Role of Computed Tomography in Evaluation of Osteochondritis Dissecans of the Elbow Joint

PURPOSE: To evaluate the role of CT in early detection, location, and extent of osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) of the elbow joint. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed surgically proved 27 cases of 22 patients with osteochondritis dissecans in elbow joint retrospectively. We compared simple x-ray(elbow AP & lateral) with CT on the basis of staging of OCD of talus by simple x-ray. RESULTS: The frequency of location was as follows:fourteen cases of capitellum, 5 cases of olecranon tip, 5 cases of medial epicondyle, 2 cases of trochlea, and 1 case of olecranon base. Among the 4 cases of normal finding on simple x-ray, CT showed 1 case each of stage I, II, III, and IV OCD and among the 8 cases of stage I on simple x-ray, CT showed 2 cases of stage I, 1 case of stage II, and 5 cases of stage III. Among the 3 cases of stage II on simple x-ray, CT showed 1 case of stage II and 2 cases of stage III. Among the 5 cases of stage III on simple x-ray, CT showed 1 case of stage II, 2 cases of stage III, and 2 cases of stage IV, but it was difficult to detect the presence or absence of attachment between the articular cartilage of mother bone and osteochondral fragment. CT was more accurate than simple x-ray in detection of loose body. CONCLUSION: CT might be an useful imaging modality in early diagnosis of OCD and evaluation of its anatomic location and extent in elbow joint.

Recurrent Dislocation of the Shoulder: MR Imaging and MR Arthrographic Findings

PURPOSE: To evaluate and compare the diagnostic findings and usefulness of MRI and MR arthrogram in recurrent anterior dislocation of the shoulder. MATERIALS AND METHODS: MRI and MR arthrogram of thirty-two cases of thirty patients with recurrent anterior dislocation of the shoulder were retrospectively analyzed to evaluate glenohumeral ligaments, pattern of labral injury, bony Bankart lesion, capsular stripping, Hill-Sachs lesion, and loose body. RESULTS: Labral abnormalities was detected on MRI in 23 cases(72%) and MR arthrogram in 22 cases(69%) as labral tear, detachment, and deficiency. All cases involved anteroinferior labrum. On MR arthrogram, labral abnormalities was confined to anteroinferior portion in 4 cases(18%), extended into midglenoid level in 13 cases(59%), and that into anterosuperior portion in 5 cases(23%). Capsular stripping was noted on MRI in 6 cases(19%) and MR arthrogram in 12 cases(38%). Loose body was detected only on MR arthrogram in 5 cases (16%). Bony Bankart lesion and Hill-Sachs lesion was detected equally on MRI and MR arthrogram in 2 cases (6%) and 21 cases(66%) respectively. We obtained identical findings on both MR arthrogram and operation field in 6 patients. CONCLUSION: MRI with its excellent soft tissue contrast resolution and multiplanar imaging capafility helps detection of labral injury in recurrent anterior dislocation of the shoulder. MR arthrogram is slightly invasive, but shows good artatomic details of labral-ligamentous-capsular relationship and thus provides accurate detec- tion of pattern of labral injury, capsular stripping, and loose body.

MRI Findings of Cervical Lymphadenopathy: Preliminary Study

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to evaluate findings in MRI which maybe useful in differential diagnosis of cervical lymph node enlargement. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the MRI findings of cervical lymph node enlargement in surgically proven 13 patients. We analyzed the location, size and shape, signal intensity, margin between node and surrounding structures degree and patterns of contrast enhancement RESULTS: No disease specificity in location and size of lymphadenopathy. was demonstrated in MRI. Most lymph nodes shows isointensity or slightly increased signal intensity to adjacent muscle on T1WI and high signal intensity on T2WI. Most of the cases showed contrast enhancement with metastatic lymph nodes showing ring-like and/or patchy enhancement. Tuberculous lymphadenopathy showed homogeneous or rather thick walled ring-like enhancement and one or multiple central nonenhancing portions of eccentrical location in the node. Relatively homogeneous enhancements were noted on reactive lymphold hyperplasia, Lymphoma and Castleman's disease. CONCLUSION: MR imaging was helpful in differentiation of cervical lymph node enlargements. Tuberculous lymphadenopathy showed characteristic findings of rather spherical shaped, thick walled ring enhancement and multiple eccentrically located central nonenhancing portions.