Musculoskeletal applications of PET/MR.

To overcome each limitation of morphological and functional imaging procedures, hybrid imaging systems have been developed and introduced into clinical routine. It has been increasingly discussed whether magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) might be an appropriate alternative for computed tomography (CT). The major advantage of positron emission tomography (PET)/MR consists of combined metabolic and anatomical information in a single imaging session that provides superior soft tissue characterization of MRI over CT. Until now, fusion image has been effectively utilized in oncologic indications. Because biopsy cannot be replaced by images for definite diagnosis, fusion imaging may be more efficient for staging based on nodal spread or metastases rather than the diagnosis of primary tumor, and it can be proficient for treatment response or postoperative assessment. This review describes mainly oncologic and nontumorous conditions among the musculoskeletal applications of PET/MR.

Association Between Visit-to-Visit Fasting Plasma Glucose Variability and Osteoporotic Fractures in Nondiabetic Subjects.

CONTEXT: Although long-term glucose variability has been reported to be a risk factor associated with osteoporosis, there have been no previous studies between the relationship of glucose variability and fractures in people without diabetes. OBJECTIVE: We assessed visit-to-visit variations in fasting plasma glucose (FPG) as a prognostic factor in predicting osteoporotic fractures in individuals without diabetes. METHODS: Using a nationwide cohort database, we examined the impact of FPG on the development of osteoporotic fractures in men and women (aged ≥50 years). The primary outcomes were the number of total fractures and vertebral fractures. FPG variability was measured using standard deviation (FPG-SD), coefficient of variation (FPG-CV), and variability independent of the mean (FPG-VIM). RESULTS: Of the 92 929 participants, 5262 (5.7%) developed osteoporotic fractures during the mean follow-up of 8.4 years. Individuals in the highest quartile of FPG-SD showed an 11% and 16% increase in risk of total and vertebral fractures, respectively, compared with those in the lowest quartile after adjustment for mean FPG and other risk factors. Analyses using FPG-CV and FPG-VIM demonstrated similar results. Subgroup analyses and sensitivity analyses to explore potential heterogeneity showed consistent results. CONCLUSION: FPG variability may be a novel risk factor for osteoporotic fractures independent of risk factors in the general population without diabetes.