Applications of ultrasound elastography to hand and upper limb disorders.

Ultrasound elastography is a recently developed method for accurate measurement of soft tissue stiffness in addition to the clinician's subjective evaluation. The present review briefly describes the ultrasound elastography techniques and outlines clinical applications for tendon, muscle, nerve, skin and other soft tissues of the hand and upper limb. Strain elastography provides a qualitative evaluation of the stiffness, and shear-wave elastography generates quantitative elastograms superimposed on a B-mode image. The stiffness in degenerative tendinopathy and/or tendon injury was significantly lower than in a normal tendon in several studies. Elastography is also a reliable method to evaluate functional muscle activity, compared to conventional surface electromyography. The median nerve is consistently stiffer in patients with carpal tunnel syndrome than in healthy subjects, on whatever ultrasound elastography technique. Elastography distinguishes normal skin from scars and can be used to evaluate scar severity and treatment. Elastography has huge clinical applications in musculoskeletal tissues. Continued development of systems and increased training of clinicians will expand our knowledge of elastography and its clinical applications in the future.

[Giant cell tumor of bone]. / Tumeur à cellules géantes de l'os.

Giant cell tumor is a benign epiphyseo-metaphyseal bone tumor affecting the young patient. It is characterized by an extensive osteolysis, a high potential for recurrence, a risk of malignant transformation and pulmonary metastases. Curettage and cavity filling is the most common treatment, even in the case of a pathological fracture. A wide resection with prosthetic reconstruction must sometimes be considered. Better knowledge of the role of RANK-L in the pathophysiology of these tumors has led to clinical trials involving denosumab. Treatment with denosumab is suggested for inoperable lesions, or for aggressive lesions, in particular of the spine, pelvis, and sacrum before en bloc resection.

La tumeur à cellules géantes est une tumeur osseuse bénigne épiphysométaphysaire touchant le sujet jeune. Elle est caractérisée par une ostéolyse parfois extensive, un potentiel de récidive élevé, un risque de transformation maligne et de métastases pulmonaires. Le curetage-comblement est le traitement de choix, y compris en cas de fracture pathologique. Une résection plus large avec reconstruction prothétique doit parfois être envisagée. La meilleure connaissance du rôle de RANK-L dans la physiopathologie de ces tumeurs a conduit à des essais cliniques impliquant le dénosumab. Un traitement par celui-ci est proposé pour les lésions inopérables ou agressives, notamment du rachis, du pelvis et du sacrum, avant une résection en bloc.