C-reactive protein of ≥ 20 mg/L and ultrasound finding of an effusion ≥ 7 mm has a high specificity and sensitivity in diagnosing paediatric hip septic arthritis.

PURPOSE: Differentiating septic arthritis (SA) from transient synovitis (TS) in children remains a diagnostic challenge. Several algorithms have been developed to diagnose SA including Kocher's criteria and its subsequent modifications, but reports show variable efficacy. This study aims to examine the diagnostic utility of a novel method only using C-reactive protein (CRP) and ultrasound (US) findings of effusion in differentiating SA from TS, determine the optimal values for these predictors and validate this method against existing clinical predictors. METHODS: A 5-year retrospective study was performed including all paediatric patients with acute, non-traumatic hip pain with a suspicion of SA. All patients were evaluated using Kocher's criteria, Caird's criteria, and the novel method. Multivariate logistic regression was performed to identify independent clinical predictors of SA. The degree of agreement between the various methods were assessed using Cohen's kappa (k). Receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curves were used to examine the diagnostic accuracy of this novel method as well as to determine optimal cut-offs for US effusion and CRP in diagnosing SA. RESULTS: Hundred and one patients were recruited. CRP and effusion on US were found to be independent predictors of SA. Both Kocher's and Caird's method showed good specificity (98.9%) but extremely poor sensitivity for SA (0%). When Kocher's four clinical predictors were present, probability of SA was only 59.16%. The k for both Kocher's and Caird's methods, was -0.017 indicating poor agreement. However the k in the novel method was 0.641, indicating good agreement. CONCLUSION: Our study showed that the novel method using CRP (≥ 20 mg/L) and US finding of effusion (≥ 7 mm) has a high specificity (97%) and sensitivity (71%) in diagnosing SA.

A Case of Mesenchymal Hamartoma of the Chest Wall in a 4-Month-Old Infant.

BACKGROUND Mesenchymal hamartoma of the chest wall is a rare benign lesion that typically presents in early infancy. However, the clinical presentation can be atypical, with imaging features that mimic infection or malignancy. Imaging combined with histopathology is essential in the diagnosis. A case of mesenchymal hamartoma of the chest wall in a 4-month-old infant is presented. CASE REPORT A 4-month-old infant had an incidental finding of a large right-sided chest wall mass. Initial imaging included thoracoabdominal ultrasound (US), computed tomography (CT), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Histology of an initial open biopsy was inconclusive. The diagnosis of mesenchymal hamartoma was confirmed by histology of the resection specimen, which showed a benign, mixed, chondroid, mesenchymal, and cystic hamartoma with areas of calcification and ossification. CONCLUSIONS This case showed that the diagnosis of mesenchymal hamartoma of the chest wall, which is characterized by heterogeneous components, may require a combined approach for the diagnosis that includes imaging and histology. Increased clinical awareness of mesenchymal hamartoma in infants may help to guide the approach to the correct diagnosis and prevent unnecessarily radical treatment for this benign condition.

Paediatric post-traumatic osseous cystic lesion following a distal radial fracture.

Post-traumatic osseous cystic lesions are a rare complication in children. An aetiology of intramedullary fat seepage through the damaged bone cortex and its entrapment within the subperiosteum has been proposed. These lesions run a benign course and usually resolve spontaneously. The presence of fatty marrow gives it a distinct appearance which aids in its diagnosis and differentiation from other bone lesions. This case demonstrates a fat-fluid level within the subperiosteal cystic lesion in Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and this is a typical feature of post-traumatic cystic lesion in a child. Recognition of this imaging feature allows for a confident diagnosis, cutting down on unnecessary, potentially invasive investigations.

Bilateral Thalamic and Right Fronto-temporo-parietal Gliomas in a 4 Years Old Child Diagnosed by Magnetic Resonance Imaging.

We report the neuroimaging findings of a 4-year-old girl with biopsy-proven bilateral thalamic and right fronto-temporo-parietal cortical gliomas, which are uncommon tumours involving the central nervous system. Despite their benignity, the prognosis is usually poor because of involvement of the thalamic nuclei and difficulty in surgical excision. These lesions have limited differential diagnoses that include metabolic, toxic, infective, vascular and neoplastic. Imaging characteristics on conventional Magnetic Resonance (MR), Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (MRS) and Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) can further narrow the differential diagnosis and also provide additional information regarding the degree of involvement of adjacent brain tissue and white matter tracts around the lesions.

Isolated Fallopian Tube Torsion With Fimbrial Cyst In A 10 Year-old Girl Diagnosed By Ultrasound: A Case Report.

Torsion of the fallopian tube without the involvement of the ipsilateral ovary is a rare but important cause of acute abdominal pain in women as it is a surgical emergency. Although uncommon, it should be considered as one of the differential diagnosis in female children presenting with acute lower abdominal or pelvic pain. The diagnosis of isolated fallopian tube torsion is difficult pre-operatively and is often made during laparoscopic or surgical exploration because diagnostic features are usually non-specific. In this report, we present a case of isolated fallopian tube torsion with fimbrial cyst in a young female patient diagnosed pre-operatively by ultrasound.