Rex Marco

Publications (2)3.03 Total impact

• Article: BizarreParosteal Osteochondromatous Proliferation (Nora's lesion) with translocation t(1;17)(q32;q21): a case report and role of cytogenetic studies on diagnosis.

  Supriya Kuruvilla, Rex Marco, A Kevin Raymond, Alyaa Al-Ibraheemi, Nina Tatevian
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  ABSTRACT: Bizarre Parosteal Osteochondromatous Proliferation (BPOP) is a benign tumor-like lesion that has recently been reported to have an association with a specific translocation t(1:17)(q32;q21)[1]. Like other reactive periosteal lesions, BPOP can be diagnostically challenging, with the ever-present possibility of a potentially devastating erroneous diagnosis of malignancy. These lesions are often clinically, radiologically and histopathologically ambiguous, with rapid but circumscribed, non-infiltrative growth patterns, and histological atypia, but without overt features of malignancy. However, recent published reports have better characterized radiological [2] as well as histological features that aid in making an accurate diagnosis. In spite of all these advances, one of the biggest challenges in making the correct diagnosis still remains the inexperience of the practicing pathologist with this lesion, simply due to its rarity. We present a case of Nora's lesion in the distal ulna of an 8 year-old girl, in which, besides the histological features, we were able to demonstrate the translocation t(1:17)(q32;q21). Thus, we would like to emphasize the utility of cytogenetic studies in the correct and rapid diagnosis of clinically and radiologically ambiguous periosteal-based lesion.
  Annals of clinical and laboratory science 01/2011; 41(3):285-7. · 0.96 Impact Factor
• Article: The effect of compressive axial preload on the flexibility of the thoracolumbar spine.

  Wafa Tawackoli, Rex Marco, Michael A K Liebschner
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  ABSTRACT: An in vitro flexibility study of the human thoracolumbar spine under compressive preload. To attain kinematics descriptive of the thoracolumbar spine in vitro by applying a pure bending moment under a range of physiologic compressive preloads. Many studies on the mechanical behavior of the spine under pure moment have been conducted; however, little is known regarding variations in the range of motion of the thoracolumbar spine attributable to simulated body weight and other physiologic load conditions. Five fresh human cadaveric thoracolumbar spine specimens (T9-L3) were used. Five compressive axial preloads ranging from 75 to 975 N were applied to each specimen along the spinal curvature through four adjustable brackets attached to each vertebral body. Flexibility measurements were taken by applying a maximum of 5 Nm pure bending moment to the specimen in flexion and extension. The flexibilities in flexion and extension for each loading case were compared. The thoracolumbar spine supported compressive preloads as much as 975 N without damage or instability in the sagittal plane when the preload was applied along the natural curvature of the spine through estimated centers of rotation. The flexibility in bending (flexion/extension) of the ligamentous thoracolumbar spine decreased with increasing compressive preload. A higher bending stiffness was reached after the compressive load exceeded 500 N. Such knowledge could be used to establish better testing guidelines for implant evaluation and more realistic loading conditions.
  Spine 06/2004; 29(9):988-93. · 2.08 Impact Factor