Utility of vertebral biopsy before vertebroplasty in patients with diagnosis of vertebral compression fracture.

PURPOSE: To demonstrate the utility of a biopsy performed just before vertebroplasty in patients with diagnosis of vertebral compression fracture (VCF) and no history of neoplastic or hematologic diseases. BACKGROUND: Osteoporosis is the most frequent cause of vertebral compression fracture, with trauma and pathologic vertebral weakening being other common causes. Since secondary fractures at imaging investigation can present as simple compression fractures, it is important to identify an underlying pathology. The aim of this paper is to evaluate the frequency of unexpected positive histology in vertebral samples withdrawn from patients undergoing a vertebroplasty to evaluate if a vertebral biopsy can routinely be used in case of VCF and when a secondary cause is not suspected. METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated the results of 324 biopsies performed from February 2003 to March 2019 just before vertebroplasty in 1183 patients diagnosed with one or more vertebral compression fractures and with no history of neoplastic or hematological diseases and with no suspicious findings for secondary fractures at imaging. RESULTS: Biopsy was not diagnostic in 9/324 cases (2.8%); osteoporosis was the diagnosis in 295 cases (91%); in the remaining 20 cases (6.2%), histology was positive for an underlying pathology: 12/20 (60% of positive cases) multiple myeloma; 5/20 (25%) lymphoma/leukemia; 1/20 (5%) spondylitis; 1/20 (5%) metastasis; 1/20 (5%) hemangioma. A significantly higher incidence of positive biopsies was found in patients younger than 73 (p = 0.01) with 17 of 20 (85%) positive biopsies. No complications related to the bioptic maneuver were found, according to CIRSE guidelines on percutaneous needle biopsy. CONCLUSIONS: Vertebral biopsy is a safe procedure with no related complications. In our series, an unexpected diagnosis was found in 6% of cases with impact on patient's clinical management. Positive unexpected histology was significantly higher in younger patients. In conclusion, we believe that a biopsy is useful and should be performed on all patients with vertebral compression fractures before a vertebroplasty.

Langerhans cell histiocytosis: unusual dorsal spine localization in an adult male.

This case report describes the clinical, imaging, and pathological features of a case of Langerhans cell histiocytosis affecting a patient suffering from chronic thoracic spine pain. Spinal localizations of Langerhans cell histiocytosis have been rarely described and they are usually characterized by involvement of vertebral bodies with osteolytic lesions. Our case presented with several unusual features that delayed the diagnosis, including the age of patient and the involvement of left T10 costovertebral junction with relative sparing of vertebral body and costal bone. The clues for diagnosis were represented by increased signal intensity both on T 2W fat-saturated and T 1W images after administration of gadolinium. The diagnosis was finally confirmed by means of percutaneous biopsy with subsequent histological/immunohistochemical study.

Treatment of Spinal Aneurysmal Bone Cyst with Percutaneous Injection of Hydroxyapatite Osteoconductive Cement.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate treatment efficacy of percutaneous injection of hydroxyapatite-osteoconductive-cement in patients with spinal aneurysmal bone cysts. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was designed as a retrospective observational clinical study. We included patients who were diagnosed with of spinal aneurysmal bone cyst, at our institution between 2013 and 2020, and treated with percutaneous injection of osteoconductive cement: "Cerament"® (BONESUPPORT AB, Lund, Sweden). Typical clinical and radiological features of the ABCs treatment and follow-up were investigated. RESULTS: Our study included nine patients, two children and seven adults. Three different types of approaches were applied: (single pedicle approach in 3 patients; double pedicle approach in 2 patients; while in the remaining cases, a multiple access approach was used. VAS score decreased from 8.5 ± 0.5 before treatment to 4.1 ± 0.9 at 6-months-follow up. All of the patients reacted well to treatment, with none neurological complications, complete loss of pain and achieved osteosclerosis as radiological marker of treatment success. CONCLUSION: Treatment of symptomatic spinal ABC's with hydroxyapatite cement is effective to achieve complete pain reduction and sclerosis.

Chronic fusiform aneurysm evolving into giant aneurysm in the basilar artery.

Fusiform basilar aneurysm is a rare condition with elevated mortality within a few days if untreated. On the basis of clinical course, the fusiform aneurysm can be distinguished in an acute type, such as dissecting aneurysm, which usually causes subarachnoid hemorrhage or cerebral ischemia and in a chronic type with a relatively slow growth, which may evolve into a giant aneurysm leading to serious complications. We report a case of an 80-year-old man with a surgically untreated fusiform aneurysm that evolved into a giant aneurysm of the basilar artery within 4 years. The patient presented recurrent ischemic events involving the posterior circulation without aneurysmal rupture or bleeding.

Magnetic resonance imaging at 3.0-T in postmenopausal osteoporosis: a prospective study and review of the literature.

Objective: To promote advanced research using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the diagnosis of and screening for osteoporosis by looking for correlations among the T-scores measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA), the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values on diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI), and the T1-weighted signal intensity values. Materials and Methods: This was a prospective study of postmenopausal women with no contraindications to MRI and no history of cancer who underwent DEXA within 30 days before or after the MRI examination. A 3.0-T scanner was used in order to acquire sagittal sequences targeting the lumbar spine. Results: Thirteen women underwent DEXA and MRI. In two cases, the MRI was discontinued early. Therefore, the final sample comprised 11 patients. The ADC values and T1-weighted signal intensity were found to be higher in patients with osteoporosis. However, among the patients > 60 years of age with osteoporosis, ADC values were lower and T1-weighted signal intensity was even higher. Conclusion: It is unlikely that MRI will soon replace DEXA for the diagnostic workup of osteoporosis. Although DWI and ADC mapping are useful for understanding the pathophysiology of osteoporosis, we believe that T1-weighted sequences are more sensitive than is DWI as a means of performing a qualitative analysis of vertebral alterations.

Objetivo: Promover pesquisas avançadas usando ressonância magnética (RM) no diagnóstico e rastreamento de osteoporose, procurando correlações entre os escores T medidos por absorciometria de raios-X de dupla energia (DEXA), valores de coeficiente de difusão aparente (ADC) na difusão e valores de intensidade de sinal ponderado em T1. Materiais e Métodos: Estudo prospectivo de mulheres na pós-menopausa sem contraindicações para RM e sem histórico de câncer que foram submetidas a DEXA 30 dias antes ou após o exame de RM. Um scanner 3.0-T foi utilizado para adquirir sequências sagitais direcionadas à coluna lombar. Resultados: Treze mulheres foram submetidas a DEXA e RM. Em dois casos, a RM foi interrompida precocemente. Portanto, a amostra final foi composta por 11 pacientes. Os valores de ADC e intensidade de sinal ponderado em T1 foram mais elevados nas pacientes com osteoporose. No entanto, no subgrupo de pacientes > 60 anos de idade com osteoporose, os valores de ADC foram menores e a intensidade do sinal ponderado em T1 foi ainda maior. Conclusão: É improvável que a RM substitua DEXA para a investigação diagnóstica da osteoporose no futuro próximo. Embora a difusão e o mapeamento ADC sejam úteis para a compreensão da fisiopatologia da osteoporose, acreditamos que as sequências ponderadas em T1 são mais sensíveis do que a difusão como meio de realizar uma análise qualitativa das alterações vertebrais.

Case Report: Lipoma of the Tuber Cinereum Mimicking a Pituitary Gland Abnormality in a Girl With Central Precocious Puberty.

Introduction: Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is the best approach to investigate the hypothalamic-pituitary region in children with central precocious puberty (CPP). Routine scanning is controversial in girls aged 6-8 year, due to the overwhelming prevalence of idiopathic forms and unrelated incidentalomas. Cerebral lipomas are rare and accidental findings, not usually expected in CPP. We report a girl with CPP and an unusually shaped posterior pituitary gland on SE-T1w sequences. Case Description: A 7.3-year-old female was referred for breast development started at age 7. Her past medical history and physical examination were unremarkable, apart from the Tanner stage 2 breast. X-ray of the left-hand revealed a bone age 2-years ahead of her chronological age, projecting her adult height prognosis below the mid parental height. LHRH test and pelvic ultrasound were suggestive for CPP. Routine brain MRI sequences, SE T1w and TSE T2w, showed the posterior pituitary bright spot increased in size and stretched upward. The finding was considered as an anatomical variant, in an otherwise normal brain imaging. Patient was started on treatment with GnRH analogue. At a thorough revaluation, imaging overlap with adipose tissue was suspected and a new MRI scan with 3D-fat-suppression T1w-VIBE sequences demonstrated a lipoma of the tuber cinereum, bordering a perfectly normal neurohypophysis. 3D-T2w-SPACE sequences, acquired at first MRI scan, would have provided a more correct interpretation if rightly considered. Conclusion: This is the first evidence, to our knowledge, of a cerebral lipoma mimicking pituitary gland abnormalities. Our experience highlights the importance of considering suprasellar lipomas in the MRI investigation of children with CPP, despite their rarity, should the T1w sequences show an unexpected pituitary shape. 3D-T2w SPACE sequences could be integrated into standard ones, especially when performing MRI routinely, to avoid potential misinterpretations.

A case of epilepsy in multiple sclerosis: Three-dimensional double inversion recovery sequences revealed cortical dysplasia.

In epileptic patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), cortical lesions have been suggested to cause seizures. In brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), double inversion recovery (DIR) sequences are generally used to evaluate MS cortical disease burden. We present the case of a woman, diagnosed with MS, suffering from drug-resistant partial seizures initially attributed to MS. The patient underwent many MRI exams, but only by means of high-resolution three-dimensional DIR sequences was a focal cortical dysplasia discovered. The MRI findings and FDG-PET/CT supported the diagnosis. This case recommends the use of DIR sequences both in patients with suspect epileptogenic lesions not detected with routine MRI protocols and in epileptic patient with MS, before ascribing seizures to MS.

Magnetic resonance imaging at 3.0-T in postmenopausal osteoporosis: a prospective study and review of the literature / Ressonância magnética de 3.0-T na osteoporose pós-menopausa: estudo prospectivo e revisão da literatura

Abstract Objective: To promote advanced research using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the diagnosis of and screening for osteoporosis by looking for correlations among the T-scores measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA), the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values on diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI), and the T1-weighted signal intensity values. Materials and Methods: This was a prospective study of postmenopausal women with no contraindications to MRI and no history of cancer who underwent DEXA within 30 days before or after the MRI examination. A 3.0-T scanner was used in order to acquire sagittal sequences targeting the lumbar spine. Results: Thirteen women underwent DEXA and MRI. In two cases, the MRI was discontinued early. Therefore, the final sample comprised 11 patients. The ADC values and T1-weighted signal intensity were found to be higher in patients with osteoporosis. However, among the patients > 60 years of age with osteoporosis, ADC values were lower and T1-weighted signal intensity was even higher. Conclusion: It is unlikely that MRI will soon replace DEXA for the diagnostic workup of osteoporosis. Although DWI and ADC mapping are useful for understanding the pathophysiology of osteoporosis, we believe that T1-weighted sequences are more sensitive than is DWI as a means of performing a qualitative analysis of vertebral alterations.

Resumo Objetivo: Promover pesquisas avançadas usando ressonância magnética (RM) no diagnóstico e rastreamento de osteoporose, procurando correlações entre os escores T medidos por absorciometria de raios-X de dupla energia (DEXA), valores de coeficiente de difusão aparente (ADC) na difusão e valores de intensidade de sinal ponderado em T1. Materiais e Métodos: Estudo prospectivo de mulheres na pós-menopausa sem contraindicações para RM e sem histórico de câncer que foram submetidas a DEXA 30 dias antes ou após o exame de RM. Um scanner 3.0-T foi utilizado para adquirir sequências sagitais direcionadas à coluna lombar. Resultados: Treze mulheres foram submetidas a DEXA e RM. Em dois casos, a RM foi interrompida precocemente. Portanto, a amostra final foi composta por 11 pacientes. Os valores de ADC e intensidade de sinal ponderado em T1 foram mais elevados nas pacientes com osteoporose. No entanto, no subgrupo de pacientes > 60 anos de idade com osteoporose, os valores de ADC foram menores e a intensidade do sinal ponderado em T1 foi ainda maior. Conclusão: É improvável que a RM substitua DEXA para a investigação diagnóstica da osteoporose no futuro próximo. Embora a difusão e o mapeamento ADC sejam úteis para a compreensão da fisiopatologia da osteoporose, acreditamos que as sequências ponderadas em T1 são mais sensíveis do que a difusão como meio de realizar uma análise qualitativa das alterações vertebrais.

Disseminated Mycobacterium chimaera infection after open heart surgery in an Italian woman: a case report and a review of the literature.

We report the first Italian case of Mycobacterium chimaera disseminated infection in a patient with a history of cardiac surgery. The patient was initially diagnosed with sarcoidosis and started on immunosuppressive therapy. Ten months later she developed a vertebral osteomyelitis: M. chimaera was isolated from bone specimen. A review of the literature shows that M. chimaera infection occurs specifically in this population of patients, due to contamination of heater-cooler units used during cardiosurgery. Devices responsible for the transmission were produced by Sorin Group Deutschland. Mycobacterium chimaera infection should be included in the differential diagnosis for patients undergoing cardiac surgery.

Incidental optochiasmatic cavernoma: Case report of an unusual finding on 3 Tesla MRI.

Cavernoma is a vascular hamartoma, which represents 10-20% of all central nervous system vascular malformations. The majority (80%) of them are supratentorial, while involvement of the cranial nerves and the optic pathways is extremely rare. The main clinical presentation of optochiasmatic cavernomas consists of chiasmatic apoplexy, which is a neurosurgical emergency. Here, we report a case in which the finding was incidentally detected in a 49-year-old man. We describe the imaging characteristics of the lesion in such a rare location, highlighting the role of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) (specifically 3 Tesla) in the management of asymptomatic patients.

The Italian Brain Normative Archive of structural MR scans: norms for medial temporal atrophy and white matter lesions.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: To describe the clinical and neuropsychological features of a large group of cognitively intact persons subjected to brain high-resolution magnetic resonance (MR), to compare them with the general population, and to set norms for medial temporal atrophy and white matter lesions. METHODS: Participants in the Italian Brain Normative Archive (IBNA) study were 483 consecutive volunteers undergoing MR for reasons unrelated to cognition (migraine or headache, visual and balance or auditory disturbances, paresthesias, and others) and showing no brain damage. Manual tracing of hippocampal and amygdalar volumes and visual rating of white matter lesions were made. The whole study group was stratified by age (

Parenchymal abnormalities associated with developmental venous anomalies.

INTRODUCTION: To report a retrospective series of 84 cerebral developmental venous anomalies (DVAs), focusing on associated parenchymal abnormalities within the drainage territory of the DVA. METHODS: DVAs were identified during routine diagnostic radiological work-up based on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) (60 cases), computed tomography (CT) (62 cases) or both (36 cases). Regional parenchymal modifications within the drainage territory of the DVA, such as cortical or subcortical atrophy, white matter density or signal alterations, dystrophic calcifications, presence of haemorrhage or a cavernous-like vascular malformation (CVM), were noted. A stenosis of the collecting vein of the DVA was also sought for. RESULTS: Brain abnormalities within the drainage territory of a DVA were encountered in 65.4% of the cases. Locoregional brain atrophy occurred in 29.7% of the cases, followed by white matter lesions in 28.3% of MRI investigations and 19.3% of CT investigations, CVMs in 13.3% of MRI investigations and dystrophic calcification in 9.6% of CT investigations. An intracranial haemorrhage possibly related to a DVA occurred in 2.4% cases, and a stenosis on the collecting vein was documented in 13.1% of cases. Parenchymal abnormalities were identified for all DVA sizes. CONCLUSION: Brain parenchymal abnormalities were associated with DVAs in close to two thirds of the cases evaluated. These abnormalities are thought to occur secondarily, likely during post-natal life, as a result of chronic venous hypertension. Outflow obstruction, progressive thickening of the walls of the DVA and their morphological organization into a venous convergence zone are thought to contribute to the development of venous hypertension in DVA.

Brain volumes in healthy adults aged 40 years and over: a voxel-based morphometry study.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Gender and age effect on brain morphology have been extensively investigated. However, the great variety in methods applied to morphology partly explain the conflicting results of linear patterns of tissue changes and lateral asymmetry in men and women. The aim of the present study was to assess the effect of age, gender and laterality on the volumes of gray matter (GM) and white matter (WM) in a large group of healthy adults by means of voxel-based morphometry. This technique, based on observer-independent algorithms, automatically segments the 3 types of tissue and computes the amount of tissue in each single voxel. METHODS: Subjects were 229 healthy subjects of 40 years of age or older, who underwent magnetic resonance (MR) for reasons other than cognitive impairment. MR images were reoriented following the AC-PC line and, after removing the voxels below the cerebellum, were processed by Statistical Parametric Mapping (SPM99). GM and WM volumes were normalized for intracranial volume. RESULTS: Women had more fractional GM and WM volumes than men. Age was negatively correlated with both fractional GM and WM, and a gender x age interaction effect was found for WM, men having greater WM loss with advancing age. Pairwise differences between left and right GM were negative (greater GM in right hemisphere) in men, and positive (greater GM in left hemisphere) in women (-0.56+/-4.2 vs 0.99+/-4.8; p=0.019). CONCLUSIONS: These results support side-specific accelerated WM loss in men, and may help our better understanding of changes in regional brain structures associated with pathological aging.