Canadian Association of Radiologists journal = Journal l'Association canadienne des radiologistes
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The clinical presentation of intervertebral disc, facet joint, nerve root, and sacroiliac (SI) joint diseases are often indistinguishable. SI joint arthritis likely accounts for a significant proportion of what is called "low-back pain" or "sciatica." Our goal was to determine the incidence of SI joint arthritis in patients with this presentation. ⋯ There is a relatively high incidence of SI joint arthritis in patients undergoing evaluation for "low-back pain" or "sciatica." Hence, SI joint arthritis should be considered a possible diagnosis in these patients.
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Inferior vena cavae (IVC) can be of unusual geometry, often having odd shapes and being oriented (in long axes) away from the horizontal plane. However, after insertion of a filter, most IVC adopt a circular cross-section. The objective of this study was to determine if the IVC diameter estimated by frontal measurement (cavogram equivalent) reflects the true circular diameter of the infrarenal vena cava. Diameter estimation is clinically important in the correct selection of a filter, because mega cavae (diameter 28 mm or greater) require a particular filter. ⋯ Cavograms can over- or underestimate the true diameter of an IVC, and may thus lead to incorrect filter choice. It is recommended that a sonogram or CT scan be obtained to visualize the IVC in cases of suspected mega cava, and that true circular diameters be used for selection and placement of IVC filters.