640-Slice CT Measurement of Superior Orbital Fissure as Gateway for Light into the Brain: Statistical Evaluation of Area and Distance.

OBJECTIVE: Our aim was to provide normative data concerning superior orbital fissure area (SOFA), ocular skin and the substantia nigra (D-SS) and orbital fissure and the substantia nigra (D-SOF-S) distances by CT scan in adult Caucasian population. METHODS: The area of the superior orbital fissure (SOF), the distance between the ocular skin and the substantia nigra and the distance between the superior orbital fissure and the substantia nigra using CT and 3D-CT images. RESULTS: Normative data stratified for age and gender were obtained. The data here reported show that some degree of variability in SOFA, D-SS and D-SOF-S measurements can be observed healthy Caucasian subjects. Gender stratified prediction intervals (mean +/- 2 Standard Deviations) for SOFA and D-SOF-S were 69.2 (+/-15.8) and 38.4 (+/-7.6) for male and 56.8 (+/-11.9) and 36.5 (+/-6.1) for female, respectively. Age and gender significantly impacted on D-SS values and normative data were constructed generating data stratified for these two variables. D-SS was 89.4 (+/-10.3) and 86.4 (+/-9.7) for male and female, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Here we provide adjunctive anatomical information on specific anatomical cerebral zones. Our data may have implications for surgeons actively committed to treat pathological conditions involving these cerebral areas. Additionally, the anatomical variability found with respect to SOF and the potential different exposure of the substanzia nigra to the bright light could play a role in Parkinson's disease as already speculated in literature.

Anaesthetics, steroids and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) in ultrasound-guided musculoskeletal procedures.

This review aims to evaluate the role of anaesthetics, steroids and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) employed with ultrasound-guided injection in the management of musculoskeletal pathology of the extremities. Ultrasound-guided injection represents an interesting and minimally invasive solution for the treatment of tendon and joint inflammatory or degenerative diseases. The availability of a variety of new drugs such as hyaluronic acid and PRP provides expansion of the indications and therapeutic possibilities. The clinical results obtained in terms of pain reduction and functional recovery suggest that the use of infiltrative procedures can be a good therapeutic alternative in degenerative and inflammatory joint diseases.

Treatment of focal benign lesions of the bone: MRgFUS and RFA.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the role of MR-guided focused ultrasound surgery and radiofrequency ablation in the management of bone and soft-tissue lesions. Musculoskeletal interventional radiology represents an interesting option for the treatment of benign bone and soft-tissue lesions to avoid the invasiveness of surgery and related risks. The imaging techniques now available, besides representing an optimal guide, allow control of the temperature reached in the region of interest, avoiding or minimizing damage to the sensitive structures surrounding the lesion.

A rare localization of pure dermoid cyst in the frontal bone.

We report the case of an 84-year-old woman who came to our attention with right palpebral edema associated with pain in the omolateral fronto-orbital region. The patient underwent an MRI scan that revealed a rounded, extracerebral intradiploic cystic lesion with dyshomogeneous signal intensity. Computed tomography (CT) imaging was also performed with reformatted 3D reconstruction. Post-surgical histologic analysis confirmed the diagnosis of intradiploic dermoid cyst. We here report the case and discuss epidemiology, imaging features and work-up of this pathological entity.

Radiofrequency ablation versus magnetic resonance guided focused ultrasound surgery for minimally invasive treatment of osteoid osteoma: a propensity score matching study.

OBJECTIVES: To compare outcomes in pain relief and motor functional recovery in patients with an osteoid osteoma treated by magnetic resonance guided focused ultrasound surgery (MRgFUS) or radiofrequency ablation (RFA) using a propensity score matching study design. METHODS: Thirty patients with osteoid osteomas were included in this institutional review board (IRB)-approved study. MRgFUS was performed in 15 subjects. These subjects were matched by propensity analysis with a group of 15 subjects treated by RFA. Pain relief in terms of complete response (CR) and motor functional recovery were measured. RESULTS: A similar proportion of subjects treated by MRgFUS (94 %) or RFA (100 %) experienced CR 12 weeks after treatment, with no significant difference. The improvement in pain control following MRgFUS or RFA paralleled with improved motor functional recovery. The treatment failure rate was 6.6 % in the MRgFUS group and 0 % in the RFA group. No major complications were observed following either ablative treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Although this study involved a limited number of patients, MRgFUS favourably improves perceived pain and motor functional recovery, with no major complications. No difference was found in the achievement of primary and secondary outcome measures with respect to RFA. KEY POINTS: • To demonstrate the effectiveness of a recent technique for treating osteoid osteoma • MRgFUS results compared with results of the gold standard treatment (RFA) • MRgFUS is effective both from a clinical and functional point of view • No significant side effects compared with RFA.

Dynamic measurement of patello-femoral joint alignment using weight-bearing magnetic resonance imaging (WB-MRI).

OBJECTIVE: Aim of our work was to compare standard and weight-bearing WB-MRI to define their contribution in unmasking patello-femoral (PF) maltracking and to define what measurement of patellar alignment is the most reliable. METHODS: We prospectively collected 95 non consecutive patients, clinically divided into 2 groups: group A (the control group), including 20 patients (negative for patellar maltracking), and group B including 75 patients (positive for patellar maltracking). The patients underwent a dedicated 0.25 T MRI, in supine and WB position, with knee flexion of 12-15°. The following measurements were performed: Insall-Salvati index (IS), lateral patellar displacement (LPD), lateral patello-femoral angle (LPA) and lateral patellar tilt (LPT). Quantitative and qualitative statistical analyses were performed to compare the results obtained before and after WB-MRI. Measurements were subsequently performed on both groups. RESULTS: Group A patients showed no statistically significant variations at all measurements both on standard and WB-MRI. On the basis of measurements made on standard MRI, group B patients were divided into group B1 (23 patients) (negative or positive at 1 measurement) and group B2 (52 patients) (positive at 2 or more measurements). After WB-MRI, group B1 patients were divided into group B1a (6 patients), in case they remained positive at 0/1 measurement, and group B1b (17 patients), in case they became positive at 2 or more measurements. All group B2 patients confirmed to be positive at 2 or more measurements at WB-MRI. Quantitative statistical analysis showed that LPT and LPA were the most reproducible and clinically useful measurements. Qualitative statistical analysis performed on standard and WB-MRI demonstrated that LPT was the best predictive measurement. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates both the high diagnostic value of WB-MRI in unmasking PF-maltracking and the best predictive value of LPT measurement.