Perception and reality in a case of suspected cervical fracture.

The case of a 36-year-old female, who following a road accident, had a cervical whiplash, is discussed. A radiographic examination of the affected region was performed at the Emergency Department. It showed a transverse radiolucent line at the basal odontoid process of the axis. A definitive interpretation was not possible and fracture of the odontoid process of the axis was suggested as differential diagnosis. On coronal CT reconstruction the presence of this fracture was ruled out. The line seen on the film was actually the product of a psychophysiologic visual illusion known as "Mach band". The use of conventional radiography correlated with digital CT images shows that the practical application of Mach band theory allows a better differentiation between normal and pathologic anatomy.

Correlation of multimodality imaging in Paget's disease of bone.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study is double: 1. to review the known and less known radiographic patterns of Paget's disease of bone, employing the most recent imaging techniques; 2. to propose a rationale algorithm for the diagnosis and management of the disease. considering its inconsistency and clinical variability. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty-eight patients with Paget's disease of bone (30 males and 18 females, aged 45 and 88 years, mean age 71) were examined in the period 1999-2003. The patients were classified into two groups: symptomatic and asymptomatic. The first group, comprising 32 patients with generic ''low back pain'' with or without sciatica, or ''coxarthritis'' underwent conventional radiography. In the second group (16 patients), bone disease was discovered in course of radiological and/or scintigraphic examinations performed for other conditions. Subsequently, all the patients completed the diagnostic algorithm, consisting of radiographs of the remaining skeletal areas and those segments with abnormal scintigraphic uptake. RESULTS: Monostotic Paget's disease was observed in 31 cases (64.6%), of whom 20 males (64.6%) and 11 females (35.4%), whereas polyostotic disease was found in 17 cases (35.4%), of whom 10 males (58.8%) and 7 females (41.2%). The sites most frequently affected in the monostotic form were: pelvis, 13 cases (43.3%); femur, 5 cases (16.7%); lumbar spine, 5 cases (16.7%); humerus, 2 cases (6.7%); tibia, 2 cases (6.7%); dorsal spine, skull, radius, patella, 1 case respectively (3.3%). In the polyostotic disease (17 cases), the affected bones were predominantly the skull, vertebral spine and pelvis (see text for their variable association). Pathologic fractures of the femur were found in two males. Osteogenic sarcoma (histological diagnosis) developed in the proximal femur in a 81 year-old male. CONCLUSIONS: Paget's disease is asymptomatic in the majority of affected individuals, and may be discovered incidentally with diagnosis being made on routine radiographs obtained for other purposes. Sometimes the x-ray features are so typical that the diagnosis is straightforward. Bone scan should be the imaging technique of choice, because tracer uptake is directly related to degree of activity of disease, and it may advance any radiographic evidence. Vertebral involvement is better evaluated by CT. Both CT and MRI are recommended in spine complications (pathological fractures, radicular or cord compression syndromes, malignant degeneration).

Bronchial carcinoid tumors: clinical and radiological correlation.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the incidence of bronchial carcinoid tumor (BCT) in population affected by various lung tumors, retrospectively reviewed between 1986-2001, and to emphasize the radiographic patterns if they are characteristic. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In the above mentioned period, chest x-ray and CT were performed in 1110 patients, both male and female, affected by lung neoplasms. RESULTS: 20 patients were affected by BCT (16 males, and 13 females), aged between 26 and 75 years (mean age 57.5), with histopathologic diagnosis of typical (9 cases, 31%) and atypical (20 cases, 69%) bronchial carcinoid tumors. Localized right lung lesion were as follows: 7 cases in superior, 9 in middle and 4 in inferior lobes; in the left lung, 5 cases in superior, and 4 in inferior lobes. Size of the lesions was as average 2.4 cm in diameter (with a range of 0.5-12 cm). On x-ray and CT images, BCT appeared as a well marginated nodule, of which 9 were peripheral and 20 central. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: BCT are classified as neuroendocrine carcinomas,and are divided in typical and atypical forms, with variable grade of malignancy. Central neoplasms are symptomatic due to bronchial obstruction (i.e., pneumonia, atelectasis, bronchiectasis, emphysema and/or lung abscess); if airway obstruction is partial, then cough, wheezing and recurrent pulmonary infections occur. Peripheral tumors are generally asymptomatic and they are discovered occasionally, when chest x-ray is made for other reasons. Radiographic features are similar in typical and atypical BCT. In central tumors a rounded well circumscribed hilar mass is noted, with lobulated or bumpy margins. Central cavitation is not referred to. Peripheral BCT appear as a solitary nodule, inferioer then 3 cm in size, marginated, surrounded by normal pulmonary tissue. Signs and symptoms of BCT are evasive and vague. No current clinical or laboratory procedures are useful in confirming the diagnosis; particularly, no imaging modalities are able to differentiate between BCT and other pulmonary tumors. For this reason, a clinical radiologic endoscopic and histopathologic approach is necessary. CT is more sensiticve then conventional radiography, especially in detecting small lesions, calcification and enlarged lymph nodes. MRI may be useful in those patients, who cannot tolerate IV contrast media. Scintigraphy may be employed in discovering relapses and long standing metastases.