An Overview of the Effects of Temporal Bone Trauma

Gul Moonis, MD, is a radiologist at Columbia University Medical Center. Over the course of her career in medicine, Dr. Gul Moonis has developed expertise in a range of areas, from head and neck cancer imaging to temporal bone trauma imaging.

The temporal bones are paired structures found at the base of the skull. Blunt force injuries to the head, such as those sustained during car accidents, can lead to temporal bone trauma, which can damage the brain, internal ear, and facial nerves, as well as other parts of the head and neck. Without timely surgical intervention, complications relating to temporal bone trauma range from intracranial hemorrhaging to hearing loss, to name only a few potential issues.

Intervention begins with diagnosis, which involves physical evaluation and radiographic imaging of the impacted area. After medical professionals have assessed the damage, the appropriate surgical and medical interventions must be immediately applied, particularly in situations involving herniation of the brain or damage to the intratemporal carotid artery. Individuals experiencing a decline in facial nerve functionality may also require early surgical intervention.

AJNR Article “Imaging Findings in Auto-Atticotomy”

As a radiologist with the Columbia University Medical Center in New York, , Gul Moonis, MD, performs a range of head and neck imagery services. She=e has also published multiple clinical studies. Dr. Gul Moonis’ article “Imaging Findings in Auto-Atticotomy” appeared in the January 2014 edition of the American Journal of Neuroradiology.

Co-authored by M. Manasawala, H.D. Curtin, and M.E. Cunnane, “Imaging Findings in Auto-Atticotomy” addressed the diagnosis of auto-atticotomy (otherwise known as “nature’s atticotomy”) in the attic of the middle ear. Auto-atticotomies occur as the result of an acquired cholesteatoma (an abnormal skin growth that can form behind the eardrum in the wake of chronic ear infections). An auto-atticotomy occurs when a cholesteatoma spontaneously drains into the external auditory canal, leaving an air-filled cavity behind.

“Imaging Findings in Auto-Atticotomy” describes and quantifies the specific characteristics of auto-atticotomy as it appears on a high-resolution CT scan. The study measured 21 patients with auto-atticotomies for appreciable widening of the cavity between the scutum and the lateral attic wall.

Temporal Bone Problems – Diagnosis

Gul Moonis
Image: columbiadoctors.org

Dr. Gul Moonis is an experienced neuroradiologist with expertise in head and neck imaging who provides diagnostic support to patients at the Columbia University Irving Medical Center in New York. An expert in medical imaging, Gul Moonis, MD, has published articles and book chapters on matters related to temporal bone imaging.

On the lower lateral portions of the skull, an important structure called the temporal bone provides support for the base and sides of the skull, in addition to forming parts of the ear. A complex structure, the temporal bone is divided into five sections, with the majority of the bone comprised of the petromastoid, tympanic, and squamous portions. The remaining parts of the temporal bone are called the styloid process and the zygomatic process.

Health problems that arise in the temporal bone include mastoiditis, which manifests when porous mastoid air cells develop an infection. If left untreated, this can escalate into meningitis. The temporal bone can also incur fractures as a result of blunt trauma.

To determine the root cause of temporal bone problems, doctors may recommend imaging tests, the results of which can inform diagnosis. For example, in the case of an infected and inflamed temporal bone, radiologist might carry out high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging or computed tomography tests.

The results of these tests can help doctors determine the extent of the infection and adjust treatments as needed.

How Castle Connolly Selects Top Doctors

 

Gul Moonis
Image: columbiadoctors.org

Gul Moonis, MD, is a board-certified diagnostic radiologist who focuses on neuroradiology in her work and research. Because of her education, experience, and research contributions, Dr. Gul Moonis earned distinction as a “Top Doctor” by Castle Connolly.

Castle Connolly Medical, Ltd, is an organization that lists and recognizes top physicians throughout the United States. “Top Doctor” distinction with Castle Connolly is prestigious due to the organization’s rigorous screening and selection process.

Receiving “Top Doctor” recognition from Castle Connolly is based on merit and reputation. The review process involves sending out thousands of surveys followed by phone calls to chairs of clinical departments and respected physicians to identify and vet physicians. Castle Connolly’s team, which is led by medical doctors, investigates a physician’s education and post-doctoral training along with their work history and hospital appointments.

The team looks into a doctor’s patient and procedure volume along with their participation in clinical research as part of the selection process. A physician’s interaction with their peers and patients is also taken into account as “Top Doctors” are expected to exude professionalism and empathy.

What Is Otosclerosis?

 

Otosclerosis
Image: webmd.com

A diagnostic radiologist with a subspecialty in neuroradiology, Gul Moonis, MD, serves on the staff at Columbia University Medical Center in New York City. Over the course of a medical career spanning more than 23 years, Dr. Gul Moonis has gained extensive experience imaging a variety of disorders of the ear, including otosclerosis.

A genetic disorder affecting the bones of the middle and inner ear, otosclerosis is characterized by abnormal bone growth that prevents the vibrations involved in transmitting sound information to the brain. The primary symptom of otosclerosis is a gradual hearing loss that typically begins between the ages of 10 and 30. Other symptoms of the disease include dizziness, imbalance, and tinnitus.

Once otosclerosis is diagnosed through a physical exam and hearing test, an otolaryngologist will plot a course of treatment. A CT scan of the temporal bone can be performed to diagnose the disease. In some cases, a physician will take a conservative approach that simply involves regular tests to monitor the progression of hearing loss.

Other interventions include hearing aids, sodium fluoride tablets, and surgery. For conductive hearing loss, which primarily involves the bones of the middle ear, surgical interventions have a high success rate of improving hearing and reducing other symptoms of otosclerosis.

Development and Diagnosis of Otosclerosis

 

Otosclerosis
Image: webmd.com

Gul Moonis, MD, has practiced radiology for seventeen years. Now a member of the radiology department at Columbia University Medical Center, Dr. Gul Moonis draws on in-depth experience in the imaging of patients with otosclerosis.

Otosclerosis is a bone disorder of the inner and middle ear. In a healthy ear, these bones are responsible for receiving vibrations caused when sound waves hit the tympanic membrane in the ear canal. These vibrations cause the middle ear bones to move, which in turn causes movement of the inner ear fluid and stimulation of the cells that transmit to the auditory nerve.

With otosclerosis, approximately 10 percent of Caucasian adults, and in a lesser population of individuals of African, South American, and Japanese descent, bones inside the ear fuse and lose their ability to move. This interferes with the progress of vibrations through the ear and leads to progressive hearing loss.

Diagnosis of the condition typically begins with a hearing test, which may identify loss of the ability to perceive lower tones. Patients may also report ringing in the ears or balance issues, both of which may indicate the likelihood of otosclerosis. A computed topography (CT) scan may be able to confirm bone abnormalities and is often the most definitive test for early-stage disease, before more serious symptoms develop.

Some patients with otosclerosis may not require any treatment. Those with noticeable conductive hearing loss can often benefit from hearing aids, though surgery may be available in certain cases.

RSNA Announces 2017 Grant Funding

 

Radiological Society of North America
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A diagnostic radiologist with more than 15 years of experience in the field, Gul Moonis, MD, serves as an attending staff radiologist at Columbia University Medical Center in New York. Committed to ongoing learning and involvement in the field, Dr. Gul Moonis is a longtime member of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA).

The research arm of the RSNA recently announced that it will award some $4 million in grant funding for 2017 and that nearly 30 percent of all applications made to the body will receive some sort of financial support. Researchers from 50 different locations throughout the world will receive funding.

Over the past 33 years, the RSNA has awarded upwards of $55 million in grants to more than 1,300 research projects. The organization has seen a spike in projects asking for funding in recent years, with applications increasing by double over the previous five-year period. Those who receive funding typically also receive additional grant help from other major sources, such as the National Institutes of Health.

ASHNR Holds 51st Annual Meeting in Las Vegas in September 2017

American Society of Head and Neck Radiology
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The recipient of a Castle Connolly Top Doctor award for neuroradiology in New York, Gul Moonis, MD, formerly served on the staff at Boston’s Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, where she trained residents and fellows. Active in her professional networks, Dr. Gul Moonis belongs to such organizations as the American Society of Head and Neck Radiology (ASHNR).

The ASHNR grew out of a post-graduate course in Chicago and formally organized in 1976. Since then, the Society has endeavored to support improvements in the art and science of head and neck imaging. In that spirit, the organization sponsors an annual meeting to unite its membership.

The ASHNR’s 51st Annual Meeting takes place September 16-20, 2017, at Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas. With the title “Head and Neck Imaging in the City of Lights,” the event will include more than 60 speakers covering topics ranging from head and neck pathologies to advanced imaging methods. Attendees will also have the opportunity to acquire continuing-education credit hours. For more information, visit www.ashnr.org.

Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center’s Head and Neck Cancer Program

Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center

 

A medical professional with more than fifteen years of experience in diagnostic radiology and neuroradiology, Gul Moonis, MD, serves as a radiologist at the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston, Massachusetts. Dr. Gul Moonis’ medical center manages a Head and Neck Cancer program through its Cancer Center.

The center treats a variety of cancers affecting the head and neck area through a multidisciplinary team of medical professionals that includes physicians, surgeons, nutritionists, social workers, and speech and swallowing therapists. Patients receive comprehensive cancer care at the center and families and patients alike can access supportive resources to help them cope with the challenges associated with a cancer diagnosis. Furthermore, the multidisciplinary teams meet regularly to discuss the individualized care of each patient, including weekly evaluations.

Services encompass a full range of diagnostic, therapeutic, and rehabilitative aid. Comprehensive therapies offered by the center range from medical oncology and radiation oncology to combination therapies and advanced systemic therapy for patients with metastatic cancer. Patients can also participate in clinical trials and access support through an online cancer community.

Membership in the Radiological Society of North America

Radiological Society of North America
Image: rsna.org

Radiologist Gul Moonis, MD, has more than 16 years of experience. A former fellow at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, Dr. Gul Moonis also has served Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center as a radiologist and Harvard Medical School as an assistant professor of radiology. She is a member of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA).

Founded in 1915, RSNA is a society of radiologists, medical physicians, and other medical professionals from all over the world. It is a platform for radiological research and development that not only extends the network of professionals and scientists in the field, but also strengthens the connection among them. Every year, it hosts one of the largest international medical meetings at McCormick Place in Chicago. RSNA also publishes Radiology, one of the highest-impact scientific journals, and RadioGraphics, the only ongoing radiology-specific journal.

Over 54,000 people worldwide maintain membership with the society. Membership is open to radiology specialists and professionals in related fields from all over the world. Members from North America are classified into various categories, such as board-certified active members and board-eligible associate members, as well as military and non-physician groups. Apart from these, there is a provision for free membership for members-in-training and medical students of radiology and related fields. A separate category for international members also exists.

Members of the society benefit from various services, including free advanced registration to RSNA’s medical meetings and subscriptions to high-ranking peer-reviewed journals and magazines.