点对ＳＤ与脑缺血的关系进行了综述,订 叙述了以下几个问题：（１）ＳＤ的发现及研究简史;（２）完整脑内的ＳＤ;（３）局灶性脑梗塞周围的ＳＤ。     

Impaired Cerebral Autoregulation Is Associated with Brain Atrophy and Worse Functional Status in Chronic Ischemic Stroke

Dynamic cerebral autoregulation (dCA) is impaired following stroke. However, the relationship between dCA, brain atrophy, and functional outcomes following stroke remains unclear. In this study, we aimed to determine whether impairment of dCA is associated with atrophy in specific regions or globally, thereby affecting daily functions in stroke patients.We performed a retrospective analysis of 33 subjects with chronic infarctions in the middle cerebral artery territory, and 109 age-matched non-stroke subjects. dCA was assessed via the phase relationship between arterial blood pressure and cerebral blood flow velocity. Brain tissue volumes were quantified from MRI. Functional status was assessed by gait speed, instrumental activities of daily living (IADL), modified Rankin Scale, and NIH Stroke Score.Compared to the non-stroke group, stroke subjects showed degraded dCA bilaterally, and showed gray matter atrophy in the frontal, parietal and temporal lobes ipsilateral to infarct. In stroke subjects, better dCA was associated with less temporal lobe gray matter atrophy on the infracted side ( = 0.029), faster gait speed ( = 0.018) and lower IADL score (0.002). Our results indicate that better dynamic cerebral perfusion regulation is associated with less atrophy and better long-term functional status in older adults with chronic ischemic infarctions.     

Animal Models of Vascular Cognitive Impairment and Dementia (VCID)

Vascular cognitive impairment and dementia (VCID) is the most common etiology of dementia in the elderly. Both, vascular and Alzheimer’s disease, pathologies work synergistically to create neurodegeneration and cognitive impairments. The main causes of VCID include hemorrhage/microbleed (i.e., hyperhomocysteinemia), cerebral small vessel disease, multi-infarct dementia, severe hypoperfusion (i.e., bilateral common carotid artery stenosis), strategic infarct, angiopathy (i.e., cerebral angiopathy), and hereditary vasculopathy (i.e., cerebral autosomal dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy). In this review, we will discuss the experimental animal models that have been developed to study these pathologies. We will discuss the limitations and strengths of these models and the important research findings that have advanced the field through the use of the models.     

Secondary pallidonigral degeneration mimicking recurrent acute stroke in clinical presentation and magnetic resonance imaging: a case report

Background

Secondary pallidonigral transneuronal degeneration after a remote primary cerebral infarct can mimic recurrent stroke at clinical presentation. We describe a patient with secondary pallidonigral degeneration following a previous putaminal infarct, which was diagnosed through diffusion-weighted (DWI) and T2-weighted imaging (T2WI).

Case presentation

A 64-year-old man complained of an acute relapse of right-lower-limb weakness following a cerebral infarction 2 months before presentation. Recurrent cerebral stroke was initially diagnosed in the emergency room. DWI of the brain revealed a subacute to chronic infarct in the left putamen and new acute cytotoxic edema in the left substantia nigra (SN) and globus pallidus while T2WI also showed hyperintensity in the same regions. The SN was outside the aforementioned middle cerebral arterial territory, which includes the putamen. These findings are compatible with the diagnosis of acute pallidonigral injury secondary to striatal infarction. The patient had fully recovered from his right-lower-limb weakness after 1 month.

Conclusions

Secondary pallidonigral degeneration may mimic recurrent stroke. DWI along with T2WI facilitates elucidation of this clinicopathological entity, and thus unnecessary treatment can be avoided.

     

Scintigraphie cérébrale de perfusion et exploration des syndromes démentiels : illustration à l’aide de cinq cas cliniques

The epidemiological evidence suggests that individuals with higher education level have a reduced risk of developing dementia. Because cognitive reserve and its compensation mechanisms may modulate the clinical expression in neurodegenerative pathology, it is important to study subjects who present mild cognitive disturbance with functional imaging. The cerebral SPECT has been used to determine regional uptake of radiotracer into the brain of patients with cognitive impairment. These abnormalities of blood flow were correlated with cognitive impairment. The cerebral SPECT is also useful to investigate preclinical dementia and to predict the evolution of cognitive disturbance. This article, reports some technical and semiological notions and illustrate with five clinical cases the scintigraphic aspect of some dementia syndrome.     

比较MoCA和MMSE在卒中后认知功能筛查中的应用

目的：比较蒙特利尔认知评估量表（Montreal Cognitive Assessment,MoCA）和简易智能量表（mini-mental state examination,MMSE）在急性缺血性脑卒中后认知损害筛查中的应用。方法：对65例缺血性脑卒中患者在发病14天内应用简易精神状态检查量表（Mini-mental State Examination,MMSE）和MoCA进行神经心理评估。其中12例患者在发病3-6个月后应用MMSE、MoCA和神经心理成套测验进行神经心理评估。以MMSE〈23分、MoCA〈21为分界值,受教育年限小于12年加1分,文盲加2分。结果：MMSE的平均分值为25.2±4.3,MoCA的平均分值为18.6±5.7。37例患者MoCA评分显示有认知损害,但其中19例患者（29%）MMSE评分显示正常。28例MoCA评估显示认知正常的患者的MMSE评分均显示认知正常。视空间与执行功能、注意和语言重复测试受损最常见,定向和命名受损较少。在3-6个月的随访期内,12例患者中1例诊断为血管性痴呆患者的MoCA的分值上升1分,MMSE分值无变化;5例认知正常患者、3例轻度认知损害无痴呆的患者和3例中度认知损害无痴呆的患者MMSE和MoCA平均分值均有不同程度的上升,视空间与执行功能平均得分值在2次检测中无明显变化。结论：MoCA较MMSE检出血管性认知功能障碍患者敏感性更高,对认知变化更为敏感。     

Infarction in the territory of the anterior cerebral artery: clinical study of 51 patients

Background

Little is known about clinical features and prognosis of patients with ischaemic stroke caused by infarction in the territory of the anterior cerebral artery (ACA). This single centre, retrospective study was conducted with the following objectives: a) to describe the clinical characteristics and short-term outcome of stroke patients with ACA infarction as compared with that of patients with ischaemic stroke due to middle cerebral artery (MCA) and posterior cerebral artery (PCA) infarctions, and b) to identify predictors of ACA stroke.

Methods

Fifty-one patients with ACA stroke were included in the "Sagrat Cor Hospital of Barcelona Stroke Registry" during a period of 19 years (1986–2004). Data from stroke patients are entered in the stroke registry following a standardized protocol with 161 items regarding demographics, risk factors, clinical features, laboratory and neuroimaging data, complications and outcome. The characteristics of these 51 patients with ACA stroke were compared with those of the 1355 patients with MCA infarctions and 232 patients with PCA infarctions included in the registry.

Results

Infarctions of the ACA accounted for 1.3% of all cases of stroke (n = 3808) and 1.8% of cerebral infarctions (n = 2704). Stroke subtypes included cardioembolic infarction in 45.1% of patients, atherothrombotic infarction in 29.4%, lacunar infarct in 11.8%, infarct of unknown cause in 11.8% and infarction of unusual aetiology in 2%. In-hospital mortality was 7.8% (n = 4). Only 5 (9.8%) patients were symptom-free at hospital discharge. Speech disturbances (odds ratio [OR] = 0.48) and altered consciousness (OR = 0.31) were independent variables of ACA stroke in comparison with MCA infarction, whereas limb weakness (OR = 9.11), cardioembolism as stroke mechanism (OR = 2.49) and sensory deficit (OR = 0.35) were independent variables associated with ACA stroke in comparison with PCA infarction.

Conclusion

Cardioembolism is the main cause of brain infarction in the territory of the ACA. Several clinical features are more frequent in stroke patients with ACA infarction than in patients with ischaemic stroke due to infarction in the MCA and PCA territories.     

Computed tomography in the investigation of dementia.

To assess the value of computed tomography in investigating patients with dementia, 500 consecutive patients presenting with a provisional clinical diagnosis of dementia of recent onset were reviewed and the results analysed in a computer. Most patients had either cerebral atrophy or infarction, but 82 patients had a normal scan and 42 others had tumours. More than 10% of all patients, including 5% with no other symptoms or signs, had a treatable lesion. Various associated symptoms and signs were useful pointers to such a treatable lesion and clearly indicated computed tomography. Accurate diagnosis is the cornerstone of proper management, and if a few patients with treatable lesions can be identified then the benefits to all concerned may be incalculable.