Prediction of immediate and long-term benefit after kyphoplasty of painful osteoporotic vertebral fractures by preoperative MRI.

BACKGROUND: It is unclear if an MR-detectable bone marrow edema is a prerequisite for pain reduction and morphological correction by kyphoplasty. This comparative trial evaluates clinical and radiomorphological outcomes after kyphoplasty of painful osteoporotic vertebral fractures with and without preoperative MR-detectable bone marrow edema for 1 year of follow-up. METHODS: Preoperative MR-images of 45 patients who received kyphoplasty for treatment of painful osteoporotic vertebral fractures were evaluated with regard to presence (n = 27) or absence (n = 18) of vertebral bone marrow edema. Pain scores (VAS 0-100) and radiomorphological measures (midline vertebral height, kyphosis angle) were analysed at baseline, postoperatively and after 12 months. RESULTS: In the "bone edema" group, pain scores improved from 72.7 to 46.8 (postoperative) and 48.0 (12 months, P < 0.001, both). In the group without preoperative bone edema, pain score improved from 70.7 to 60.3 (postoperative, P = 0.013) and to 50.1 (12 months, P = 0.001). Pain scores of both groups were significantly different directly postoperative (P = 0.026), but not after 12 months (P = 0.714). Vertebral height restoration was slightly greater in the "bone edema" group (10.2% vs. 7.8%, P = 0.289). Correction of the kyphosis angle was greater in the "bone edema" group (P = 0.014) compared to the "no bone edema" group (P = 0.838). CONCLUSION: A preoperative MR-detectable vertebral bone marrow edema predicts a better short-term outcome after kyphoplasty, but is not a prerequisite for long-term pain reduction in patients with old, chronically painful osteoporotic vertebral fractures.

Vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty - inefficient treatments for degenerative spine disease.

Osteoporotic vertebral fractures and pathological vertebral lesions are frequent clinical situations causing severe back pain. The pharmacological treatment of the underlying disease and the analgetic treatment of the associated back pain usually do not rid the patient's back pain completely and are insufficient to prevent the fracture-weakened vertebral body from further fracturing with long term consequences for the biomechanical competence of the entire spine. In the last 10 years the minimal invasive treatment options vertebroplasty (VP) and balloon kyphoplasty (BK) have spread quickly because these procedures appeared to be promising treatments to stop the fracture and vertebral lesion associated back pain and to internally stabilize a fractured vertebral body. Numerous published reports on VP and BK appeared to support the notion of an immediate and lasting pain reduction after VP and BK in additon to a prevention of further fracturing of the treated vertebrae. The first three randomized controlled and partly blinded trials have been published this year. Two of these trials demonstrate that VP does not result in a better pain control than a sham operation whereas BK was shown to reduce back pain due to verterbal fractures for at least 12 months. Considering that more than 1.5 million people world-wide have been treated with VP and BK until now this work discusses the recent trials and suggests clinical and academic consequences on the basis of the most recent evidence.

[Invasive diagnostic procedures for insulinomas of the pancreas]. / Invasive Diagnostik bei Insulinomen des Pankreas.

Insulinomas are the most common cause for hypoglycemia with endogenous hyperinsulinism. Insulinomas are the most frequent endocrine tumor of the pancreas and 10% occur as multiple tumors (e.g. multiple endocrine neoplasia type I) or in rare cases as islet cell hyperplasia. A further 10-15% of insulinomas are malignant. Non-invasive imaging modalities, such as computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), ultrasonography (US) and somatoreceptor scintigraphy (SRN) show a lower sensitivity for detection and localization of tumors, because in many cases insulinomas are smaller than 2 cm in size. Invasive pre-operative diagnostic procedures, such as transhepatic peripancreatic venous blood sampling (TPVB) and the intra-arterial calcium stimulation test (ASVS) are much more time-intensive compared to CT, MRI and US with an examination time of 2-3 h but achieve a more exact pre-operative detection and localization with sensitivities mostly greater than 95% and are therefore the diagnostic methods of choice.

[Kyphoplasty : method for minimally invasive treatment of painful vertebral fractures]. / Kyphoplastie : Minimal-invasives Verfahren zur Versorgung schmerzhafter Wirbelkörperfrakturen.

Painful osteoporotic and malignant vertebral fractures are frequent causes of chronic back pain with negative consequences regarding immobility, quality of life, morbidity, mortality, and fracture incidence. The best currently available evidence-based treatment reduces vertebral fracture risk but does not totally prevent follow-up fractures. Kyphoplasty is a causal treatment of pain by internal stabilization that prevents the ongoing pain of constant vertebral (micro-)fracture. The indication for this minimally invasive procedure requires interdisciplinary discussion of the individual case to guarantee technical feasibility, increase the likelihood that kyphoplasty will indeed reduce pain, and embed this procedure in the individual patient's long-term therapeutic concept or treatment of painful vertebral metastases. In addition to internal stabilization of painful vertebral fractures, kyphoplasty seeks to restore lost vertebral height, which appears promising in acute and painful vertebral fractures. Available controlled prospective studies demonstrate long-term patient benefits in terms of pain reduction, mobility, and improved quality of life.

[Indications and results of kypho- and vertebroplasty]. / Indikationen und Ergebnisse der Kypho- und Vertebroplastie.

The best currently available evidence based treatment reduces vertebral fracture risk but does not totally prevent osteoporotic and malignant follow-up fractures. Kyphoplasty and vertebroplasty are options of a causal treatment to reduce pain by internal stabilization of fractured vertebrae. The indication for these minimal invasive procedures requires an interdisciplinary discussion of the individual case to guarantee technical feasibility, to increase the likelihood that these procedures will indeed reduce pain and to embed these procedures into the long term therapeutic concept of every single patient. In addition to internal stabilization of a painfully fractured vertebra kyphoplasty also seeks to restore lost vertebral height which appears promising in acute vertebral fractures. Due to the procedure there are more cement leakages after vertebroplasty. Available controlled prospective studies demonstrate only for kyphoplasty a long-term benefit for the patient in terms of pain reduction, increased mobility and improved quality of life.

[Bone metastasis of prostatic cancer imitating Paget's sarcoma]. / Ossäre Metastase eines Prostatakarzinoms simuliert ein Paget-Sarkom.

HISTORY AND CLINICAL FINDINGS: A 74-year-old man presented with bone pain of the right hip, night sweat and weight loss for 18 months. The diagnosis of Paget's disease was confirmed four months before admission, but pain and elevated serum alkaline phosphatase levels remained despite treatment with i.v. bisphosphonates. The physical examination showed no specific abnormalities. INVESTIGATIONS: Laboratory findings were elevated levels of serum alkaline phosphatase (AP), CA 19-9 and CEA. Radiological and tomographic images showed an aggressive periostal reaction consistent with Paget's sarcoma. The bone biopsy revealed the presence of prostatic cancer which was confirmed in a subsequent prostate biopsy. TREATMENT AND COURSE: Because of the multiple bone and lung metastases the disease proved to be incurable and the patient received palliative therapy with flutamide. He died 12 months later. CONCLUSION: In patients with Paget's disease lacking of response to bisphosphonate administration (permanently increased AP and sustained pain) radiological and clinical re-assessment of the diagnosis is indicated and may sometimes also include bone biopsy.

[Balloon kyphoplasty in the treatment of back pain]. / Die Ballonkyphoplastie in der Behandlung des Rückenschmerzes.

BACKGROUND: Experience of just under 5 years has shown that balloon kyphoplasty can be just as successfully employed as the longer-stablished vertebroplasty for the treatment of back pain due to recent or prior osteoporotic fractures as well as new traumatic fractures. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Among 345 patients with a total of 690 treated vertebral bodies, the change in pain symptomatology was analyzed for a follow-up period of 12 months in 40 study patients who underwent kyphoplasty and a control group of 20 patients. In addition, the pain experienced by a further 29 patients with new traumatic vertebral body fractures was monitored over a 12-month period. These fractures were partly managed by fixateur interne alone and by a combination of fixateur interne and kyphoplasty. RESULTS: The 40 patients treated by kyphoplasty had a baseline VAS score of 26.2+/-2.00, which increased to 44.4+/-3.11 after 12 months, while the respective scores for the control group were 33.6+/-4.21 and 34.3+/-4.35. In the 29 patients with new traumatic vertebral body fractures, the initial VAS score was 62 and after 12 months a distinct reduction of pain was noted with a score of 20 (100 = maximum pain, 0 = no pain). The number of times that the 40 patients managed by kyphoplasty had to consult their general practitioner was significantly reduced by the pain therapy. CONCLUSION: Balloon kyphoplasty verifiably improved the pain symptomatology after vertebral fracture over a period of 12 months. Comparison with the control group, which received the same osteoporosis drug therapy, confirmed the effect of this minimally invasive treatment form.

Osseous integration of calcium phosphate in osteoporotic vertebral fractures after kyphoplasty: initial results from a clinical and experimental pilot study.

INTRODUCTION: This study evaluated the radiological changes at the bone-cement interface of calcium phosphate cement (CPC) and polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) 12 months after kyphoplasty. In a pilot experiment, we additionally performed a histomorphometric analysis in osteopenic foxhounds to analyze the process of osseous integration of CPC and PMMA. METHODS: Twenty postmenopausal female patients with 46 vertebral compression fractures (VCF) were treated by kyphoplasty, utilizing CPC (N=28) or PMMA (N=18) for intravertebral stabilization. After a 12-month follow-up, we measured the density changes of border voxels at the bone-cement interface by computed tomography (CT) using dedicated software algorithms. We defined the border-voxel density (BVD) as a parameter of cement resorption at the interface. We also investigated the bone-implant interface in three osteopenic foxhounds by histomorphometry 3, 6, and 12 months after cement implantation. RESULTS: Twelve months after kyphoplasty, only CPC showed a significant decrease of the BVD compared to PMMA (p<0.01), indicating a slow progress of resorption at the interface. Histomorphometry of the dog vertebrae showed near total bone coverage of CPC implants, whereas the PMMA surface exhibited only 30% direct bone contact (p<0.01). We also observed a time-dependent increase in the number of discernable osteons close to the interface of CPC, but no bone tissue within PMMA (p<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The decrease of the BVD 12 months after kyphoplasty may indicate osseous integration of CPC by: (1) the ingrowth of bone tissue and (2) osteonal penetration close to the interface.

[The evaluation of balloonkyphoplasty for osteoporotic vertebral fractures. An interdisciplinary concept]. / Die Wertigkeit der Ballonkyphoplastie bei der osteoporotischen Wirbelkörperfraktur. Ein interdisziplinäres Konzept.

BACKGROUND DATA: Patients with osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures frequently complain of pain and a loss of function and mobility. Such fractures are associated with an increased mortality. The common treatment with bed rest, bracing or osteosynthesis does not lead to satisfying results. With two new surgical techniques, vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty, an internal stabilisation of osteoporotic vertebral fractures is possible. METHODS: All patients were treated by kyphoplasty. With a minimal invasive dorsal approach, an inflatable bone tamp is placed in the fractured vertebral body. This tamp can restore the vertebral body height and create a cavity, which is filled with bone cement under low pressure. The advantage of kyphoplasty compared to vertebroplasty is the restoration of the vertebral height and a decreased cement leakage rate. We performed a prospective, interdisciplinary study with a follow-up of 12 months. We treated 192 vertebral fractures in 102 patients. Augmentation was performed with polymethylmethacrylate in 138 cases and with a new injectable calcium phosphate-cement in 54 vertebral bodies. Outcome data were obtained with two different spine-scores and by the radiomorphometric evaluation of x-rays before and after treatment. RESULTS: We noticed a significant improvement in pain and function in 89% of the patients. All patients showed a regain of vertebral height of on average 17%. In 7% of all treated vertebral bodies, we noticed cement leakage, which was, however, far below the rates published for vertebroplasty (20-70%). There were two complications, bleeding due to an unknown coagulopathy and a violation of the myelon by malpunction. CONCLUSION: Kyphoplasty is a reliable and minimally invasive method for stabilizing fractured osteoporotic vertebral bodies. Improvement of pain and function and a regain in height of the treated vertebral body can be accomplished.

[Balloon kyphoplasty of vertebral compression fractures with a new calcium phosphate cement]. / Augmentation von Wirbelkörperfrakturen mit einem neuen Calciumphosphat-Zement nach Ballon-Kyphoplastie.

QUESTION: Can the same levels of pain reduction and increase in function be achieved in kyphoplasty procedures with Calcibon as with polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) cement? PATIENTS AND METHODS: In a prospective, interdisciplinary single-center study, 99 patients (173 vertebral fractures) were treated with kyphoplasty. Augmentation was performed with PMMA in 66 cases (127 vertebral bodies) and with Calcibon in 33 patients (46 vertebral bodies). Outcome data were obtained with a VAS spine score and by radiomorphometric evaluation of X-rays before and after treatment. RESULTS: Pain and function improved in 87% of the patients; an average of 16% of the lost vertebral height was regained. A 9% cement leakage rate was observed with PMMA and 10% with Calcibon. There was no significant difference in pain reduction and radiomorphometric evaluation between the two techniques. CONCLUSION: Kyphoplasty is a reliable, minimally invasive method to stabilize fractured vertebral bodies. Augmentation with Calcibon improves pain and function and enables the treated vertebral body to regain of height.

[Guidelines of the German Radiological Society for percutaneous vertebroplasty]. / Leitlinien der Deutschen Röntgengesellschaft zur Vertebroplastie.

In many countries, percutaneous vertebroplasty became a widely accepted therapeutic option in osteoporotic and neoplastic fractures of the vertebral bodies which is employed in more and more patients. Under image guidance the method can be safely performed and provides a high success rate regarding stabilization of vertebral fractures and pain relief. Due to the increasing interest in vertebroplasty in Germany the German Radiological Society-Working Group on Interventional Radiology decided to produce guidelines for percutaneous vertebroplasty. This guidelines are based on the recent standard of knowledge and represent a guide for practical performance of this procedure. Based on the technical development of the method, indications and implementation of the method in multimodal therapy regimens may change over the next years. Therefore, this guidelines are not a rigid body of rules but a basis for an ongoing development adjusted to the scientific progress and the interdisciplinary discussion.

[The value of CT for the diagnosis of acute diverticulitis]. / Der Stellenwert der CT in der Akutdiagnostik der Divertikulitis.

PURPOSE: In acute diverticulitis accurate diagnosis and staging are mandatory to decide on the treatment of the patient. The impact of computed tomography (CT) on the treatment of acute diverticulitis will be discussed. MATERIAL AND METHOD: CT is performed after distension of the distal colon by means of positive,water-soluble contrast media to depict intestinal perforation or penetration. Then intravenous contrast material is administered and spiral scanning is repeated to judge enhancement patterns of the abdominal structures/organs especially of the intestinal wall and to diagnose abscess formation. CT-morphologies of different stages of acute diverticulitis will be described. RESULTS: CT imaging is the only diagnostic method that in case of an acute diverticulitis combines safety with accuracy. On the one hand, it is fast and therefore safe with respect to patient control and on the other hand, it allows accurate staging of the inflammatory process reaching a sensitivity and specificity of up to 100%, each. CT is an appropriate tool to diagnose acute diverticulitis complicated by abscess formation, intestinal penetration or perforation and therefore has direct impact on the treatment of the patient. DISCUSSION: If acute diverticulitis is suspected CT is the method of choice for imaging because of its high impact on the choice of therapy and on the management of complications.

[CT staging of malignant lymphoma. How to avoid misinterpretations]. / Staging maligner Lymphome in der CT. Hinweise zur Vermeidung relevanter Fehlinterpretationen.

Therapeutic strategy and prognosis of malignant lymphoma are influenced by staging. Therefore, evaluation of pattern of lymphatic involvement is highly relevant. There are numerous pitfalls possible in detection and description when malignant lymphomas are visualized by computed tomography (CT). Normal anatomic structures may be interpreted as pathologic lymph nodes by inexperienced radiologists. Assessment and detection of lymphomas require precise knowledge of normal anatomic structures as well as roentgenological criteria and adequate methods of imaging. This report provides an overview of the relevant pitfalls and often overlooked areas in staging of malignant lymphomas.

[Value of CT-guided biopsy in malignant lymphoma]. / Wertigkeit der CT-gesteuerten Biopsie maligner Lymphome.

Management of diagnosing malignant lymphomas has changed with development of CT-guided techniques and reliable biopsy tools. Pathologists can use representative tissue samples for sub classification in more than 90%. Evaluation of residual lymphoma or relapse can be nearly as effective. Therefore percutaneous biopsy can be considered as primary diagnostic tool in the absence of peripheral lymphadenopathy. CT-guided biopsies can be performed on an outpatient basis under conscious sedation considering contraindications as well as regional complications. Acceptance of percutaneous biopsy by the pathologist and oncologist is based on diagnostic effectiveness that is significantly improved if more than 3 dagger solid tissue samples are taken. This article reviews the value of CT-guided biopsy in comparison to surgical procedures in patients with malignant lymphoma. Essential aspects that lead to a diagnostic percutaneous biopsy are discussed on grounds of the current literature.

[Radiologic after-care of transjugular intrahepatic stent shunt (TIPSS)]]. / Radiologische Nachsorge des transjugulären intrahepatischen Stentshunts (TIPSS).

The transjugular intrahepatic stent-shunt (TIPSS) is a well accepted minimal invasive therapy for complications of portal hypertension: recurrent variceal bleeding, refractory ascites and liver failure due to the Budd-Chiari syndrome. The high frequency of shunt stenoses and occlusions makes regular follow up examinations essential. Despite modern non invasive imaging methods direct portography still is the gold standard for shunt surveillance in TIPSS. Ultrasound is helpful to detect shunt dysfunction, but nevertheless its failure rate is considerable despite the use of contrast enhancers such as Levovist because of anatomic and physical limitations, particularly when TIPSS-tracts deep in the liver are present. Reintervention rates approach 90-100% after 24 months, with 100% in child's A patients with comparatively good liver function. However, a strict shunt surveillance program with early portography and reintervention when necessary guarantees high clinical success rates associated with very low rebleeding rates below 10%. Overall the secondary success rate is 80%. Secondary failures are mainly caused by lack of patient compliance during follow-up. In a subgroup of patients no shunt maturation is observed, requiring multiple shunt revisions. In cases of recurrent shunt occlusions an association with bile leaks is presumed. In selected cases patients with chronically recurrent shunt stenosis or occlusions may benefit from placement of TIPSS stent grafts.

[Rational radiologic after-care of endoluminal aortic bypass]. / Rationale radiologische Nachsorge des endoluminalen aortalen Bypasses.

GOAL: To identify essential and relevant diagnostic algorithms in the follow-up of stent-grafts placed for aortic dissections and aneurysms based on our 7 years experience including the use of more than 10 different devices. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Evaluation of conventional biplane imaging, angiography, sonography, CT and MR in the efficacy of demonstrating endoleaks, sac shrinkage, changes of stent-graft integrity and, with special reference to MR-compatibility of various stent-graft devices. RESULTS: Endoleaks are found in 20-30% of patients after endovascular exclusion of abdominal aortic aneurysms. However, this rate neither necessarily reflects the clinical course nor the onset and course of sac shrinkage. Physical long-term integrity of the devices is seen best on conventional bi-plane radiographs. Sonography is helpful only in selected patients (non-obese, good compliance) otherwise not providing information precisely enough for sac control. As gold standard both CT (CTA) and MR (MRA) are equally effective in the follow-up of endovascular stent-grafts, allowing 3D control of sac geometry in aneurysmal disease or hemodynamic changes in stent-grafts for aortic dissection. MRI is considered to be more effective in the detection of small endoleaks. Angiography is inferior to CT and MRI in the diagnosis of endoleaks and thus is required only for intervention planning in patients with suspected endoleaks. Two of 8 evaluated stent-graft devices proved to be prohibitive for MRI because of their severe artifacts productions (Life-path, Zenith) as a result of their thick metallic meshwork. CONCLUSION: CT including CTA with 2D and 3D reformatting is the method of choice for the follow up of stent-graft treatment of aortic disease. Depending on availability, MRI may be used alternatively. In young patients and for those with contraindications to iodinated contrast media MRI is a perfectly equivalent alternative. Especially in patients with known contraindications to iodinated contrast media the MR-compatibility should be taken into consideration in the choice of the endovascular device.

[Angiography and interventional radiology of the kidney]. / Angiographie und interventionelle Radiologie der Nieren.

For imaging of renal pathology a broad spectrum of radiologic diagnostic procedures are available which are, sometimes and particularly more recently, competing among each other in their diagnostic yield and relevance. For tumorous lesions ultrasound, computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging are performed predominantly. Angiography is no longer required with the exception of highly selected cases and in some specific preoperative workup requirements. Until recently, catheter based digital subtraction angiography has been considered as gold standard. However, non-invasive techniques such as CT-angiography and MR-angiography are evolving parallel to their quantum leap of resolutions and readiness to use. Nevertheless, well accepted criteria for quality assessement of these new modalities are still lacking. More comparison studies are urgently warranted. Despite the availability of ultrashort pulse sequences applying the T1 relaxation reduction effect of gadolinium enhanced MR techniques overestimation of renal artery stenosis still poses a substantial problem. Renal intervention implies a variety of procedures such as plain angioplasty, stent placement, embolization of traumatic and both benign and malignant tumors. These methods have emerged over the last two decades from a more experimental nature to a fully accepted treatment option. When renal artery angioplasty is embedded in an aggressive approach including stenting as an adjunct for more complex cases, renal ostial lesions and a well organized follow-up regimen its therapeutic potential for treatment of renal insufficiency, malignant hypertension, for organ preservation bears a very high potential. Provided adequat periinterventional drug regimen restenosis rates may be as low as 10%. In highly selected cases capillary embolization might be used as an alternative to nephrectomy with a similar clinical outcome. Particularly the development of superselective small caliber embolization catheters parallel to further refinement of embolization material has aided to use superselective occlusion techniques in benign vascular lesions and renal trauma.

[CT-angiography as a non-invasive method for the evaluation of the patency of TIPSS (transjugular intrahepatic portasystemic shunt)]. / CT-Angiographie zur nicht-invasiven Kontrolle der Offenheit des TIPSS.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the feasibility of determining patency of the transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPSS) by non-invasive CT angiography (CTA). MATERIALS AND METHODS: (1) Non-enhanced scanning of the shunt. (2) Bolus tracking by injecting 20 ml of non-ionic contrast material through a cubital vein access to determine the time to maximal shunt enhancement. (3) Contrast-enhanced spiral CT study applying a delay according to the time to peak of the shunt, 3 mm collimation, 5 mm table feed and 3 mm reconstruction interval. (4) 3D and multiplanar reconstructions. (5) Evaluation of the questions: intrahepatic shunt patent or not; evidence of intimal hyperplasia; evidence of stenosis and potential location. (6) Transjugular portography via the stent. (7) Comparison of angiographic findings and CT morphology. RESULTS: Eight patients had inconspicuous CTA. Four of them had a normal shunt at angiography, four had slight intimal hyperplasia. No intervention was necessary in these patients. CTA of three patients showed intimal hyperplasia (lumen reduction between 10% and 50%). The diagnosis was angiographically confirmed in all cases. Due to a high portosystemic gradient intervention was required in all. In five patients CTA and angiography showed a stenosis (reduction of shunt lumen > 50%). All required a revision including stent placement or PTA of the shunt tract. Four shunts were occluded; all occlusions were shown both in CTA and angiography. CONCLUSIONS: None of the shunts with normal findings at CTA required revision. All shunts conspicuous on CTA resulted in revision. In this study, CTA turned out to be an accurate, non-invasive method to evaluate the patency of TIPSS.

[Spontaneous splenic and renal rupture in polyarteritis nodosa]. / Spontane Milz- und Nierenruptur bei Panarteriitis Nodosa.

Classic polyarteritis nodosa (PAN) is a rare necrotising vasculitis and can result in intrarenal or perirenal bleeding because of aneurysm formation. This report describes the case of a patient with severe manifestation of PAN who developed a subcapsular hematoma from a spontaneously ruptured aneurysm in the spleen and a retroperitoneal hematoma from a renal cortex aneurysm. For the first time angiographic controls have been documented over years in this disease. The value of angiographic procedures for diagnosis and for evaluation of the disease course of PAN is discussed.