Radiologic clinics of North America
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Radiol. Clin. North Am. · Sep 2009
ReviewInvolvement of gadolinium chelates in the mechanism of nephrogenic systemic fibrosis: an update.
Nephrogenic systemic fibrosis (NSF) is a highly debilitating scleroderma-like disease occurring exclusively in patients with severe or end-stage renal failure. Since the recognition of a link between gadolinium chelates (GCs) used as contrast agents for MR imaging and NSF by two independent European teams in 2006, numerous studies have described the clinical issues and investigated the mechanism of this disease. ⋯ High kinetic stability provided by the macrocyclic structure, combined with high thermodynamic stability, minimizes the amount of free gadolinium released in the body. The current hypotheses regarding the pathophysiologic mechanism are critically discussed.
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Radiol. Clin. North Am. · Jul 2009
ReviewMeasures of molecular composition and structure in osteoarthritis.
Osteoarthritis involves ongoing degradative and healing processes that occur at the molecular level in multiple tissues in the joint in response to a number of biochemical and mechanical factors. Understanding these dynamic processes before they affect the structural aspects of the joint motivates the need for metrics to better visualize the compositional and structural molecular aspects of the tissues in vivo. As reviewed here, most of the work to date in this regard has been focused on magnetic resonance imaging approaches for interrogating molecular features of cartilage, including T2 mapping, T1rho mapping, delayed gadolinium-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging of cartilage (dGEMRIC), and sodium imaging. Specific examples illustrate new opportunities and insights emerging from these methods.
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Radiol. Clin. North Am. · May 2009
Review Historical ArticleThe evolution of nuclear medicine and the musculoskeletal system.
This article reviews the evolution of nuclear medicine in the evaluation of the musculoskeletal system over the past hundred years, from autoradiography and Geiger counters and rectilinear scanners to sophisticated imaging devices that provide both functional and morphological information. Initially synonymous with bone scanning, radionuclide evaluation of musculoskeletal disorders now includes gallium, labeled leukocytes, FDG, and fluourine-18, indications and applications of which are reviewed.
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Since the discovery of the X-ray, there have been substantial advances in musculoskeletal tumor imaging as radiography, nuclear medicine, angiography, ultrasound, CT, and MR imaging and the requisite computer technology have been developed. These imaging modalities provide invaluable information about musculoskeletal tumors to surgeons and medical oncologists at all time points along the continuum of patient care, from tumor detection and diagnosis to posttreatment surveillance. ⋯ Advanced MR imaging techniques and molecular imaging hold substantial promise for further improvements in musculoskeletal tumor imaging. This article reviews the evolution of musculoskeletal tumor imaging by modality, and suggests possible directions for future developments.