Surgical techniques for management of acromioclavicular joint separations: review and update for radiologists.

Imaging plays a central role in the postoperative management of acromioclavicular (AC) joint separations. There are more than 150 described techniques for the surgical management of AC joint injuries. These procedures can be categorized as varying combinations of the following basic techniques: a) soft-tissue repair, b) trans-articular AC joint fixation, c) coracoclavicular (CC) fixation, d) non-anatomic reconstruction of the CC ligaments, e) anatomic reconstruction of the CC ligaments, f) distal clavicle resection, and g) dynamic muscle transfer. The goals of this article are to describe the basic techniques for the surgical management of AC joint separations with an emphasis on technique-specific complications and postoperative imaging assessment.

Update on operative treatment of scapholunate (SL) instability for radiologists: part 1-SL ligament repair, dorsal capsulodesis and SL ligament reconstruction.

Scapholunate instability is the most common form of carpal instability. Imaging (especially radiography) plays an important role in the staging, management and post-operative follow-up of scapholunate (SL) instability. The goals of this article are to review the pre-operative staging of SL instability, the surgical options for repair and reconstruction of the SL ligament, along with the normal postoperative imaging findings as well as complications associated with these surgical options.

Extrahepatic, nonneoplastic, fat-containing lesions of the abdominopelvic cavity: spectrum of lesions, significance, and typical appearance on multidetector computed tomography.

Fat may be noted in a diffuse or focal manner in a variety of nonneoplastic abdominopelvic conditions. The specific signature of macroscopic fat on computed tomography along with the usually characteristic findings of these entities makes the diagnosis of most of these conditions relatively straightforward. In the intestinal tract, the "fat halo sign" usually arises in the context of subacute to chronic bowel wall inflammation. Excess fat in the renal sinus may occur with renal sinus lipomatosis or "replacement lipomatosis of the kidney." Some cases of "pancreatic lipomatosis" may culminate in steatopancreatitis and ultimately neoplastic transformations. "Fibrofatty mesenteric proliferation" is a characteristic feature of Crohn disease. In the setting of the acute abdomen, accurate diagnosis of fat-containing lesions (epiploic appendagitis or omental infarction) from other causes of the acute abdomen is critical. Mesenteric panniculitis is 1 of the causes of the "misty mesentery." Juxtacaval fat deposition is a benign process that has the potential to be confused with more serious conditions. More diffuse fat deposition (abdominal or pelvic lipomatosis) has the potential to become symptomatic by causing mass effect upon the adjacent structures. Fat can also be seen in a variety of postoperative/iatrogenic conditions or abdominal wall/diaphragmatic hernias.

Gestatational trophoblastic disease: multimodality imaging assessment with special emphasis on spectrum of abnormalities and value of imaging in staging and management of disease.

Gestational trophoblastic disease is a spectrum of disorders of varying malignant potential arising from trophoblastic cells and encompassing hydatidiform moles and persistent trophoblastic neoplasia. Ultrasound is the initial imaging investigation of choice when gestational trophoblastic disease is suspected. Complete hydatiform mole, the most common form of molar pregnancy, usually has a characteristic "cluster of grapes" appearance, especially on second-trimester ultrasounds. Persistent trophobastic neoplasia usually appears as a focal, hypervascular myometrial mass on pelvic ultrasound. Pelvic magnetic resonance imaging is often used as a problem-solving tool in equivocal or complicated cases of gestational trophoblastic disease to assess the degree of invasion into the myometrium and surrounding tissues. Chest x-ray, brain magnetic resonance imaging, and body computed tomography scans are primarily used for the evaluation of metastatic disease, which usually occurs in the context of choriocarcinomas. Choriocarcinoma metastases are usually hypervascular and have a tendency to bleed, features that are reflected in their imaging appearance.