December 01 News Headlines

These are radiology news updates from other sites

December 31, 2001
	Evidence for Synovitis in Active Polymyalgia Rheumatica: Sonographic Study in a Large Series of Patients - Journal of Rheumatology
	Conclusion: Synovitis was detected in at least one site in 100% of patients with PMR. SA-SD bursitis, LHBT tenosynovitis, carpal tunnel syndrome, and glenohumeral, knee and hip synovitis were the most frequent alterations in PMR. Enthesitis was relatively rare at any articular site...

	December 28, 2001
	Radiation-induced Changes in MR Signal Intensity and Contrast Enhancement of Lumbosacral Vertebrae: Do Changes Occur Only Inside the Radiation Therapy Field? - Radiology
	RT causes an increase in precontrast SI predominantly in bone marrow inside the RT field. However, a decrease in CE is seen in bone marrow not only inside but also outside the RT field...

	Shoulder Instability: Accuracy of MR Imaging Performed after Surgery in Depicting Recurrent Injury—Initial Findings - Radiology
	MR imaging, indirect MR arthrography in particular, appears to be an accurate means of evaluating the shoulder following instability surgery...

	Clinical Outcome of Edema-like Bone Marrow Abnormalities of the Foot - Radiology
	Edema-like bone marrow abnormalities of the foot predict long-lasting pain. Analysis of the image patterns of such abnormalities allows prediction of the clinical outcome to a certain degree...

December 27, 2001
	Sonography and MR Imaging of Posterior Tibial Tendinopathy - American Journal of Roentgenology
	Sonography can be useful as the initial imaging study in evaluating abnormalities caused by posterior tibial tendinopathy...

Perthes Lesion (A Variant of the Bankart Lesion) - American Journal of Roentgenology

The use of a combination of axial and abduction—external rotation position sequences on MR images can be helpful in the diagnosis of a Perthes lesion. A fluid-filled joint with capsular distension, caused by either a large amount of effusion or MR arthrography, was found to be helpful in outlining Perthes lesions. Adding the abduction—external rotation position to the protocol in patients in whom Perthes lesion is suspected will increase diagnostic accuracy and may reveal a Perthes lesion not visible on axial images, as was the case in 50% of the patients in our series...

	December 26, 2001
	Effect of hypothermia on the ischemic and reperfused rat skeletal muscle, monitored by in vivo 31p-magnetic resonance spectroscopy - Microsurgery
	Hypothermia appears to be a simple and effective method with which to reduce the damage related to ischemia and reperfusion...

	Microradiographic and Histopathologic Findings in a Human Cage Explant After Two-Level Corpectomy - Spine
	Osteosynthesis and bone remodeling can occur within titanium corpectomy cages...

	Magnetic Resonance Imaging Findings in Relation to the COL9A2 Tryptophan Allele Among Patients With Sciatica - Spine
	The patients with the Trp2 allele were more flexible, and more often tended to have a radial tear in a nonherniated disc than their control counterparts...

	Near Infrared Spectroscopy for Intraoperative Monitoring of the Spinal Cord - Spine
	This near infrared spectroscopy technique monitors changes in oxygenation of the spinal cord, and therefore appears capable of intraoperative warning about impending vascular compromise of the spinal cord...

	Effects of Aging on Muscle T2 Relaxation Time: Difference Between Fast- and Slow-Twitch Muscles - Investigative Radiology
	The T2 relaxation time of fast-twitch muscle increases with aging, due mainly to increased extracellular space, reflecting age-related type II fiber atrophy...

December 21, 2001
	Sonography of the shoulder after arthrography (arthrosonography): Preliminary results - Journal of Clinical Ultrasound
	Our preliminary results suggest that although arthrosonography was not superior to conventional sonography in the diagnosis of rotator cuff tears, it may provide a better assessment of the size of tears and additional information about synovial proliferation in the subacromial-subdeltoid bursa and the biceps tendon sheath...

	Craniospinal giant cell tumors: clinicoradiological analysis in a series of 11 cases - Journal of Clinical Neuroscience
	All patients were followed up for periods ranging from one to 10 years, with a mean of 2 years and 3 months. No significant increase in the residual tumor or recurrences, as seen on periodic neuroimaging studies, were noted during their follow-up period...

	December 20, 2001
	Atlanto-Axial Rotatory Subluxation in Children: Early Management - Acta Neurochirurgia
	Early detection and intensive conservative treatment constitutes the mainstay of management of AARS. Surgery is reserved for cases with irreducible or recurrent subluxation...

Three-dimensional evaluation of lumbar disc hernia and prediction of absorption by enhanced MRI - Journal of Orthopaedic Science

Conclusion: In the operated patients, hernias that penetrated the posterior longitudinal ligament (PLL) had high rates of preoperative enhancement, and these hernias showed invasion of granulation tissue with marked neovascularization. Positive enhancement by MRI confirms an ongoing absorption process. Enhanced MRI can be a good method for the prediction of spontaneous absorption of lumbar disc hernias...

	December 18, 2001
	Post-traumatic fibro-osseous lesion of the ribs and scapula (sclerosing xanthofibroma) - Annals of Diagnostic Pathology
	The pathologic and radiologic features of this entity are reviewed along with the summary of the differential diagnosis...

	The scarf osteotomy for hallux valgus: a clinical and radiological review - The Foot
	We have treated 17 patients (24 feet) with symptomatic hallux valgus using a scarf osteotomy. Aclinical and radiological review was conducted with a mean follow up of 14 months. The osteotomy achieved a mean reduction of the hallux valgus angle by 17°, and a significant improvement in the pain score. The procedure has the advantage of early mobilization by full heel weight-bearing...

Magnetic resonance imaging of the wrist ligaments - Australasian Radiology

When injured, the ligaments of the wrist behave as other joint ligaments do. Findings following injury include discontinuity of normal striated bands, incomplete disruption, irregularities and alteration in normal signal. Fluid pooling around a ligament and concomitant bone injury are other clues to injury. The identification of such structural abnormalities may help to explain altered biomechanics and improve the management of patients following wrist injury...

	Intramuscular fluid collections and their association with longitudinal rotator cuff tears - Australasian Radiology
	This study draws attention to the association between intramuscular fluid collections occurring at the myo-tendinous junction of the rotator cuff secondary to longitudinal tears of their tendons...

	Indolent plasmacytoma - Australasian Radiology
	A patient presented with lethargy, nausea and diarrhoea and had a 10-year history of neurological symptoms in his legs. He was found to have renal failure. Investigations demonstrated a longstanding plasmacytoma of the sacrum and progression to myeloma. Such an indolent course for plasmacytoma is rare. A review of the clinical case and management of solid plasmacytomas is presented...

	Chordoma: Review of clinicoradiological features and factors affecting survival - Australasian Radiology
	The clinical and imaging findings in this study are in accordance with those of other series. Except for complete surgical excision followed by radiotherapy in the subset of patients with sacrospinal tumours, none of the other clinical indicators show a statistical significant influence on survival...

Evaluation of the bony pelvis in classic bladder exstrophy by using 3D-CT: further insights - Urology

These new findings provide a better understanding of the bony pelvis, especially its posterior portion, in patients with classic bladder exstrophy. The results of this study revealed the orientation of the sacroiliac joints to be more externally oriented than previously thought and the pelvis to be rotated inferiorly, a previously unknown observation. Both of these factors will be important in the planning of newer osteotomies and pelvic reconstruction...

	CT Guided Percutaneous Fixation of Sacroiliac Fractures in Trauma Patients - Journal of Trauma
	Conclusion: CT guided fixation of unstable pelvic fractures minimizes blood loss during a short procedure with few subsequent complications and allows early mobilization of the patients...

	Computed tomography measurement of humeral head retroversion: Influence of patient positioning - Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery
	Our study tries to clarify technical problems that occur during CT examination. Geometric considerations that can modify the measurements are presented. A reliable method of humeral head retroversion angle measurement is recommended, which could be useful to the shoulder surgeon...

	Radiographic assessment of cemented humeral components in shoulder arthroplasty - Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery
	Clinically important changes around cemented Neer II humeral components are uncommon. Humeral radiolucent lines develop more frequently in the presence of a glenoid component. Data from this study can be used as one benchmark to compare with alternate methods of humeral component fixation...

December 17, 2001
	Stereotactic intensity-modulation radiation therapy for vertebral body and paraspinal tumors - Neurosurgical Focus
	In this paper the authors discuss their preliminary experience in six cases in which IMRT was used to treat paraspinal lesions in patients who harbored locally recurrent tumors and/or tumors that previously received the maximum doses of radiation that could be tolerated by the spinal cord...

	Image-guided radiosurgery in the treatment of spinal metastases - Neurosurgical Focus
	Conclusions: These experiences indicate that frameless radiosurgery is a viable therapeutic option for metastatic spine disease...

	Image-guided spinal navigation: application to spinal metastases - Neurosurgical Focus
	The author will review the principles of image-guided technology in spinal surgery and focus on its application to the management of spinal metastatic disease...

December 14, 2001
	Assessment of Osteoporosis Using Standard Radiographs of the Wrist - Journal of Trauma
	Conclusion: We conclude that orthopaedic surgeons cannot predict with sufficient accuracy using plain x-rays whether a patient is significantly osteoporotic...

	Reliability of conventional radiography, CT and MRI in the diagnosis of acute hyperflexion trauma to the foot. A prospective clinical study - Der Unfallchirurg
	Conclusion: The present study could clearly show the superiority of CT and MRI to conventional radiography in diagnosis of bony and ligamentous disorders of the Lisfranc joint. Therefore, extended diagnosis has to be demanded in all cases of hyperflexion trauma to the foot...

December 13, 2001
	The Troms Study: Registration of Fractures, How Good are Self-reports, a Computerized Radiographic Register and a Discharge Register? - Osteoporosis International
	Among the 11 626 persons who answered a follow-up questionnaire in 1994/95, 97% of all hip fractures and 72% of all wrist fractures were self-reported. We conclude that a computerized search of radiographic archives is a viable method of fracture registration...

	Clinical Value of Grading the Scintigraphic Appearances of Tibial Stress Fractures in Military Recruits - Clinical Nuclear Medicine
	Contrary to expectation, recruits with higher-grade stress fractures were not less likely to complete basic military training compared with recruits with lower grade stress fractures...

	Radiographic evaluation of posterolateral lumbar fusion for degenerative spondylolisthesis: long-term follow-up of more than 10 years vs. midterm follow-up of 2-5 years - Neurosurgical Review
	Posterolateral lumbar fusion for degenerative spondylolisthesis in the lumbar spine seems promising for obtaining not only good radiographic features but also good clinical results lasting over more than 10 years...

	December 12, 2001
	Comparison of Preoperative Radiographs and Intraoperative Findings of Fixation of Hemispheric Porous-Coated Sockets - Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery
	Conclusions: The most predictive radiographic findings for early diagnosis of loosening of a hemispheric porous-coated cup were progression of radiolucent lines more than two years after the operation and any new radiolucent line of 1 mm or wider that appeared more than two years postoperatively. Sequential anteroposterior and lateral radiographs are necessary to assess the time of onset and progression of radiolucent lines in order to identify loose hemispheric porous-coated cups accurately...

Prospective Comparison of Admission Computed Tomographic Scan and Plain Films of the Upper Cervical Spine in Trauma Patients with Altered Mental Status - Journal of Trauma

Conclusion: CT scan of Co-C3 was superior to plain films in the early identification of upper cervical spine injury. Plain films failed to identify 45% of upper cervical spine injuries; four of these missed injuries resulted in motor deficits. Our study supports the practice guidelines developed by the Eastern Association for the Surgery of Trauma for clearance of the upper cervical spine in patients with altered mental status, as all patients with injuries were identified using these guidelines...

A New Cervical Spine Clearance Protocol Using Computed Tomography - Journal of Trauma

Conclusion: In our series, the selective use of helical CT scanning with plain radiography increased the accuracy with which cervical spine injury was detected from 54% to 100%. The protocol allowed for more rapid evaluation in many patients as well. We recommend that practice guidelines include the use of helical CT scan of the entire C-spine as the diagnostic procedure for those blunt trauma patients undergoing CT scanning of the head...

	Simple bone cyst: A discrepancy between magnetic resonance imaging and surgical observations - Oral Surgery, Oral Medicine, Oral Pathology, Oral Radiology, and Endodontics
	Conclusion: A discrepancy between MR imaging and surgical observations of fluid in simple bone cyst cavities was observed that might be dependent on the time between the observations, indicating that a fairly rapid absorption of fluid might occur or that the amount of fluid in a simple bone cyst can vary for unknown reasons...

December 10, 2001
	The role of spiral CT vs plain films in acute cervical spine trauma: a comparative study - Emergency Radiology
	Conclusion: In the screening of acute trauma patients, conventional radiography is less sensitive in detecting fractures than helical CT. CT should therefore be considered as a standard modality choice in such cases...

	Screening for cervical spine trauma with helical CT: experience with 676 cases - Emergency Radiology
	Conclusions: Screening helical CT in the evaluation of trauma patients has a high diagnostic accuracy, and is sensitive and specific in diagnosing clinically relevant fractures of the cervical spine...

	case report: Juvenile intervertebral disk calcification: a cause of painful torticollis - Emergency Radiology
	Definitive diagnosis is possible on the basis of clinical history and radiographic findings. Prompt diagnosis can prevent unnecessary investigations and hospital stay. We present a case of JIDC to highlight this rare but important condition...

	case report: Slipped capital femoral epiphysis diagnosed by magnetic resonance imaging - Emergency Radiology
	Magnetic Resonance Imaging can detect early changes in the physis on T1 sequences and inversion recovery sequences and is a useful adjunct to plain radiographs in detecting early slips...

	case report: CT of untreated occipitoatlantal rotatory subluxation (OARS) - Emergency Radiology
	We report the first case of occipitoatlantal rotatory subluxation (OARS) in which computed tomography (CT) images at initial presentation and at follow-up when still untreated are included...

Congenital skeletal disorders - European Journal of Radiology

The purpose of this special issue of European Journal of Radiology is to review some of the major principles and guidelines in the diagnosis of congenital skeletal disorders. For many radiologists, identification of a skeletal dysplasia or malformation syndrome appears overwhelming and difficult, because there are so many syndromes and dysplasias to remember. Although many of these syndromes are rare as individual occurrences, their overall prevalence exceeds the prevalence of bone tumors by a factor of more than 10. This underscores the need for an accurate diagnosis, which is essential to determine the prognosis and to guide appropriate genetic counseling...

The diagnosis of skeletal dysplasias: a multidisciplinary approach - European Journal of Radiology

For several disorders, identification of the causal gene allows us now to confirm with a molecular test the diagnosis postulated on the basis of clinical, radiographic and/or morphologic studies. It also enables us to establish the diagnosis early in pregnancy. An accurate diagnosis is not only important for proper management of the affected individual but also the cornerstone for adequate genetic counseling...

Congenital skeletal abnormalities: an introduction to the radiological semiology - European Journal of Radiology

In this brief review, we suggest an approach to the evaluation of skeletal syndromes, based on the analysis of cardinal criteria, from which the most useful information is derived, and additional criteria, making further differentiation possible. Generally, cardinal information is derived from analysis of the long bones, hands, pelvis and the spine, whereas the analysis of other skeletal elements, like the skull, feet, and other flat bones is of additional value...

	Molecular and radiological diagnosis of sclerosing bone dysplasias - European Journal of Radiology
	Therefore, in this overview of sclerosing bone dysplasias, the classical clinical and radiological signs of this group of disorders will be discussed along with the new molecular insights...

	Tuberculous arthritis mimic arthritis of the Sjögren's syndrome: findings from sonography, computed tomography and magnetic resonance images - European Journal of Radiology
	Sonography is a valuable tool that offers significant advantages for the initial evaluation of arthritis of the Sjögren's syndrome and help early suspicious of tuberculous arthritis, because of its cost-effectiveness, superior differentiation between the cyst and solid lesions, convenience for guiding biopsy and drainage...

December 07, 2001
	Nonoperative treatment of active spondylolysis in elite athletes with normal X-ray findings: literature review and results of conservative treatment - European Spine Journal
	Our data suggest that osseous healing is most likely to occur in unilateral active spondylolysis. Chances of bony healing diminish when the fracture is bilateral, and diminish even further when it is pseudo-bilateral. Non-union does not seem to compromise the overall outcome or sports resumption in the short term...

	Thoracolumbar spinal fractures: radiological results of transpedicular fixation combined with transpedicular cancellous bone graft and posterior fusion in 183 patients - European Spine Journal
	Changes at the level of the intervertebral space, occurring after implant removal, contributed to the loss in the RA. Broken pedicle screws (10.9% of the patients) resulted in significant changes in the AWA and RA before implant removal, but did not influence the IVA...

	Fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography findings in spondylodiscitis: preliminary results - European Spine Journal
	Our first results showed that FDG-PET is a very sensitive imaging procedure in the detection of spondylodiscitis. Compared to other nuclear medicine procedures, PET enables a rapid imaging with acceptable radiation dose and high spatial resolutionOC...

Our first results showed that FDG-PET is a very sensitive imaging procedure in the detection of spondylodiscitis. Compared to other nuclear medicine procedures, PET enables a rapid imaging with acceptable radiation dose and high spatial resolution - European Spine Journal

Vertebral body signal changes without morphologic changes marked signal increase in the intervertebral disc on T2-weighted and contrast-enhanced sequences, and soft tissue involvement without abscess formation can be accepted as specific MRI features of brucellar spondylitis. The facet joint signal changes following contrast enhancement is another MRI sign of spinal brucellosis, which has not been mentioned so far...

	December 06, 2001
	Musculoskeletal Analyses of the Forearm in Young Women with Turner Syndrome: A Study Using Peripheral Quantitative Computed Tomography - Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism
	These findings are compatible with a normal adaptation of external bone size to the mechanical loads imposed by the muscle system and a lack of pubertal effect on the endocortical bone surface, despite estrogen supplementation. Bone strength may not be adequate for the relatively high body weight of TS patients (+0.8 SD score), which could contribute to an increased propensity for fractures...

Fine-Needle Aspiration Biopsy of Vertebral and Intervertebral Disc Lesions - Archives of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine

Fine-needle aspiration biopsy of radiologically suspected vertebral and intervertebral disc lesions in patients with a history of a known malignancy is useful to confirm the presence of metastases. In cases without any history of malignancy, FNAB can provide additional clues to aid in the subsequent workup and treatment of cases diagnosed with an unsuspected malignancy and other nonneoplastic lesions. Through assessment of the specimen adequacy, correct interpretation of the cytologic material available, and correlating with the clinical and radiologic findings, a definitive diagnosis can be made in most cases...

	December 05, 2001
	Routine Evaluation of the Cervical Spine in Head-Injured Patients with Dynamic Fluoroscopy: A Reappraisal - Journal of Trauma
	Conclusion: Unstable cervical spine ligamentous injury without fracture is a rare occurrence. The cervical spine may be cleared after a normal cervical spine series (plain radiograph and computed tomographic scan) as recommended in the 1998 Eastern Association for the Surgery of Trauma guidelines. If dynamic fluoroscopy is to be used, adherence to the protocol, including review of the cervical spine radiographs before fluoroscopy and visualization of the entire cervical spine, C1-T1, is mandatory to ensure patient safety...

December 03, 2001
	Radiographic stereophotogrammetric evaluation of intersegmental stability after mandibular sagittal split osteotomy and rigid fixation - Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
	Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine if rigid fixation with bicortical screws and/or miniplates with monocortical screws prevent mobility at the osteotomy site after bilateral mandibular sagittal split osteotomy. Patients and Methods: Three metal bone markers were inserted in the proximal and the distal segments of the mandible during the sagittal split operation in 10 patients. These served as measurement points in poserative follow-up by radiographic stereophotogrammetry. ...

	Ability of Hand Radiographs to Predict a Further Diagnosis of Rheumatoid Arthritis in Patients with Early Arthritis - Journal of Rheumatology
	Conclusion: Regardless of the criterion used, hand radiographs were of limited value to predict which patients would be considered as having RA 2 years later. Diagnostic performance was similar for the "erosions" component of the 1987 ACR item 7 and for Sharp erosion score. The full 1987 ACR item 7 (erosions or bony decalcification) performed less well...

	The Productivity Extender - Decisions in Imaging Economics
	A busy orthopedic office increases technician productivity and radiographic technology throughput by a factor of two through the use of direct digital radiography...