December 2005 News Headlines

These are radiology news updates from other sites

Date this page was last updated: 01/07/2007 03:03:03 PM

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December 30, 2005   Nonsynostotic Occipital Plagiocephaly: Radiographic Diagnosis of the "Sticky Suture" - Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery While the clinical differences between nonsynostotic occipital plagiocephaly and lambdoid craniosynostosis have been described, the radiographic differentiation between the two remains obscure...Conclusions: In contradiction to previous reports, lambdoid craniosynostosis is not radiographically unique among suture fusions. This work establishes the radiographic diagnosis of nonsynostotic occipital plagiocephaly... December 29, 2005   Diagnosis of Septic Joint in an Immunosuppressed Patient by Twenty-Four Hour Delayed Imaging with Tc-99m HMPAO Labeled White Blood Cell Scan - Clinical Nuclear Medicine A 64-year-old male with a history of allogeneic bone marrow transplantation for lymphoma 10 months earlier presented for evaluation of bacteremia. The white blood cell count was 4,400 cells/microliter with 76% neutrophils. A tagged white blood cell scan was performed to localize the infection...   Three-dimensional computed tomographic images of pelvic muscle in anorectal malformations - Journal of Pediatric Surgery The anatomy of the pelvic flower muscles based on investigation of gross section slides of a specimen does not always correspond with those described by Pena. Therefore, we restudied the anatomy with 3-dimensional (3D) images of the pelvic muscle produced with computed tomography...Conclusions: A 3D image with MRH-CT can provide useful preoperative information about the anatomy of the pelvic flower muscles in each case...     December 28, 2005   A Description of the Spread of Injectate After Psoas Compartment Block Using Magnetic Resonance Imaging - Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine Conclusion: The most common pattern of injectate spread seen on MRI with both approaches to PCB was spread within the body of the psoas muscle around the lumbar branches (L2-4), with cephalad spread to the lumbar nerve roots. One catheter resulted in injectate between the psoas and quadratus lumborum muscles...   Racial differences in pelvic morphology among asymptomatic nulliparous women as seen on three-dimensional magnetic resonance images - American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology Conclusion: The increased muscle bulk and closer puborectalis attachment seen among the African-American nulliparous women may impact the development of pelvic floor dysfunction. These findings need further study...   Ultrasound Observation of the Sciatic Nerve and its Branches at the Popliteal Fossa: Always Visible, Never Seen - European Journal of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery Conclusions: Ultrasound identification of the sciatic nerve in the popliteal fossa allows assessment of its relationship with the adjacent veins. This technique may be useful in identifying the location of the nerve prior to surgical intervention for varices in the popliteal fossa as well as for endo-luminal occlusion procedures given the close proximity of the vein to the nerve...   A Patient with Acromegaly Presenting with Polyostotic Fibrous Dysplasia on Bone Scan: McCune-Albright Syndrome - Clinical Nuclear Medicine We report a 43-year-old male with acromegaly who underwent pituitary adenomectomy in 1989. Recently, the patient presented with pain in the right hip. X-ray examination showed multiple cystic lesions in the right pelvis and femur. We present the consecutively performed Tc-99m HDP bone scan that shows features of polyostotic fibrous dysplasia...   Segmental Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy - Clinical Nuclear Medicine Reflex sympathetic dystrophy (RSD), known also as complex regional pain syndrome, is a well-recognized complex response of the body to trauma, thought to be mediated by the sympathetic nervous system and usually resulting in unrelenting nonanatomic pain, out of proportion to the inciting event. These changes classically affect an entire distal portion of an extremity...   Added Value of SPECT/CT Fusion in Assessing Suspected Bone Metastasis: Comparison with Scintigraphy Alone and Nonfused Scintigraphy and CT - Radiology To evaluate retrospectively if there is additional diagnostic value of fused single photon emission computed tomographic (SPECT) and computed tomographic (CT) images in assessing possible bone metastases...Conclusion: Results demonstrate the increased diagnostic confidence obtained with fused SPECT/CT images compared with separate sets of scintigraphic and CT images in differentiating malignant from benign bone lesions... December 27, 2005   Appearance of the levator ani muscle in pregnancy as assessed by 3-D MRI - American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology The purpose of this study was to describe levator ani (LA) anatomy in postterm nulliparas using 3-dimensional (3-D) magnetic resonance...Conclusion: BMI was correlated with LA volume in postterm nulliparas. LA insertion into the symphysis and the iliococcygeus arch were well-preserved overall and morphometry was variable...   Generalized Decreased Osseous Uptake on Bone Scintigraphy in Hepatorenal Syndrome - Clinical Nuclear Medicine A 52-year-old Caucasian male with a history of heavy alcohol abuse and liver cirrhosis was admitted with hepatorenal syndrome, consistent bacteraemia (enterococcus faecalis in blood culture) and low back pain. A bone scan revealed generalized decreased osseous uptake, increased uptake in the spine, several foci in the ribs, and diffuse bilateral increased renal uptake     December 26, 2005   Trabecular bone volume fraction measurements of a large number of subjects using a compact MRI - Magnetic Resonance Imaging Trabecular bone volume fraction (TBVF) and speed of sound (SOS) were measured for the right calcanei of 416 female volunteers. The TBVF was measured with a compact MRI developed in our laboratory. The SOS was measured with a commercial quantitative ultrasound system. It was observed that the correlation coefficient between TBVF and SOS and that between TBVF and age varied depending on the location of region of interest (ROI) in the calcaneus...   Osteoporotic Compression Fractures: Outcomes after Single- versus Multiple-Level Percutaneous Vertebroplasty - Radiology To compare single- and multiple-level percutaneous vertebroplasty (PV) in terms of pain relief, activity level, and analgesic use in patients with osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures (VCFs)...Conclusion: PV performed at a single fracture level and that performed at multiple fracture levels were equally effective in facilitating long-term pain relief, increased activity level, and decreased analgesic use in patients with osteoporotic VCFs...   Characteristics of Displaceable and Nondisplaceable Meniscal Tears at Kinematic MR Imaging of the Knee - Radiology The purpose of this study was to prospectively determine if kinematic magnetic resonance (MR) imaging of the knee may demonstrate displacement of menisci with tears and, if so, to characterize displaceable and nondisplaceable meniscal tears...Conclusion: Displaceable meniscal tears usually have longitudinal, radial, or complex configurations; such tears are associated with substantial ipsilateral collateral ligament lesions and pain... December 23, 2005   Sonography of the first dorsal metatarsal artery of the foot - Journal of Clinical Ultrasound To describe the gray-scale and Doppler sonographic examination technique and appearances of the first dorsal metatarsal artery (FDMA) of the foot and discuss its clinical significance...Conclusions: The FDMA varies greatly; however, sonography can clearly show its morphologic characteristics, such as caliber and location. Sonography also provides valuable preoperative information in microsurgery of the foot...   Plantar fasciitis treated with local steroid injection: comparison between sonographic and palpation guidance - Journal of Clinical Ultrasound To compare the effectiveness of sonographically guided and palpation-guided steroid injection for the treatment of proximal plantar fasciitis...Conclusions: Steroid injection can be an effective way to treat plantar fasciitis, and injection under sonographic guidance is associated with lower recurrence of heel pain...   Temperate Pyomyositis as a Complication of Staphylococcus aureus Septicemia - Clinical Nuclear Medicine A 44-year-old man recently returning from vacation to a temperate country presented with acute renal failure and staphylococcal toxic shock. To assess for a potential focal source of infection, a Tc-99m HMPAO-labeled leukocyte study was performed, which demonstrated avid increased uptake in the muscles of the trunk and proximal extremities, particularly within the muscles of the left forearm...   Back Pain in an Elderly Male Resulting from Gluteal Sarcoma Demonstrated on Skeletal Scintigraphy - Clinical Nuclear Medicine Low back pain is an increasingly common problem in our aging population. It is usually related to degenerative spondylosis of the spine. However, unusual causes need to be considered in the differential. An 87-year-old male presented with a several month history of increasing low back pain...   Acetabular and Femoral Radiographic Abnormalities Associated with Labral Tears - Clinical Orthopedics and Related Research The purpose of our study was to define the incidence of acetabular and femoral osseous abnormalities associated with symptomatic acetabular labral tears. We reviewed the radiographs of 78 patients treated arthroscopically for labral tears and 22 patients with asymptomatic hips for comparison. Overall, 49% of patients with labral tears had at least one radiographic abnormality (17% acetabular, 14% femoral, and 18% both)...     December 22, 2005   Magnetic Resonance Imaging and 3-Dimensional Analysis of External Anal Sphincter Anatomy - Obstetrics and Gynecology To use magnetic resonance images of living women and 3-dimesional modeling software to identify the component parts and characteristic features of the external anal sphincter (EAS) that have visible separation or varying origins and insertions...Conclusion: Three distinct external anal sphincter components can be identified by MRI in the majority of nulliparous women...   Stress views in the radiography of scapholunate instability - European Journal of Radiology On the suspected carpal instabilities stress views are recommended but not often used. The present study evaluates the reliability of the dorsal and volar stress radiographs on patients with posttraumatic wrist pain...Conclusion: Stress tests may provide considerable information in the evaluation of a patient who has a painful wrist in whom routine and special views do not demonstrate scapholunate dissociation...   Diagnosis of Occult Scaphoid Fracture with High-Spatial-Resolution Sonography: A Prospective Blind Study - Journal of Trauma Evaluation of diagnostic accuracy of high-spatial-resolution sonography (HSR-S) in occult scaphoid fractures...Conclusion: HSR-S is a reliable, available, and cost-effective method in early diagnosis of occult fractures of the scaphoid. The presence of three defined criteria is required to assess the diagnosis...   Thickness of the human cranial diploe in relation to age, sex and general body build - BMC Medical Imaging Conclusions: Males overall have a thicker diploe, albeit this difference is statistically significant only in the frontal region. We could not discern any trends as pertains to diploeic thickness versus age, height or weight. Since the thickness of the diploe may be an important parameter in biomechanical modelling of the cranial vault, this means that the diploe can be built into such models based on the total cranial thickness, except for the frontal region where the sexual dimorphism must be taken into account...     December 21, 2005   Synovial inflammatory processes in the hand - European Journal of Radiology We review the imaging features of acute and chronic synovitis in the hand. Magnetic resonance imaging is very sensitive to the earliest changes of synovitis and provides a modality for early detection of disease. Additionally, once a diagnosis is established, magnetic resonance imaging has an emerging role in rapid assessment of response to therapy. Positron emission tomography and ultrasound also show promise in the evaluation and treatment of inflammatory arthropathies...   Magnetic resonance imaging appearances of fibrous dysplasia - British Journal of Radiology Fibrous dysplasia is a developmental disorder in which normal bone marrow is replaced by fibro-osseous tissue. The radiographic, CT and scintigraphic appearances of this condition are well known. The MRI appearances of fibrous dysplasia have not been widely published...   The influence of athletic activity on the plantar fascia in healthy young adults - Journal of Clinical Ultrasound Complaints deriving from the plantar fascia are relatively common in athletes. This study aimed to investigate the changes of thickness of plantar fascia via sonography in healthy young adults with different levels of activity...Conclusions: The thickness of the plantar fascia at origin did not change with athletic activity at the amateur level...   Aggressive Fibromatosis: MRI Features with Pathologic Correlation - American Journal of Roentgenology We present the MRI features with pathologic correlation of aggressive fibromatosis, incorporating 203 cases over a 5-year period from the Royal Marsden Hospital Sarcoma Unit database...Conclusion: Accurate diagnosis and staging of aggressive fibromatosis by MRI have important treatment and prognostic implications...   Coracohumeral Interval Imaging in Subcoracoid Impingement Syndrome on MRI - American Journal of Roentgenology Conclusion: A sex-adjusted coracohumeral interval of 10.5-11.5 mm, although statistically significantly related to subcoracoid impingement, is poorly predictive of this diagnosis when acquired via routinely performed MRI. Subcoracoid impingement is primarily a clinical diagnosis that may be supported, but not established, by this means... December 20, 2005   Solitary plasmacytoma of the sacrum Radiologic findings of three cases - Clinical Imaging We report the radiologic findings from three cases of solitary plasmacytoma (SP) of the sacrum. Common findings included lytic changes on computed tomography (CT) and relatively low signal intensity on T2-weighted magnetic resonance (MR) images, with intense enhancement after contrast administration...   Role of MRI in Prevention of Metatarsal Stress Fractures in Collegiate Basketball Players - American Journal of Roentgenology Conclusion: Six (12%) of 52 feet showed a signal indicating bone marrow edema in the metatarsals. MRI depicts bone marrow edema in the feet before a fracture becomes evident. Identification of this edema may reveal stress changes, allowing early treatment and prevention of debilitating stress fractures...   Vascular lesions of the hand - European Journal of Radiology The vascular malformations are not uncommon on the hand and offer diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. Enjolras and Mulliken's classification is exposed. Their depiction and pretreatment assessment may benefit from non-invasive imaging as color-Doppler ultrasound and MRI combined with magnetic resonance angiography (MRA)...     December 19, 2005   Diagnostic Performance of MR Arthrography After Rotator Cuff Repair - American Journal of Roentgenology Conclusion: Postoperative full-thickness defects of the rotator cuff are reliably diagnosed with MR arthrography. The diagnostic performance for partial-thickness defects is only moderate... December 16, 2005   STIR vs. T1-weighted fat-suppressed gadolinium-enhanced MRI of bone marrow edema of the knee: Computer-assisted quantitative comparison and influence of injected contrast media volume and acquisition parameters - Journal of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (Wiley) Conclusion: STIR is the optimum method for determining the size and signal contrast of BME. The injected contrast media volume appears to have only a limited influence on apparent BME volume... December 15, 2005   Percutaneous radiofrequency treatment of osteoid osteoma using cool-tip electrodes - European Journal of Radiology To report our experience with percutaneous cool-tip radiofrequency ablation of osteoid osteomas and to evaluate clinical outcome...Conclusions: Percutaneous radiofrequency ablation of osteoid osteomas is an efficient and safe method that can be considered the procedure of choice for most cases...     Reliability and Comparison of Acromion Assessment Techniques on X-ray and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (Reliability of Acromion Assessment Techniques) - Canadian Association of Radiologists Journal Conclusion: Both acromion assessment techniques showed poor correlation between X-ray and MRI. Results from these 2 imaging techniques must be considered independently. The LAA is a reliable technique when measured objectively on X-ray and MRI by experienced observers. The AHI is reliable when measured objectively on X-ray and MRI and is not dependent on observer experience...   Spatial mapping of the brachial plexus using three-dimensional ultrasound - British Journal of Radiology Imaging of the brachial plexus with MRI and standard two-dimensional (2D) ultrasound has been reported, and 2D ultrasound-guided regional anaesthetic block is an established technique. The aim of this study was to map the orientation of the brachial plexus in relation to the first rib, carotid and subclavian arteries, using three-dimensional (3D) ultrasound... December 14, 2005   The Biomechanics and Imaging of Soccer Injuries - Seminars in Musculoskeletal Radiology Soccer is one of the most popular sports worldwide and requires the player to have considerable stamina while superimposing sprinting, jumping, tackling, rapid changes of direction, and kicking. This contact sport carries a significant risk for acute and overuse injuries, with the lower limb the region most frequently injured...   Variants, pitfalls and asymptomatic findings in wrist and hand imaging - European Journal of Radiology Anatomic variants of the bones, ligaments, tendons and muscles are frequent findings in imaging of the wrist and hand. Many findings especially changes in the triangular fibrocartilage (TFC) and the interosseous ligaments are asymptomatic, their incidence is increasing with age, and they are frequently found bilaterally. Abnormalities such as increased signal within tendons are common in asymptomatic subjects...   Power Doppler assessment of overall disease activity in patients with rheumatoid arthritis - Journal of Clinical Ultrasound To examine synovial vascularity and flow patterns in hand and wrist joints - metacarpophalangeal (MCP) joints and ulnar stiloid (USTL) regions - of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) using power Doppler sonography (PDUS) and spectral Doppler analysis and to assess the accuracy of PDUS in detecting overall disease activity in RA patients...     December 13, 2005   Prominent Vascular Remnants in the Calcaneus Simulating a Lesion on MRI of the Ankle: Findings in 67 Patients with Cadaveric Correlation - American Journal of Roentgenology Conclusion: A characteristic focus of signal (increased T2, decreased T1) in the calcaneus near the attachment of the cervical and interosseous ligaments is a common, benign finding frequently seen on MRI of the foot and ankle...   Clinical Course of Knees with Asymptomatic Meniscal Abnormalities: Findings at 2-year Follow-up after MR Imaging–based Diagnosis - Radiology Conclusion: The clinical course of knees with initially asymptomatic meniscal lesions, compared with the clinical course of knees without meniscal lesions, is characterized by an increased frequency of complaints. However, severities of pain and knee function impairment remain low...   Interosseous Ligament Tears of the Wrist: Comparison of Multi–Detector Row CT Arthrography and MR Imaging - Radiology Conclusion: Performance in depiction of palmar and central segment tears of SL and LT ligaments is almost equal for multi–detector row CT arthrography and MR imaging, with much higher interobserver reliability for CT arthrography. CT arthrography is significantly superior to MR imaging in the detection of dorsal segment tears of SL and LT ligaments...   Osteoarthritis of the Knee: Comparison of MR Imaging Findings with Radiographic Severity Measurements and Pain in Middle-aged Women - Radiology To prospectively compare magnetic resonance (MR) imaging–defined abnormalities of osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee with radiographic severity measurements of OA of the knee and self-reported pain...Conclusion: In middle-aged women, there were significant associations between pain, radiographic severity of OA of the knee, and seven MR imaging–identified parameters... December 12, 2005   Kyphoplasty versus Vertebroplasty to Increase Vertebral Body Height: A Cadaveric Study - Radiology To prospectively compare the vertebral height restoration achieved with kyphoplasty and vertebroplasty in fresh cadavers by using multi–detector row computed tomography (CT)...Conclsion: Kyphoplasty increased vertebral body height more than vertebroplasty in this model of acutely created fractures in fresh cadaver specimens...   Paget's disease of the bone in a Chinese woman - Australasian Radiology Paget's disease, otherwise known as osteitis deformans, is an unusual condition in the Oriental population. We report a case of Paget's disease in a Chinese woman, incidentally diagnosed on a bone scan. This was confirmed by clinical history, biochemistry and imaging findings using other modalities... December 09, 2005   Width of High Signal and Extension Posterior to Biceps Tendon as Signs of Superior Labrum Anterior to Posterior Tears on MRI and MR Arthrography - American Journal of Roentgenology Conclusion: Increased width of high signal has a moderate specificity but a poor positive predictive value for distinguishing a SLAP tear from a normal recess. In addition, labral signal posterior to the biceps tendon is not rare in patients with no SLAP tear...   December 08, 2005   MR imaging of the finger tendons: Normal anatomy and commonly encountered pathology - European Journal of Radiology MR imaging has emerged as a powerful tool in the evaluation of soft tissue structures such as the tendons of the hand and finger due to its excellent soft tissue contrast and multiplanar imaging capabilities. In the finger and hand, perhaps more than in any other location in the body, a detailed and intimate understanding of anatomy is crucial for lesion localization, directing clinical management and predicting long-term prognosis...   Imaging of the pediatric hand: Soft tissue abnormalities - European Journal of Radiology This review attempts to demonstrate the spectrum of soft tissue masses encountered in the child's hand. The diagnosis may be suggested by the combination of physical exam and radiographs. Frequently the etiology of a soft tissue mass cannot be established by conventional radiographs and further imaging is necessary... December 06, 2005   Matrix-based autologous chondrocyte implantation for cartilage repair: noninvasive monitoring by high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging - Magnetic Resonance Imaging Conclusion: High-resolution MRI provides a noninvasive tool for monitoring the development of cartilage repair tissue in MACI over time and helps to differentiate abnormal repair tissue from a normal maturation process...   An anatomic coordinate system of the femoral neck for highly reproducible BMD measurements using 3D QCT - Computerized Medical Imaging and Graphics In this paper, a procedure for the determination of an anatomically oriented coordinate system of the femoral neck (NCS) in 3D spiral CT datasets is described. The origin of the NCS is centered in the minimal cross-sectional area of the neck. Its three axes are defined as follows: the so called neck axis is perpendicular to this area and points towards the femoral head, the second axis is the principal axis of the minimal cross-sectional area and the third axis is perpendicular to the other two...     December 05, 2005   Neurothekeoma in the Upper Extremity: Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Computed Tomography Findings - Journal of Computer Assisted Tomography Summary: Neurothekeomas are rare benign tumors of soft tissue that are of presumed neural sheath origin. This report describes the magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography features of a neurothekeoma in the left forearm of a 38-year-old woman with a 2-year history of a painful mass. Magnetic resonance imaging showed a smooth-bordered ovoid lesion within the inner portion of the extensor digitorum muscle with a Hounsfield number of 15... December 02, 2005   Common Injuries Related to Weightlifting: MR Imaging Perspective - Seminars in Musculoskeletal Radiology Weightlifting has evolved to become a ubiquitous form of exercise. Resistance training has been shown to have beneficial effects on both muscle and osseous maintenance and development. Competitive weightlifting sports continue to enjoy tremendous popularity, with participants striving to establish new standards in performance and more demanding personal goals... December 01, 2005   MRI of Snow Skiing and Snowboarding Injuries - Seminars in Musculoskeletal Radiology Snow skiing has been called "the world's oldest sport," "the fastest non-motorized sport on Earth," and "the riskiest sport undertaken by adults on a routine basis." This article discusses the common mechanisms for orthopedic injuries occurring in two of the most popular winter sports in the world that have a reputation for an inherently high risk of injury: alpine skiing and snowboarding...