Clinical radiology
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One hundred consecutive patients in whom radiographs of the sacroiliac joints had been requested concurrently with radiographs of the lumbar spine and/or pelvis were reviewed to ascertain the diagnostic value of the sacroiliac radiograph. In 92 patients, radiographs of the lumbar spine or pelvis provided complete visualization of the sacroiliac joints, 81 of which were judged normal, six abnormal, and five equivocal. ⋯ In no case did the sacroiliac joint radiograph result in a normal diagnosis being changed to abnormal. Where the sacroiliac joints appear normal on a lumbar spine or pelvic radiograph, there is no diagnostic benefit, and a considerable radiation penalty, from the performance of additional radiographs specific to those joints.
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Comparative Study
Skull base erosion in nasopharyngeal carcinoma: detection by CT and MRI.
It is generally accepted that computed tomography (CT) is superior to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in demonstrating bony erosion while MRI is better in delineating soft tissue abnormality. The ability to detect skull base erosion by CT and MRI was compared in a retrospective study of 114 patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). ⋯ Contrary to common belief, MRI appears to be more sensitive in detecting bony involvement in the petrous apex, the clivus and the sphenoid wing. MRI is, therefore, the preferred technique in demonstrating skull base involvement.