ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To determine whether MRI is able to demonstrate the effect of radiation synovectomy after the intra-articular injection of holmium-166-chitosan complex for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis of the knee. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fourteen patients aged 36-59 years were treated with 10-20 mCi of holmium-166-chitosan complex. A criterion for inclusion in this study was the absence of observable improvement after 3- or more months of treatment of the knee with disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs. MR images were acquired both prior to and 4-months after treatment. Clinical evaluation included the use of visual analog scales to assess pain, and the circumference of the knee and its range of motion were also determined. MR evaluation included measurement of the volume of synovial enhancement and wall thickness, the amount of joint effusion, and quantifiable scoring of bone erosion, bone edema and lymph nodes. RESULTS: Visual analog scale readings decreased significantly after radiation synovectomy (p < 0.05). MRI showed that joint effusion decreased significantly (p < 0.05), and that the volume of synovial enhancement tended to decrease, but to an insignificant extent (p = 0.107). CONCLUSION: The decreased joint effusion noted at 4-month follow-up resulted from radiation synovectomy of the rheumatoid knee by means of intra-articular injection of holmium-166-chitosan complex.
ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to compare the diagnostic efficacy of mammography, Ultrasonography(US) and T-scan in pathologically confirmed breast diseases. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-eight patients withpathologically confirmed breast diseases who had undergone T-scan and mammography and/or US were retrospectivelyreviewed. Cases were categorized as normal, benign, or malignant, and on the basis of disease entity and masssize, the results were compared with pathologic diagnosis. For the of t scans, the conductance ratio was alsoused. RESULTS: Twenty cases were benign and 18 were malignant. The sensitivity, specificity and positivepredictive value of mammography were 100%, 70%, 74%;respectively. For US, the corresponding figures were 100%,82%, 88%, and for T-scan, 33%, 85%, 67%. Between masses with a diameter of less than 2cm and more than 2cm, thesensitivity, specificity, and positive predictive value of mammography and US demonstrated no significantdifference, except in some cases ; for T-scan however, the respective results were 10%, 80%, 33% when lesion sizewas less than 2cm, and 56%, 90%, 83% when lesions were larger than 2cm. The diagnostic efficacy of T-scan was thusgreater for larger lesions than for smaller ones. With regard to the conductance ratio of T-scan no pathologicallymalignant lesions showed high suspicion of malignancy but 33% showed moderate suspicion. CONCLUSION: Mammographyand US were useful in diagnosing breast malignancy. T-scan was less efficient for the diagnosis of breastmalignancies smaller than 2cm, and of infiltrating ductal carcinoma and ductal carcinoma in situ. They may thus beconsidered a complementary to mammography and ultrasound examination.
Subject(s)
Humans , Breast Diseases , Breast , Carcinoma, Ductal , Carcinoma, Intraductal, Noninfiltrating , Diagnosis , Mammography , Sensitivity and Specificity , UltrasonographyABSTRACT
PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to review the clinical and mammographic findings of pure mucinousbreast carcinoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In ten patients diagnosed as suffering from pure mucinous breastcarcinoma, we reviewed the clinical and mammographic findings. They were aged between 36 and 72(mean 46.3)years;nine were female and one was male. To describe breast mass, we used the terminology of the BreastImaging-Reporting and Data System developed by the American College of Radiology. RESULTS: All patients hadpalpable masses. The long-axis diameter of the tumors was between 1.0 and 7.0(mean, 2.81)cm, and in two patients,tumors were multiple. No cases involved metastatic axillary lymph nodes. During the follow-up period of 2 to78(mean, 36.3) months, no patient died. Mammographic findings included lobular circumscribed masses in fourpatients, round or oval circumscribed masses in three a lobular microlobulated mass in one, a round microlobulatedmass in one and a round spiculated mass in one. Microcalcifications were noted in two cases. Architecturaldistortion and nipple retraction were each found in one patient. CONCLUSION: On mammography, pure mucinous breastcarcinoma was most commonly seen as a lobular or round circumscribed mass; these masses were palpable and clinicalprognosis was relatively good.
Subject(s)
Female , Humans , Male , Breast , Follow-Up Studies , Information Systems , Lymph Nodes , Mammography , Mucins , NipplesABSTRACT
Infected nonunion of the long bone, while less common today than in the past, continues to challenge orthopaedic surgeons. Various treatment methods including current techniques of internal fixation, bone graft, electrical stimulation and external fixation have been tried, but results are not always satisfactory. Authors reported successful treatment of infected nonunion by rigid internal fixation with one plate and autogenous bone graft in previous volumes 1989. Recently we adopted dual plate method, by which we overcame a greater amount of bone defect and obtained more rigid internal fixation. We have treated 14 cases of infected nonunion with this method from Oct. 1992 to Oct. 1994, and the results are as follows; 1. Tibia fractures were 9 cases, and femur fractures were 5 cases. 2. Six cases showed large bone defect. The average bone defect was 4.5cm in length and we could overcome it by Dual plate method and autogenous bone graft. 3. Six cases which showed large bone defect were united in average 5 months. 4. In remaining 8 cases, union was obtained in average 3 months.