Can low-dose computed tomographic scan of the spine replace conventional radiography? An evaluation based on imaging myelomas, bone metastases, and fractures from osteoporosis.

We evaluated and compared the radiological images of the spine of 111 patients affected by myeloma, bone metastases, and fractures secondary to osteoporosis demonstrated in low-dose computed tomographic (CT) scans and those demonstrated in conventional radiographic studies. From the analysis of the data obtained, it appears that the duration of the CT procedure is definitely shorter and that its diagnostic sensitivity is superior to that of conventional radiography. We should mention that the dose of radiation delivered by CT scanning does not constitute an unfavorable element in patients, usually elderly, for whom CT scanning was indicated.

Clinical follow-up of 50 patients treated by percutaneous lumbar discectomy.

A series of 50 patients presenting with lumbar discogenic disease, and treated by percutaneous discectomy using the Dekompressor system (Stryker, Kalamazoo, MI, USA), were followed for more than 6 months, by analyzing the evolution of the painful symptomatology with the visual analog scale (VAS) system. All patients had been under treatment with analgesic or anti-inflammatory agents. The intensity of the pain was measured 2, 7, 30, and 180 days after the percutaneous discectomy. An improvement in the painful symptomatology of less than 30%, observed in 11 cases and in 1 case of epidural pathology, was considered an unsuccessful result. A decrease of the pain of more than 70% was observed in 72% of cases, either with the end of the symptoms of pain as noted in 79.5% of patients or with a marked reduction of the medical treatments obtained in 21.5%. The results obtained were already almost definitive at the seventh day of follow-up, and further controls rarely demonstrated an improvement in the pain. The location of the herniated disc is a parameter which appears to be very important in the efficacy of percutaneous discectomy. We noted an improvement of more than 70% in 79% of the posterolateral foraminal or extraforaminal hernias, although these favorable results were observed only in 50% of the posteromedian hernias.

Shoulder distension arthrography in adhesive capsulitis.

Capsular retraction of the shoulder often occurs as a solitary pathological process; half of the cases are of primitive nature. In the past 10 years or more, distension of the shoulder joint has proven to be an efficient percutaneous treatment, and various techniques have been proposed. We report on our technique, which was performed on a series of 200 patients, and on the results observed in 27 patients with a precise evaluation of progressive changes in movements of the joint.

Peripheral neurogenic tumors: is the use of different types of imaging diagnostically useful?

We report a series of six benign peripheral neurogenic tumors (five schwannomas and one neurofibroma) studied by 3D ultrasonography (US) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The findings demonstrated by US and MRI are variable, but usually permit the diagnosis of benign nervous tumor without prejudging the final histological diagnosis. MRI does not bring forward further complementary images to those observed at US, which is limited by its dependence on its operator. The use of 3D US will be sufficient for the diagnosis and preoperative evaluation of a lesion when it is possible to furnish the volumetric data and the tools necessary for data analysis in a single document (in a CD).

Aortic embolism of cement: a rare complication of lumbar percutaneous vertebroplasty.

An aortic embolus of cement occurred in a 72-year-old woman after lumbar percutaneous vertebroplasty for breast cancer metastasis. A CT scan during the procedure revealed cement migration into the aorta via the lumbar artery. The cement embolus in the aorta, along with the hook-shaped cement fragment in the lumbar artery, was asymptomatic. Thereafter, a CT scan 4 months later still showed the presence of cement in the aorta and the lumbar artery at the level of the vertebroplasty. The patient is free of complaints after 4 months without anticoagulant treatment. This rare complication occurred because the collateral arterial supplies to the breast metastasis and the retrograde migration of cement during the vertebroplasty were not recognized. Proper techniques can minimize the risk of arterial embolism caused by cement during the procedure.