Identification and description of the axillary web syndrome (AWS) by clinical signs, MRI and US imaging.

The Axillary Web Syndrome (AWS) follows surgery for breast neoplasia and consists of one, or more frequently two or three, cords of subcutaneous tissue. Cords originate from the axilla, spread to the antero-medial surface of the arm down to the elbow and then move into the antero-medial aspect of the forearm and sometimes into the root of the thumb. The purpose of this study was to compare two techniques, ultrasound (US) and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) for their sensitivity and accuracy in identifying AWS cords and to provide insights to the origin of this pathology. US examinations were performed on fifteen patients using a high frequency probe (17 MHz). We first palpated and marked the cord with location aided by maximum abduction. To identify the cord with MRI (1.5 Tesla), a catheter filled with a gel detectable under MRI was placed on the skin at the site of the cord. We found that in some US cases, the dynamic abduction maneuver was essential to facilitate detection of the cord. This dynamic method on ultrasound confirmed the precise location of the cord even if it was located deeper in the hypodermis fascia junction. US and MRI images revealed features of the cords and surrounding tissues. Imaging the cords was difficult with either of the imaging modalities. However, US seemed to be more efficient than MRI and allowed dynamic evaluation. Overall analysis of our study results supports a lymphatic origin of the AWS cord.

[Sonography of peripheral nerves. Part II: lower limbs]. / Echographie des nerfs périphériques -- Deuxième partie: membre inférieur.

On sonographic images, the peripheral nerves have a fibrillary structure, ribboned on longitudinal images and ovoid on cross-section images. The nerves travel between the muscle groups, often with blood vessels, or in canals. Recently improved ultrasound devices are able to investigate the peripheral nerves along their entire length, as far as the sonographer has thorough anatomical knowledge, rigorous technique, and, when searching for pathology, good clinical notions. As in Part I on sonography of the peripheral nerves of the upper limbs, published in this journal, the objective of this general review is to present normal and pathological echoanatomy of the peripheral nerves of the lower limbs in an educational way.

MR imaging, proton MR spectroscopy, ultrasonographic, histologic findings in patients with chronic lymphedema.

Lymphedema is a progressive disease with multiple alterations occurring in the dermis. We undertook this study using high-frequency ultrasonography (US), magnetic resonance imaging, proton MR spectroscopy and histology to examine structural changes occurring in the subcutaneous tissue and precisely describe the nature of intralobular changes in chronic lymphedema. Four cutaneous and subcutaneous tissue biopsies from patients with chronic lymphedema during lymphonodal transplantation were studied. We performed US with a 13.5 MHz transducer, TSE T1 and TSE T2 magnetic resonance images with and without fat-suppression, MR Chemical Shift Imaging Spectroscopy and histological evaluation on these biopsies. We found that normal subcutaneous septa are seen as hyperechogenic lines in US and hyposignal lines in MRI and that hyperechogenic subcutis in US can be due to interlobular and intralobular water accumulation and/or to interlobular and intralobular fibrosis. Our study also confirms the usefulness of MR spectroscopy to assess water or fat content of soft tissue. Thus, multiple imaging modalities may be necessary to precisely delineate the nature of tissue alterations in chronic lymphedema.

US demonstration of a thrombosed persistent median artery in carpal tunnel syndrome.

Median artery of the forearm and wrist is not very frequently observed because it normally involutes before birth. Only a few cases of persistent median artery thrombosis associated with compression of the median nerve in the carpal tunnel have been reported. In these cases symptoms arise suddenly and surgery consists of the excision of the thrombosed arterial branch. In cases of large persistent unthrombosed median artery associated with carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), excision of the unthrombosed median artery is not indicated because it may sometimes substantially contribute to the circulation of the hand. We report the case of a 39-year-old man with CTS associated with a thrombosis of a persistent median artery detected by high-resolution US and Doppler ultrasound. US can be also useful to exclude other causes of CTS such as tenosynovitis of the flexor tendons, ganglion cyst, musculotendinous variants, and various soft tissue tumors.

[Isolated idiopathic amyloid tumor of the sacrum. An important differential diagnosis]. / Amyloïdome solitaire idiopathique du sacrum. Un diagnostic différentiel important.

Primary amyloidosis may present as a pseudotumoral mass. Often associated with myeloma or paraproteinemia, it may also be isolated, without preexisting or associated disease. Isolated pseudotumoral bone involvement is rare and especially in the spine. Differential diagnosis is very important, because the prognosis of primary amyloidoma is excellent after surgical removal.

[Multislice computed tomography in clinical practice]. / La tomodensitométrie multibarrette en pratique clinique.

This paper presents our first experience with multislice computed tomography emphasizing our technical protocols. Between November 1999 and October 2000, 8086 multislice computed tomographic examinations were performed. The choice in collimation, pitch, slice width and increment, multiplanar reconstructions and contrast enhancement were adapted to provide high resolution in the Z axis, high speed acquisitions and low exposure to the patient. Filming and archiving parameters are also detailed. Multislice CT provides excellent 3D imaging with high speed acquisitions and lower doses than previously reported with single slice CT.

Calcific tendinitis of the gluteus maximus tendon: CT findings.

Two cases of calcific tendinitis of gluteus maximus muscle are presented. The CT findings, including amorphous calcification without soft tissue mass and possible cortical erosion at the femoral enthesis of the gluteus maximus muscle, are highly suggestive of calcific tendinitis at this unusual but classical location. Ossifying entheses with well-defined cortical defect are frequent at the femoral insertion of the gluteus maximus muscle in asymptomatic subjects and must be differentiated from a real cortical erosion sometimes associated with these calcific tendinitis.

Facet joints diseases.

A review of the normal anatomy, developmental abnormalities, traumas and disorders affecting the facet joints is provided, with a recall of the major imaging modalities.

Lunatomalacia associated with congenital shortening of the ulna in Langer-Giedion syndrome: a case report.

A 22-year-old patient with type I trichorinophalangeal Langer-Giedion syndrome presented a stage 2 osteonecrosis of the lunate associated with congenital shortening of the ulna and carpal tunnel syndrome. The patient was treated by shortening osteotomy of the radius and median nerve neurolysis, with an excellent result. This case provides an additional piece of evidence associating ulnar-minus variance with lunatomalacia, and another argument in favor of the theory that Kienböck's disease results from microfractures sustained by the lunate under an abnormal stress distribution situation.

Primary biliary cirrhosis and bone changes.

Two cases of primary biliary cirrhosis with bone lesions are reported. In one case radiographic findings in the hands and right shoulder are found to be characteristic of primary biliary cirrhosis rather than other concomitant diseases present in the patient which are also susceptible to produce bone lesions. The second case is an example of less specific bone changes which may be attributed to primary biliary cirrhosis or other rheumatoid disease.