More time on your side

The lens of the eye is a clear, flexible structure that allows the eye to focus. The absence of the lens of the eye (a condition called aphakia) is most common in adults who have had surgical removal of the lens due to cataracts (cataract surgery) or injury to the eye from a perforating wound or ulcer. People with aphakia have relatively small pupils that tend to dilate to a lesser degree. Symptoms include blurry vision, farsightedness (the ability to see distant objects more clearly than close objects), and the loss of accommodation (trouble focusing on objects). This can be corrected by wearing glasses, contact lenses, or by surgical implant of an artificial lens. Complications of aphakia include detachment of the vitreous or retina, and glaucoma.

The vocal cords are folds in the voice box (larynx) that open to let air into the lungs. When the vocal cords look thicker than usual or asymmetric on imaging, this can be associated with vocal cord dysfunction - when the vocal cords do not open normally. V​ocal cord dysfunction symptoms can include difficulty breathing or speaking and coughing. The causes vary, and can include post nasal drip, acid reflux and vocal cord nerve paralysis (i.e. nerve damage).

Vocal cord paralysis occurs when the nerve impulses to the voice box (larynx) are disrupted. This results in paralysis of the vocal cord muscles. In most cases of vocal cord paralysis, only one vocal cord is paralyzed. Vocal cord paralysis can affect the ability to speak and even breathe. Vocal cords not only produce sound, but they also protect the airway by preventing food, drink and even saliva from entering the windpipe (trachea) which could cause choking. When vocal cord paralysis has been diagnosed, a cause should be actively sought. Possible causes include nerve damage during surgery, viral infections and certain cancers.

The pancreas is a long, flat gland that sits tucked behind the stomach in the upper abdomen. Its main function is to produce enzymes that help with digestion and hormones that help regulate the way the body processes sugar. Although the body and tail of the pancreas are absent, the pancreas has a normal appearance. The absence of the body and tail are reflective of your known history of situs inversus.

Kidney (renal) papillae are areas in the kidney where urine flows through. Renal papillary necrosis is a disorder of the kidneys in which all or part of the renal papillae die. This condition can reduce kidney function and can lead to kidney failure.

Pelvic floor dysfunction is the inability to control the muscles of the pelvic floor. These muscles support the organs in the pelvis, and some form a sling around the rectum and vagina. Contracting and relaxing these muscles allows an individual to control bowel movements, urination, and, for women particularly, sexual intercourse. Pelvic floor dysfunction forces muscles to contract (tighten) rather than relax. Because of this, a person can have difficulty in clearing a bowel movement, have an incomplete bowel movement, a frequent need to urinate or may leak urine or stool.

The inguinal canal is a passage in the abdominal wall near the groin. In men it serves as a pathway through which the spermatic cords can pass from the abdominal wall to the external genitalia. There is one inguinal canal in each groin. Some individuals have a retractile testicle, in which the testicle is drawn into the inguinal canal by the cremaster muscle reflex. This reflex is elicited when the inner part of the thigh is touched, causing the cremaster muscle to pull up the testicle into the inguinal canal. If the testicle can be manually moved back into the scrotum and stay in the scrotum on its own, it is not considered a serious health condition. Retractile testicles generally do not need to be treated unless you are having testicular discomfort or infertility issues.

The endometrium (the innermost lining of the uterus) is heterogeneous when it does not have the same appearance throughout. There is a cystic lesion (a sac-like pocket of tissue that contains fluid, air, or other substances) within the endometrium based on the MRI images. Causes for this can include fibroids, polyps or endometrial cancer.

Pelvic floor laxity is the weakening of the muscles of the pelvic floor, which can lead to the inability to control these muscles (pelvic floor dysfunction). Pelvic floor muscles support the organs in the pelvis, and some form a sling around the rectum and vagina.

Shoulder cysts (a sac-like pocket of membranous tissue that contains fluid, air, or other substances) are swellings that arise around the socket of the shoulder joint (glenoid). A cyst may become very large and can press on important nerves around the shoulder. Compression of these nerves can lead to pain and weakness of the muscles in that region. This is a benign (non-cancerous) finding, and is likely due to degenerative (age related) changes in the shoulder.