Fatty infiltration of hip muscles and trochanteric soft tissue thickness are associated with hip fractures in the elderly.

PURPOSE: Apart from bone conditions, muscle and soft tissue parameters might also influence hip fractures. We aimed to evaluate the association between hip muscle and trochanteric soft tissue parameters and hip fractures. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 60 patients with hip fractures and 114 controls without hip fractures. Cases and controls were matched for age, sex, and body mass index using propensity score matching. Muscle cross-sectional area (CSA), mean attenuation, and fatty infiltration rate (FIR) (proportion of intramuscular fat content) were measured on CT images for the gluteus maximus, the gluteus medius/minimus, and the anterior and medial compartments of the upper thigh. Trochanteric soft tissue thickness (TSTT) and femoral neck attenuation were also measured. Univariate and multivariate analyses were conducted to identify potential risk factors of hip fractures. RESULTS: Patients with hip fractures had significantly lower femoral neck attenuation, TSTT, and CSA of the gluteus maximus and anterior compartment than controls. FIR of all hip muscle groups were significantly higher in hip fracture patients than controls. Multivariate analysis revealed that every 1% increase in FIR of medial compartment independently increased the odds of hip fractures by 23.7% (OR = 1.237, 95% CI = 1.093-1.401) and every 1 cm longer TSTT independently decreased the odds by 32.8% (OR = 0.672, 95% CI = 0.477-0.946). CONCLUSION: Fatty infiltration of hip muscles can better discriminate hip fractures than muscle area. Increased TSTT is independently associated with low fracture risk.

Histopathological staging and differential diagnosis of marginal zone lymphoma of gastric mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue.

The purpose of this study was to explore the histopathological staging and differential diagnosis of marginal zone lymphoma in gastric mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT lymphoma). We performed detailed histomorphology and immunohistochemistry investigations as well as genetic testing on endoscopic biopsy and endoscopic mucosal resection specimens from 18 patients with gastric MALT lymphoma. We found that gastric MALT lymphoma typically begins as a small, isolated area outside the lymphoid follicular mantle zone or proliferates in a multifocal, patchy manner, gradually spreads to the interfollicular zone, forming diffuse proliferation, invades the gastric mucosal glands, and infiltrates or proliferates into the center of peripheral reactive lymphoid follicles. Abnormally proliferating lymphocytes invade the surrounding lymphoid follicles, resulting in damage, atrophy, and disappearance of their normal follicles as well as of the gastric mucosa glands, forming diffuse proliferation. Redifferentiation and proliferation lead to the transformation of lymphocytes; that is, MALT transitions into highly invasive lymphoma. Based on our findings in this study, we propose the following five stages in the process of development and progression of gastric MALT lymphoma: the stage of cell proliferation outside the lymphoid follicular mantle zone; the stage of heterogeneous proliferative lymphoepithelial lesion; the stage of reactive lymphoid follicular implantation; the stage of lymphoid follicular clonal proliferation; and the stage of MALT transforming into highly invasive lymphoma. We examined the differential diagnosis of histopathological features at each stage. The clinicopathological staging of gastric MALT lymphoma can help clinicians provide accurate treatment and track malignant cell transformation, thus playing a significant role in controlling its development and progression.

Painful and restricted hip due to myositis ossificans circumscripta of the pectineus muscle after pelvic fracture: A case report.

RATIONALE: Myositis ossificans circumscripta (MOC) is a rare disorder that causes heterotopic bone formation in soft tissues. It usually occurs after trauma and affects large muscles of the extremities. MOC of the pectineus muscle is extremely rare and has not been reported to be treated surgically. PATIENT CONCERNS: A 52-year-old woman presented with left hip pain and dysfunction 4 months after a traffic accident that caused pelvic and humeral fractures and cerebral hemorrhage. DIAGNOSES: Radiological imaging revealed isolated ossification of the left pectineus muscle. The patient was diagnosed with MOC. INTERVENTIONS: The patient underwent surgical resection of the ossified pectineus muscle followed by local radiation and medical therapy. OUTCOMES: At 12 months postoperatively, she was asymptomatic and had normal hip function. No recurrence was observed on radiography. LESSONS: MOC of the pectineus muscle is a rare condition that can cause severe hip dysfunction. Surgical resection combined with radiation and anti-inflammatory drugs can be an effective treatment option for patients who do not respond to conservative management.

The Importance of SPECT/CT in Preoperative Localization of Sentinel Lymph Nodes in 2 Patients With Acral Melanoma in the Foot.

ABSTRACT: A 68-year-old woman with melanoma in the left heel underwent sentinel node lymphoscintigraphy and radioguided biopsy. The sentinel node lymphoscintigraphy with SPECT/CT detected 3 foci of increased activity in the popliteal fossa and inguinal region. When coregistered to CT, the sentinel node was localized in the inguinal region, and the popliteal foci were considered tracer retention in lymphatic vessel. In another patient with melanoma in the foot, sentinel node lymphoscintigraphy detected 3 foci of increased activity in the popliteal fossa and inguinal region, which were all identified to be nodal uptake in SPECT/CT. The sentinel node was finally localized in popliteal fossa in this patient.

Right femoral pathological fracture caused by primary bone epithelioid angiosarcoma: Case report.

RATIONALE: Epithelioid angiosarcoma (EAS) is an extremely rare malignant disease, which accounts no more than 1% of all soft tissue sarcomas. In this article, we would report a new case of EAS with multiple bone destruction and right femoral pathological fracture, which was an even rarer manifestation of EAS. PATIENT CONCERNS: In this case, a 64-year-old man with right femoral fracture was reported. He had suffered from a progressive low back pain for about 8 months, and the imaging examinations prompted a multiple bone destruction in his vertebra and lower limbs. He then got a right femoral fracture without any obvious traumatic injury, and came to our hospital. INTERVENTIONS: He underwent an operation of radical resection, bone cement filling and dynamic condylar screw internal fixation. During the operation, we found that the soft tissue around the fracture had a rotten fish change, which suggested a malignant disease. DIAGNOSES: The postoperative pathological diagnosis reported an EAS, which is extremely rare and highly malignant. OUTCOMES: The patient died in 83 days after the surgery, and the survival time from the symptoms started to the end was only 11 months, which showed a rapid progress and poor prognosis of EAS. LESSONS: EAS is very hard to be diagnosed by clinical manifestation or radiological examinations. As in our case, pathological analysis is the final diagnosis. The images of the patient may offer some tips for the skeletal presentation of EAS, and do more help in future study of this disease.