Frequency of inflammatory-like MR imaging findings in asymptomatic fingers of healthy volunteers.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the frequency of inflammatory-like findings on MR imaging in asymptomatic volunteers and compare them with patients with known rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: MR images of fingers in 42 asymptomatic volunteers and 33 patients with rheumatoid/psoriatic arthritis were analyzed. The Outcome Measures in Rheumatology Clinical Trials (OMERACT) Rheumatoid/Psoriatic Arthritis MRI Scoring System (RAMRIS/PsAMRIS) and tenosynovitis scoring system were used to assess: bone marrow edema (BME), erosions, tendon sheath fluid/tenosynovitis, joint effusion, and soft-tissue edema. Findings and scores were compared between volunteers and patients. Inter-reader agreement was calculated (intraclass correlation coefficients, ICC). RESULTS: In volunteers, tendon sheath fluid was very common in at least one location (42/42 volunteers for reader 1, 34/42 volunteers for reader 2). BME, erosions, joint effusion, and soft-tissue edema were absent (except one BME in the 3rd proximal phalanx for reader 1). Tendon sheath fluid scores in volunteers and tenosynovitis scores in patients were high (reader 1, 7.17 and 5.39; reader 2, 2.31 and 5.45). Overall, inter-reader agreement was substantial (ICC = 0.696-0.844), except for tendon sheath fluid (ICC = 0.258). CONCLUSION: Fluid in the finger flexor tendon sheaths may be a normal finding and without gadolinium administration should not be interpreted as tenosynovitis. Bone marrow edema, erosions, joint effusion, and soft-tissue edema in the fingers most likely reflect pathology if present.

Measurement of acetabular version based on biplanar radiographs with 3D reconstructions in comparison to CT as reference standard in cadavers.

To quantify acetabular version using 3 D reconstructions based on biplanar radiographs (BPR) with CT as reference standard. No institutional review board approval was needed. Nine dry-bone pelvises underwent BPR in five different positions (rotation/tilt). The 3 D models of each pelvis were reconstructed by two radiologists on the basis of anatomical landmarks using semi-automated software. Automated software was used to assess the 3 D models and to calculate acetabular versions perpendicular to the anterior pelvic plane on all levels in the craniocaudal direction in 1 mm steps. Transverse CT images perpendicular to the anterior pelvic plain were reconstructed through the acetabulum in 1 mm steps. Both readers measured acetabular version on each image. Inter-reader agreement was calculated. Measurements based on BPR and CT were compared. Inter-reader agreement was almost perfect for BPR-based acetabular version measurements (ICC (intraclass correlation coefficient) = 0.920, P < 0.0005) and CT (ICC = 0.990, P < 0.0005). Correlation of acetabular versions between the five BPR-positions was substantial/almost perfect (ICC = 0.722-0.887 and 0.749-0.872 for readers 1 and 2, respectively; most P < 0.0005). The acetabular version measurements between the ap-positioning from BPR and CT showed moderate agreement (mean CCC (concordance correlation coefficient) = 0.733 for reader 1, CCC = 0.755 for reader 2). Acetabular version on multiple levels can be measured using BPR and dedicated post-processing software and is relatively independent of pelvic rotation and tilt. Clin. Anat. 30:591-598, 2017. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Ultrasound of the coracoacromial ligament in asymptomatic volunteers and patients with shoulder impingement.

BACKGROUND: The coracoacromial ligament is part of the coracoacromial arch, which is considered to be involved in shoulder impingement. PURPOSE: To compare the coracoacromial ligament on ultrasound in asymptomatic volunteers and in patients with subacromial shoulder impingement. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Twenty-nine asymptomatic volunteers (mean age, 35.5 years) and 29 patients (mean age, 49.9 years) with shoulder impingement, diagnosed by experienced shoulder surgeons, were prospectively included. Two radiologists obtained and analyzed ultrasound images of the coracoacromial ligament in the longitudinal axis. RESULTS: The ligament thickness was 1.4 ± 0.2 mm at its midportion, 1.8 ± 0.4 mm at the coracoid, and 2.1 ± 0.6 mm at the acromion in asymptomatic volunteers compared with 1.3 ± 0.2 mm, 1.9 ± 0.5 mm, and 1.9 ± 0.5 mm in impingement patients for observer 1. The ligament length was 30.6 ± 2.4 mm in asymptomatic volunteers compared with 30.4 ± 3.6 mm in impingement patients for observer 1. An anteriorly convex shape of the superficial contour of the coracoacromial ligament was significantly more frequent in impingement patients compared with asymptomatic volunteers for both observers (observer 1: 10% (3/29) versus 45% (13/29), P value <0.01; observer 2: 10% (3/29) versus 38% (11/29), P value <0.03). The comparison of the remaining parameters of the coracoacromial ligament, such as the thickness, length, echogenicity, and fibrillation did not reveal significant differences between volunteers and patients. CONCLUSION: While thickness or length of the coracoacromial ligament were similar in volunteers and patients with shoulder impingement, an anteriorly convex shape of the superficial contour of the coracoacromial ligament was significantly more frequent in impingement patients compared with asymptomatic volunteers.

Expression of transforming growth factor-alpha, epidermal growth factor receptor and platelet-derived growth factors A and B in oropharyngeal cancers treated by curative radiation therapy.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) has been implicated in cellular responses to ionizing radiation and represents a major target for current radiosensitizing strategies. We wished to ascertain whether a correlation existed between the expression of EGFR, transforming growth factor-alpha (TGFalpha) and platelet-derived growth factors A and B (PDGF-A and PDGF-B) and treatment outcome in a group of patients with oropharyngeal cancer who had undergone curative radiation therapy. We also assessed the relationship existing between each of the aforementioned proteins and intratumoral microvessel densities (IMD) which have been previously reported (Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 2000;48:17-25. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Pretherapeutic tumor biopsies from 95 patients were immunohistochemically stained and their immunoreactivities evaluated semi-quantitatively. The statistical analyses included Cox regression for calculating risk ratios of survival endpoints and logistic regression for determining odds ratios for the development of distant metastasis. RESULTS: Local tumor control as well as disease-free and overall survival were independent of protein expression levels, whereas combined TGFalpha and EGFR immunoreactivities were closely related to IMD (P = 0.003). The expression levels of these two proteins were also correlated to each other (P = 0.015). Expression of PDGF-B occurred in 54% of cases and was associated with an increase in the risk of developing distant metastasis (P = 0.011). CONCLUSIONS: Tumoral levels of TGFalpha, EGFR and PDGF-A/B are not predictive of radioresponsiveness in oropharyngeal cancers. The association between IMD and immunoreactivity for TGFalpha and EGFR indicates the involvement of these proteins in the promotion of angiogenesis in these tumors. PDGF-B should be further evaluated as a prognostic marker for squamous cell cancer of the head and neck.

[<> spondylodiscitis]. / «Sterile¼ Spondylodiszitis.

We report the case of a 81 year old women presenting with fever and back pain. Infectious spondylodiscitis was first supposed due to the imaging of the spine although no pathogenic agent could be proved. Antibiotic therapy was initiated. Because of the persistence of the symptoms biopsy was repeated, this time done by a surgeon. Eventually spinal gout was diagnosed. Symptomatic therapy alone removed the discomfort.