Search

The Kearns-Sayre syndrome is a mitochondrial myopathy characterised by ptosis, chronic progressive external ophthalmoplegia, abnormal retinal pigmentation, and cardiac conduction defects. A unique case is reported in which there was rapid development of progressive congestive cardiac failure that required cardiac transplantation. A review of published reports of mitochondrial myopathy shows that a minority of cases (less than 20%) have cardiac involvement. This had previously been limited to abnormalities of cardiac conduction with progressive heart block. Myocardial biopsy has, however, shown ultrastructural evidence of a generalised mitochondrial disorder which hitherto has not been associated with a functional deficit. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Digital examination is the most commonly used method of assessing local invasion in rectal cancer, but it is highly subjective and accuracy is related to surgical experience. The use of transrectal ultrasound in the preoperative staging of rectal cancer has been assessed in 51 patients with histologically proven rectal cancers. Results showed a high degree of correlation when compared with postoperative histopathology (r = 0.91, P< 0.001). Invasion beyond the muscularis propria was predicted with a sensitivity of 97%, specificity of 92% and predictive value of 97%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]