Quality of life and its relation to periarticular bone changes in psoriatic patients with or without joint involvement.

OBJECTIVES: To assess periarticular bone changes in psoriasis patients with or without joint involvement and its effect on patients' quality of life (QoL). METHODS: This cross-sectional study enrolled 50 patients with psoriasis (25 only with skin psoriasis (PsO) and 25 with psoriatic arthritis (PsA)), as well as 25 healthy controls. All participants were analyzed by high-resolution computed tomography (HR-CT) scans of the dominant hand (second and third metacarpophalangeal joints) for detection of new bone formation (enthesophytes) and erosions. Demographic, laboratory, clinical, and disease-specific data, including physical function and QoL, were collected. RESULTS: Physical function and QoL scores were significantly worse in the PsA patients than in the PsO patients. All 25 PsA patients (100%), 18 PsO patients (72%), and 5 healthy individuals (20%) had periarticular bone changes. Statistically significant higher erosion number and volume as well as higher enthesophyte number and height were found in PsA patients compared to both PsO patients and controls, and in PsO patients compared to controls. In PsO patients, the number of erosions and enthesophytes had a negative correlation with some Short Form (SF)-36 sub-scores. In the PsA patients, the number of erosions had a positive correlation with psoriasis disability index, while the number of enthesophytes had a negative correlation with the general health SF-36 sub-score. CONCLUSION: In PsO patients, there may be subclinical periarticular inflammation (erosions and enthesophytes) that raise the suspicion of occult PsA or the possibility of PsO transition to PsA and these periarticular bone changes may worsen QoL in PsO patients. Key Points • Skin psoriasis patients may have subclinical PsA. • Periarticular bone changes in PsO patients may be the early sign for uploading PsA disease. • Quality of life is highly affected in PsA than in PsO patients.

Three-Dimensional Constructive Interference in Steady State Sequences and Phase-Contrast Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Arrested Hydrocephalus.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the role of three-dimensional constructive interference in steady state (3D-CISS) sequences and phase-contrast magnetic resonance imaging (PC-MRI) in patients with arrested hydrocephalus. METHODS: A prospective study of 20 patients with arrested hydrocephalus was carried out. All patients underwent PC-MRI and 3D-CISS for assessment of the aqueduct. Axial (through-plane), sagittal (in-plane) PC-MRI, and sagittal 3D-CISS were applied to assess the cerebral aqueduct and the spontaneous third ventriculostomy if present. Aqueductal patency was graded using 3D-CISS and PC-MRI. Quantitative analysis of flow through the aqueduct was performed using PC-MRI. RESULTS: The causes of obstruction were aqueductal obstruction in 75% (n = 15), third ventricular obstruction in 5% (n = 1), and fourth ventricular obstruction in 20% (n = 4). The cause of arrest of hydrocephalus was spontaneous third ventriculostomy in 65% (n = 13), endoscopic third ventriculostomy in 10% (n = 2), and ventriculoperitoneal shunt in 5% (n = 1), and no cause could be detected in 20% of patients (n = 4). There is a positive correlation (r = 0.80) and moderate agreement (κ = 0.509) of grading with PC-MRI and 3D-CISS sequences. The mean peak systolic velocity of cerebrospinal fluid was 1.86 ± 2.48 cm/second, the stroke volume was 6.43 ± 13.81 µL/cycle, and the mean flow was 0.21 ± 0.32 mL/minute. CONCLUSIONS: We concluded that 3D-CISS and PC-MRI are noninvasive sequences for diagnosis of the level and cause of arrested hydrocephalus.

Role of magnetic resonance imaging in assessment of posterior urethral distraction defects.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the clinical usefulness of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the assessment of posterior urethral distraction defects. METHODS: A total of 21 male patients, 6 to 35 years old, with posterior urethral distraction defects underwent MRI of the pelvis and combined antegrade retrograde urethrography before surgical repair. Repair was performed with a bulboprostatic urethral anastomosis through the perineum in 13 patients and transpubically in 8. The MRI and urethrographic findings were compared and correlated with the operative findings. The MRI findings were also correlated with the incidence of posttraumatic impotence. RESULTS: On MRI, the length of urethral defect and type of prostatic displacement could be correctly determined in 86% and 89% of the patients, respectively. Also, MRI precisely delineated the extent of scar tissue, which varied according to the type and magnitude of the original trauma. Furthermore, MRI revealed the presence of paraurethral false tracks in 3 patients. In addition, MRI demonstrated avulsion of the corpus cavernosum, as well as lateral prostatic displacement in all 6 patients with posttraumatic impotence. CONCLUSIONS: Preoperative MRI can provide useful information that might help determine the appropriate surgical repair. It correctly estimates the length of the urethral defect, clearly demonstrates the type and degree of prostatic displacement, precisely delineates the site and density of scar tissue, and reveals the presence of paraurethral false tracks. Also, MRI can identify the cause of posttraumatic impotence such as avulsion of the corpus cavernosum and thus might predict the potency outcome in these cases.