What has changed in the last 25 years in osteosarcoma treatment? A single center experience.

BACKGROUND: Osteosarcoma is the most common type of primary malignant bone tumor in the extremities. The main purpose of this study was to determine clinical features, prognostic factors, and treatment results of patients with osteosarcoma at our center. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the medical records of children with osteosarcoma between the years 1994-2020. RESULTS: 79 patients were identified (54.4% male, 45.6% female). The most common primary site was the femur (62%). Twenty-six of them (32.9%) had lung metastasis at diagnosis. The patients were treated between 1995- 2013 according to the Mayo Pilot II Study protocol, while the others were treated with the EURAMOS protocol between the years 2013-2020. Sixty-nine patients underwent limb salvage surgery as a local treatment, whereas seven underwent amputation. The median follow-up time was 53 months (2.5-265 months). The event-free survival (EFS) and overall survival (OS) rates at 5 years were 52.1% and 61.5%. The 5-year EFS and OS rates were 69.4% and 80% in females; 37.1% and 45.5% in males (p=0.008/p=0.001). The 5-year EFS and OS rates of the patients without metastasis were 63.2% and 66.3%; with metastasis 28.8% and 51.8% (p=0.002/p=0.05). For good-responders, the 5-year EFS and OS rates were 80.2% and 89.1%; while for poor-responders, 35% and 46.7% (p=0.001). Mifamurtide was used in addition to chemotherapy as of the year 2016 (n=16). The 5-year EFS and OS rates were 78.8% and 91.7%, respectively for the mifamurtide group; 55.1% and 45.9%, respectively for the non-mifamurtide group (p=0.015, p=0.027). CONCLUSIONS: Metastasis at diagnosis and poor response to preoperative chemotherapy were the most important predictors of survival. Females had a better outcome than males. In our study group, the mifamurtide group`s survival rates were significantly higher. Further large studies are needed to validate the efficacy of mifamurtide.

Diffuse midline glioma in Ollier disease: A case report and a brief review of the literature.

Ollier disease is a rare condition presenting with enchondromas in an irregular distribution within the medullary cavity of bones. The disease is well known for sarcomatous transformation to chondrosarcomas. It also increases the risk of other malignancies like leukemia, ovarian tumors, and glial tumors. Central nervous system malignancies associated with Ollier disease are thought to arise by somatic IDH mosaicism with their atypical features of distribution, multifocality, and age of onset. We present a case with imaging consistent with diffuse midline glioma in a patient with Ollier disease. We conclude with a brief review of the literature on Ollier Disease with a focus on central nervous system malignancies, tumorigenesis and pathophysiology.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging Signal Changes Mimicking Bone Metastasis in Patients Receiving Bisphosphonate Therapy

Bisphosphonates are inorganic pyrophosphate agents that reduce bone turnover. These agents reduce bone pain and delay skeletal complications, such as fractures in patients with metastatic lytic lesions, malignant-related hypercalcemia, multiple myeloma, Paget's disease of bone, and osteoporosis. Osteonecrosis, developing in the jaw bones specifically, has been described as a complication associated with the use of bisphosphonates. In this report, we presented osteonecrosis-like magnetic resonance imaging findings that can be confused with bone metastasis in two patients who underwent long-term bisphosphonate treatment and the value of bone scan and 18flor-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computerized tomography in the differential diagnosis.

Stress radiography findings in medial meniscus posterior root tears.

BACKGROUND: The present study aimed to evaluate stress radiography and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings in medial meniscus posterior root tears (MMPRTs). METHODS: The study included 27 patients (26 females, mean age, 53.52 years) who underwent high tibial osteotomy and in whom medial menisci were concurrently examined arthroscopically. Preoperative stress radiographs and MRI series in 14 cases with root tears (MMPRT group, detected arthroscopically) and in 13 cases without tears (control group) were evaluated. Joint spaces measured on the stress radiographs were compared between the operated and opposite knees in each group. RESULTS: On the varus stress radiographs, the mean lateral joint space of the operated knees was significantly wider than that of the opposite knees in the MMPRT group (P = 0.007). Upon MRI studies, meniscal extrusion was significantly more common in the MMPRT group than in the control group. Moreover, the amount of meniscal extrusion was correlated with the tear size. CONCLUSIONS: Widening of the lateral joint space on the varus stress radiography was higher in the cases with root tears. Therefore, we propose that stress radiographs can be helpful in the diagnosis of MMPRT.

Clinical experiences in Turkish paediatric patients with chronic recurrent multifocal osteomyelitis.

Sözeri B, Aktay Ayaz N, Yildiz Atikan B, Karadag SG, Çakan M, Argin M, Sezak M. Clinical experiences in Turkish paediatric patients with chronic recurrent multifocal osteomyelitis. Turk J Pediatr 2019; 61: 879-884. Chronic recurrent multifocal osteomyelitis (CRMO) is a clinical entity which occurs mainly in children and adolescents with recurrent episodes of pain occurring over several years. Cause and physiopathology of disease is still uncertain. We aim to assess clinical characteristics and treatment options, need and response to anti-inflammatory therapies in children diagnosed chronic recurrent multifocal osteomyelitis Demographic data and clinical features of seventeen children diagnosed with CRMO in 2 pediatric rheumatology centers in Turkey were reviewed retrospectively. The diagnosis was based on clinical findings, radiological images and histopathological and microbiological studies. A total of 17 patients were included in the study. The median age of diagnosis was 9.6±4.2 years. The mean follow-up time was 31.6 months (range 6-35 months). Most patients (n: 10) had a recurrent multifocal disease course ( > 6 months), 6 patients had a persistent course and a patient had only one episode of CRMO. MEFV gene mutations were detected in 4 patients whose clinical features reduced with colchicine therapy. All patients had received nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs but only one had complete response. Thirteen children with NSAID failure subsequently received corticosteroids, sulfasalazine, methotrexate, Anti TNF α drugs, or a combination of these drugs. This study is the largest cohort of pediatric CRMO patients in our country. Clinical evolution and imaging investigations should be closely done to avoid delays in diagnosis. Ethnic differences create changes in the presentation of the disease and response to treatment.

Effect of Facial Parameters in Primary Acquired Nasolacrimal Duct Obstruction.

PURPOSE: In this study, the authors aimed to identify facial and nasal parameters, which may create an anatomic disposition toward obstruction in patients with primary acquired nasolacrimal duct obstruction. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty-eight patients (14 males and 34 females) who presented to the ophthalmology outpatient clinic and were diagnosed with primary acquired nasolacrimal duct obstruction between January 2014 and January 2015 were included in the study. The control group comprised 59 patients (38 females and 21 males) without nasolacrimal duct obstruction. Measurements of nasal height, length, and depth, presence of a nasal hump, alar width and alar angle, distance between the maxillary bone nasal notches, and right and left distances between outer canthi and corners of the mouth were made using photographs of the patients. The presence of facial asymmetry was also assessed. RESULTS: Facial asymmetry (P = 0.014) and nasal hump (P = 0.048) were more common in the patient group. The patient group had smaller nasal radix depth (P < 0.001), nasal length (P = 0.001), and alar width (P < 0.001), larger distance between maxillary bone nasal notches (P < 0.001), and smaller alar angle (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: In the current study, the authors found that primary acquired nasolacrimal duct obstruction occurred more frequently on the side of the face with shorter facial measurements. Smaller nasal radix depth, nasal length, and alar base width, presence of a nasal hump and longer distance between maxillary bone nasal notches may form an anatomic basis for nasolacrimal duct obstruction. Based on our results, the authors believe that primary acquired nasolacrimal duct obstruction is associated with facial structure.

False-Positive 131I Uptake in a Benign Bone Lesion on Post-therapy Scan.

A 56-year-old woman underwent near-total thyroidectomy and papillary thyroid carcinoma without extrathyroidal extension was diagnosed. The serum thyroglobulin (Tg) level was 2.4 µg/L, and anti-Tg was negative when serum thyroid-stimulating hormone level was 85 µIU/mL. She received 100 mCi (3.7 GBq) of 131I. Besides the residual thyroid tissue, a focal uptake in the left clavicular bone was seen on posttherapy 131I images. Then, CT and MRI were performed to diagnosis. All imaging findings suggested that it was a benign bone cyst. At 6-month follow-up, the serum Tg level was undetectable with the thyroid-stimulating hormone level of more than 150 µIU/mL.

Black joint and synovia: Histopathological evaluation of degenerative joint disease due to Ochronosis.

INTRODUCTION: Ochronotic arthropathy is a rapidly progressive and disabling arthropathy predominantly encountered after the fifth decade of life, caused by homogentisate1,2 dioxygenase enzyme deficiency. As it is rare disease, the literature on histological findings is fragmented. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively re-evaluated histopathological findings in resection and/or curettage materials (5 hip joint, 4 knee joint, one hip joint synovium, one intervertebral disk and one paravertebral disk tissue) of seven ochronosis cases diagnosed between 1995 and 2013 in a single center. RESULTS: Necrotic brown chondroid detritus was present in all cases either in synovia or in subchondral area, some of which evoked giant cell reaction. Notably, brown pigmentation was prominent in upper middle parts of the articular cartilage but not that prominent in superficial parts and in osteochondral junction, almost stopping at the tide mark. Pigmentation was observed both in extracellular matrix and in cytoplasm either in granular or homogeneous fashion. Depositions were less prominent in osteophytic processes, regenerated cartilaginous areas and loose bodies. Almost all cases showed synovial detritic and inflammatory reaction, fibrillation, eburnation, and subchondral sclerosis. Disk degeneration and findings of ligament rupture were also observed. CONCLUSIONS: Histopathological diagnosis of ochronosis is not complicated given the unique "black coloring" of the affected tissues and it can easily be differentiated from other causes of detritic synovitis both clinically and histopathologically. However, there is no definitive cure for today and the reasons for late onset of arthropathy in disease course, and the mechanisms of tissue reaction to fragmented detritus remain elusive.

Cystic bone lesions: histopathological spectrum and diagnostic challenges.

OBJECTIVE: Bone cysts are benign lesions occurring in any bone, regardless of age. They are often asymptomatic but may cause pain, swelling, fractures, and local recurrence and may be confused with other bone lesions. MATERIAL AND METHOD: We retrospectively re-evaluated 143 patients diagnosed with aneurysmal bone cyst (n=98, 68.5%), solitary bone cysts (n=17 11.9%), pseudocyst (n=10.7%), intraosseous ganglion (n=3, 2.1%), hydatid cyst (n=2; 1.4), epidermoid cyst (n=1, 0.7%) and cysts demonstrating "mixed" aneurysmal-solitary bone cyst histology (n=12, 8.4%), and compared them with nonparametric tests. RESULTS: Aneurysmal bone cyst, solitary bone cysts and mixed cysts were frequently seen in the first two decades of life while the others occurred after the fourth decade. Aneurysmal bone cysts, intraosseous ganglion and pseudocysts were more common in women contrary to solitary bone cyst and mixed cysts (the female/male ratio was 1.22, 2 and 1.5 versus 0.7 and 0.5, respectively). Aneurysmal bone cyst, solitary bone cysts and "mixed" cysts were mostly seen in long bones, predominantly the femur, while epidermoid, hydatid and pseudocysts were all seen in flat bones like the vertebra, pelvis and mandible (p=0.001, chi-square). Repeat biopsies were performed in 19 cases (13.3%), 84.2% of which were aneurysmal bone cyst (5 conventional, 9 solid, 1 secondary and 1 subperiosteal) and three (15.8%) were mixed cysts (p=0.02, chi-square). Notably, some of them were located in inaccessible areas of pelvis (n=3), femur (n=3) and maxilla (n=2). CONCLUSION: The most common and challenging intraosseous cysts are aneurysmal bone cysts, particularly the "solid" variant. The "mixed" aneurysmal-solitary bone cyst "subgroup" requires further research with larger series to be defined more thoroughly.

The value of magnetic resonance arthrography in the evaluation of repaired menisci.

AIM: To evaluate the diagnostic value of direct magnetic resonance (MR) arthrography in detection of re-torn or unhealed menisci which were previously repaired. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-six menisci of 24 symptomatic patients who had undergone a meniscus repair surgery were included in this retrospective study. These patients had been evaluated with gadolinium-enhanced direct MR arthrography. A subsequent second-look arthroscopy was performed thereafter. The findings of MR arthrography were compared with the arthroscopic findings. RESULTS: Sixteen recurrent meniscal lesions were detected with MR arthrography; the remaining ten repaired menisci were evaluated as healed. At second-look arthroscopy, six out of 26 repaired menisci were evaluated as completely healed. Eight of them had incomplete healing, and 12 of them were unhealed. MR arthrography had four false-negative results, but there were none false-positive results. It was arthroscopically shown that three of these four false-negative results were belonged to patients who had incomplete healing. MR arthrography had a sensitivity, specificity, and overall accuracy of 80, 100, and 84.6 %, respectively. When incomplete lesions were left out of analysis, its sensitivity and accuracy reached to 94.8 and 94.4 %. CONCLUSION: The findings of this study showed that MR arthrography was a reliable diagnostic tool in evaluating previously repaired menisci. Yet diagnosis of incomplete meniscal lesions seemed to be challenging.

A bizarre parosteal osteochondromatous proliferation (Nora's lesion) of metatarsus, a histopathological and etiological puzzlement.

Nora's lesion (bizarre parosteal osteochondromatous proliferation) is a rare, benign lesion that is composed of differing amounts of cartilage, bone, and spindle cells and an unusual form of calcified cartilage so-called "blue bone". Whether it represents a reactive proliferation or a neoplastic lesion still remains controversial. We present a 24-year-old woman having a 4.5cm two lobulated mass attached to second metatarsus of her left foot. The lesion was hyperintense on magnetic resonance imaging and accompanied by an extensive soft tissue and bone marrow edema. In resection specimen, smaller lobule appeared stuck-on the cortex while the larger one had a broader base and a 0.4cm cartilaginous cap-like formation. The histological picture was best fit to Nora's lesion however showed less fibroblastic tissue and cartilaginous pleomorphism. The lesion also showed areas with cortical invasion and a small focus of fracture callus accompanied by adjacent medullary edema and fat necrosis. The case is presented with the comparative radiologic, macroscopic and microscopic findings for its diagnostic difficulties and etiopathogenetic considerations in favour of a maturation phenomenon in parosteal ostecartilaginous lesions irrespective of the cause.

Clinical and morphological characteristics of osteoid osteoma and osteoblastoma: a retrospective single-center analysis of 204 patients.

Osteoid osteoma and osteoblastoma are histologically similar, benign bone-forming tumors. In this retrospective study, we aimed to evaluate the natural history; clinical, pathologic, and radiologic findings; and treatment results in 204 patients between 1959 and 2006 in a single institution. According to the World Health Organization's definition, tumors ≤1 cm in diameter were classified as osteoid osteoma, and those ≥2 cm, as osteoblastoma. For tumors between 1 cm and 2 cm, other criteria, such as the bone involved, the site, the presence of a nidus, and presence of peripheral sclerosis, were used for diagnosis. There were 131 patients with osteoid osteoma (93 male, 38 female) and 73 patients with osteoblastoma (40 male, 33 female). The mean age in the osteoid osteoma and osteoblastoma groups was 16.4 ± 7 and 19.6 ± 9.9 years, respectively. The osteoid osteoma cases were mostly localized in the extremities, whereas the osteoblastoma cases involved the vertebral column and sacrum. The nidus size varied between 0.2 and 1.5 cm in osteoid osteoma cases, and the tumor size range was 1.3-10 cm in the osteoblastoma cases. The pain was encountered in 89% of osteoid osteoma and 45% of osteoblastoma patients. Histopathology was similar in both cases. The treatment of choice was conservative surgery for both diagnoses. In conclusion, osteoblastoma is clinically and radiologically more aggressive than osteoid osteoma.

Pitfalls in MR imaging of musculoskeletal tumors.

A wide range of musculoskeletal tumors and tumor-like conditions may be encountered when patients undergo radiologic examinations. Although MR imaging is a powerful medical imaging method that has been used extensively in the evaluation of musculoskeletal tumors, nontumoral or tumorlike lesions may have similar imaging findings. The imaging features of certain normal, reactive, benign neoplastic, inflammatory, traumatic, or degenerative processes in the musculoskeletal system may mimic malignant tumors. Misinterpretation of the imaging findings can lead to inappropriate clinical management of the patient. We review and describe the MR imaging characteristics of nontumoral bone lesions that are located in the marrow cavity, cortical bone, or in both, and soft tissue lesions that may be misinterpreted as sarcoma.

Coexistence of systemic lupus erythematosus and ankylosing spondylitis: another case report and review of the literature.

The coexistence of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is very rare, and, to the best of our knowledge, there are only 8 reported cases in the English literature. Here, we present another case with the coexistence of these two diseases, and review the clinical and laboratory features of the previously reported cases. A 55 year-old female patient, with a diagnosis of SLE with locomotor, skin, renal and hematopoietic system involvement, which had been confirmed by relevant autoantibody positivity, and hypocomplementemia and biopsy-proven membranous lupus nephritis, was referred to our clinic suffered from typical inflammatory low-back pain after eight years of follow-up. Sacroiliac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) confirmed the presence of bilateral active sacroiliitis with bone marrow oedema. HLA-B27 was positive and bilateral calcaneal spurs were also detected by conventional radiography. Therefore, the additional diagnosis of AS was made, eight years after the diagnosis of SLE. Inflammatory low-back pain typically responded to treatment with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Including the present case, most of the reported cases of the coexistence of SLE and AS are female, and SLE generally precedes the occurrence of AS. The present case is also notable as the patient had both MRI confirmation of bilateral active sacroiliitis and HLA-B27 positivity. The coexistence of these two diseases with different genetic backgrounds in the same patient is much lower than expected based upon their prevalence in the general population. Although it has been suggested that the very rare combination of the susceptibility genes of each disease may explain the rarity of coexistence, epidemiological data concerning the genetic risks for the coexistence of SLE and AS are not available.

Is every joint symptom related to acromegaly?

Acromegaly is a chronic endocrinopathy characterized by the hypersecretion of growth hormone and insulin-like growth factor-1. Musculoskeletal pain is a frequent problem encountered in acromegaly and is associated with a reduction in the quality of life. In this study, the presence of inflammatory and degenerative rheumatologic diseases in acromegaly has been retrospectively evaluated. Forty patients with acromegaly who were in remission according to laboratory findings, but still having joint and back pain problems, were referred to rheumatology outpatient clinic and all the patients were examined by clinical, radiological, and laboratory data. Mean age was 47.1 years (22-75). When the radiological data were evaluated, erosions of the left sacroiliac joint were found by means of magnetic resonance imaging in 1 patient and degenerative joint changes were observed in 24 patients by X-ray imaging. However, there was no pathology in the radiological data of 15 patients. Laboratory data revealed antinuclear antibody positivity (3 nucleolar and 1 homogeneous) in 4 patients, rheumatoid factor positivity in 4, and cyclic citrullinated peptide positivity only in 1 patient. The diagnosis of an inflammatory rheumatologic disease, including rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, or undifferentiated connective tissue disease was made in 3 patients. Besides, the diagnosis of diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis was also established in 6 patients. While degenerative joint diseases were frequently observed in our group similar to the literature, inflammatory rheumatologic diseases were also found in three patients. Distinguishing these two diseases is important because response to medical treatment is dramatically better in inflammatory diseases than in degenerative pathologies. A multidisciplinary approach is imperative for appropriate management of these patients.

Effects of nutritional supplementation combined with conventional pulmonary rehabilitation in muscle-wasted chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a prospective, randomized and controlled study.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Nutritional depletion in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) adversely affects health status and mortality. We aimed to evaluate the effects of nutritional supplementation (NS) with pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) on body composition, mid-thigh cross-sectional area (CSA), dyspnoea, exercise capacity, health-related quality of life, anxiety and depression in advanced COPD patients. METHODS: Forty-six patients were randomized to PR and nutritional support (PRNS), PR or the control group. Dyspnoea was measured with Medical Research Council and BORG scales. Exercise capacity was measured through 6-min walk test and shuttle tests; health-related quality of life was assessed with St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire. Psychological status was measured with Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. Body weight and body mass indexes (BMI) were also evaluated. Fat-free mass was measured through bioelectrical impedance analyser. The CSA of quadriceps was calculated in mid-level of the thigh with magnetic resonance imaging. RESULTS: Dyspnoea and total scores of St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire improved in both groups (P < 0.05). Six-minute walk test and incremental shuttle walk test distances in PRNS and PR patients increased significantly as (62.6 ± 42.4 m, 43.3 ± 59.2 m, both P = 0.001; and 63.3 ± 70.1 m and 69.3 ± 69.7 m, both P = 0.001). Although anxiety improved in both groups (P < 0.05), there was no change in depression. Body weight, BMI and fat-free mass index (FFMI) (1.1 ± 0.9 kg, 0.2 ± 1.4 kg/m(2) and 0.6 ± 0.5 kg/m(2), P < 0.05) in PRNS, whereas body weight and FFMI (0.6 ± 0.7 kg, 0.1 ± 0.6 kg/m(2) P < 0.05) increased in PR after the intervention. There was a significant increase in mid-thigh CSA (2.5 ± 4.1 cm(2)) only in PRNS (P = 0.04). CONCLUSION: The combination of NS with PR resulted in improvements particularly in lean body mass and mid-thigh CSA. This study suggests combining NS with PR in reversing weight loss and muscle wasting in COPD.

Feasibility and clinical utility of intraoperative consultation with frozen section in osseous lesions.

Intraoperative consultation (IOC) with frozen section (FS) allows the surgeon to make therapy decisions during the operation. However, there is relatively little information on the use of IOC in skeletal lesions. We performed a retrospective study to examine the indications for IOC and compare the histological findings of FS and permanent paraffin section (PS) results to determine its clinical benefits. Ninety-seven consecutive cases evaluated between 2008 and 2011 were retrieved from IOC archives of our Pathology Department. In 79 % of the cases, there was no prior core needle biopsy (CNB), and IOC was performed to confirm the clinical or radiological diagnosis. In 5 (5 %) cases, no definitive result could be obtained with FS, and diagnosis was deferred. The reasons for a deferred diagnosis (DD) included poor section quality in two lipomatous lesions and the sample heterogeneity in the others. When adjusted for DD, FS and PS results showed 100 % concordance in terms of discriminating "benign vs. malignant" and defining diagnostic categories as "benign non-tumoral," "benign tumoral/tumor-like," "malignant primary tumor," "malignant metastatic tumor," or "hematopoietic malignancy." The presence of non-sclerotic osseous tissues does not have a significant adverse impact on the FS section quality and diagnosis made by FS. Thus, sections with diagnostic value can be obtained from bone lesions via FS. In this study, specific diagnoses were made in 88 % of the cases. We believe that IOC with FS can be safely performed in tertiary referral centers where there is a multidisciplinary team working in collaboration.

Primary osteosarcoma arising from subcutaneous tissue: 5-year follow-up.

Extraskeletal osteosarcomas are extremely rare, high-grade neoplasms. Approximately 300 cases have been reported in the literature, with a 5-year survival of around 25%-37%. Extraskeletal osteosarcomas frequently arise from lower-extremity, deep soft tissue planes, including hemorrhagic, necrotic areas. While primary osteosarcomas have been observed in the first two decades of life, osteosarcomas arising from the skeletal system are rarely observed before 40 years of age. We present radiological findings of an osteosarcoma case arising from cruris subcutaneous tissue in a young adult (31 years old) at diagnosis and at the follow-up period during a 5-year monitoring process. Additionally, we reviewed the literature regarding this case.

Efficacy of SLZ and MTX (alone or combination) on the treatment of active sacroiliitis in early AS.

Sacroiliitis is an important sign of spondylarthritis (SpA) of which the prototype disease is ankylosing spondylitis. The radiographic changes required for diagnosing AS occur as late as 8-11 years after the onset of clinical symptoms. Nonsteroid anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) have been the main treatment for spondylitis of AS. For patients refractory or intolerant to NSAIDs, disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) have been used as a second-line approach. Sulphasalazine (SLZ) is known as the best DMARD in treatment of peripheral arthritis; also methotrexate (MTX) is currently one of the most widely used DMARDs. But there was no objective information about inflammation of sacroiliac joints during treatment with these DMARDS that are the first places of the beginning point of SpA. For this purpose, in this study, the effect of SLZ and MTX, which are used alone and combination in 6 months, on treatment of active sacroiliitis, which is shown by dynamic magnetic resonance and acute phase reactants in laboratory has been investigated. 55 patients (F:M = 34:21) with active sacroiliitis [mean age = 37.05 + 13.03 year (n = 55)] were evaluated and determined by dynamic magnetic resonance imaging in this study. The better response in the SLZ treatment group than the other two groups has been obtained. Nevertheless, those changes were not statistically found different. In conclusion, the ratio of treatment of active sacroiliitis, especially early period, with SLZ as a DMARD is better than MTX or MTX + SLZ, but this difference is not statistically significant. A prospective study of the treatment of active sacroiliitis by DMARDs may be more illustrative.

Secondary osteosarcoma arising in fibrous dysplasia, case report.

Malignant transformation of fibrous dysplasia is very rare. The frequency is increased in polyostotic forms, in McCune-Albright and Mazabraud's syndromes and previously irradiated cases. Pain, which is rapidly becoming worse over a short period unrelated to trauma is the most alarming symptom. Early radiological features of sarcomatous transformation are moth-eaten or cystic areas of osteolysis, cortical destruction and gradual formation of a soft tissue mass. The prognosis is unfavorable as most of the cases are in an advanced stage in the time of diagnosis. We present an unusual case of unsuspected secondary osteosarcoma arising in a previously unirradiated, monostotic fibrous dysplasia. A 46-year-old woman was admitted with hip pain, which worsened after a minor trauma occurred 1 year ago. Plain graphies of left femur showed a well-delineated lesion with endosteal scalloping and areas having a ground-glass appearance. The MRI revealed minimal contrast enhancement but no heterogenous signal intensity, cortical destruction, periost reaction or accompanying soft tissue component was noted. The lesion was initially curetted. But being diagnosed as osteosarcoma histologically, classical osteosarcoma protocol pre and postoperative chemotherapy was applied. Resected femur showed areas of fibrous dysplasia admixed with osteosarcoma having fibroblastic, chondroblastic and osteoblastic areas that were focally invading the soft tissue. Tumor viability was estimated as 95%. The clinical course worsened rapidly after the operation. She did not respond to postoperative chemotherapy and lost with pulmonary metastases less than a years' time after the operation. The case is presented to increase awareness on the possibility of malignant transformation in an otherwise unsuspected fibrous dysplasia.