Skeletal radiology
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The aim of this study is to examine the relationship between lumbar lordosis and pars interarticularis fractures. ⋯ Sacral tilt represented by a steeply angled superior endplate of S1 is associated with a significantly increased angle of lordosis, between L4 and S1, and pars fractures at L5. Steep angulation of the first sacral vertebral segment maybe the predisposing biomechanical factor that leads to pincer-like impingement of the pars interarticularis and then spondylolysis.
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Comparative Study
Indeterminate lesions on planar bone scintigraphy in lung cancer patients: SPECT, CT or SPECT-CT?
The objective of the present study was to compare the role of single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), computed tomography (CT) and SPECT-CT of selected volume in lung cancer patients with indeterminate lesions on planar bone scintigraphy (BS). ⋯ CT alone and SPECT-CT are better than SPECT for accurate characterisation of indeterminate lesions on planar BS in lung cancer patients. CT alone is not inferior to SPECT-CT for this purpose and might be preferred because of shorter acquisition time and wider availability.
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Case Reports
Osteoclast abnormalities in fractured bone during bisphosphonate treatment for osteoporosis: a case report.
Bisphosphonates have been widely used in the treatment of an array of bone disorders. Recent complications have included unusual femoral fractures in patients who have received long term bisphosphonate treatment for osteoporosis. Although it has been shown that bisphosphonates are effective by blunting osteoclast resorption, there has been little morphologic description of the local tissue activity at the site of these unusual fractures. ⋯ The specimen was evaluated for potential cellular changes consistent with bisphosphonate treatment. Significant osteoclast abnormalities at the fracture site were found in a 69-year-old woman treated for 2 years with Fosamax substantiating that bone remodeling at this site is distinctly abnormal. Addressing the osteoclast dysfunction should be a focus of future therapeutic attention and intervention.
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To describe a posterolateral fluoroscopy-guided injection technique into the posterior subtalar joint and to report patient outcomes 1 month post-injection. ⋯ Fluoroscopy-guided puncture of the posterior subtalar joint using a posterolateral approach is possible. Clinically significant improvement is reported in 33% of patients after 1 month.
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Comparative Study
Cartilage quality in rheumatoid arthritis: comparison of T2* mapping, native T1 mapping, dGEMRIC, ΔR1 and value of pre-contrast imaging.
To prospectively evaluate four non-invasive markers of cartilage quality--T2* mapping, native T1 mapping, dGEMRIC and ΔR1--in healthy volunteers and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. ⋯ The data support the use of dGEMRIC for the assessment of MCP joint cartilage quality in RA. T2* and native T1 mapping are of low diagnostic value. Pre-contrast T1 mapping for the calculation of ΔR1 does not increase the diagnostic value of dGEMRIC.