Septic hip abscess due to Fusobacterium nucleatum and Actinomyces turicensis in an immunocompetent SARS-CoV-2 positive patient.

A 42-year-old man was referred to the Department of Orthopedic Surgery with pain over his right greater trochanter and signs of systemic infection. CT showed an enhanced mass in his gluteus maximus as well as gas in the biceps femoris over the underlying hip joint. Tissue biopsy yielded Fusobacterium nucleatum and Actinomyces turicensis. The patient was successfully treated for 6 weeks with amoxicillin/clavulanic acid 875mg/125mg and metronidazole 500mg.

[Detection of lung nodules. New opportunities in chest radiography]. / Detektion pulmonaler Rundherde. Neue Möglichkeiten der Thoraxradiographie.

BACKGROUND: Chest radiography still represents the most commonly performed X-ray examination because it is readily available, requires low radiation doses and is relatively inexpensive. However, as previously published, many initially undetected lung nodules are retrospectively visible in chest radiographs. STANDARD RADIOLOGICAL METHODS: The great improvements in detector technology with the increasing dose efficiency and improved contrast resolution provide a better image quality and reduced dose needs. METHODICAL INNOVATIONS: The dual energy acquisition technique and advanced image processing methods (e.g. digital bone subtraction and temporal subtraction) reduce the anatomical background noise by reduction of overlapping structures in chest radiography. Computer-aided detection (CAD) schemes increase the awareness of radiologists for suspicious areas. RESULTS: The advanced image processing methods show clear improvements for the detection of pulmonary lung nodules in chest radiography and strengthen the role of this method in comparison to 3D acquisition techniques, such as computed tomography (CT). ASSESSMENT: Many of these methods will probably be integrated into standard clinical treatment in the near future. Digital software solutions offer advantages as they can be easily incorporated into radiology departments and are often more affordable as compared to hardware solutions.

[Dose reduction and adequate image quality in digital radiography: a contradiction?]. / Dosisreduktion und adäquate Bildqualität in der digitalen Radiographie: ein Widerspruch?

CLINICAL/METHODICAL ISSUE: Dose reduction and adequate image quality in digital radiography - a contradiction? STANDARD RADIOLOGICAL METHODS: Digital radiography has already replaced traditional screen-film systems. METHODICAL INNOVATIONS: Substantial improvements in both dose efficiency and spatial resolution demonstrate the rapid developments in digital radiography. PERFORMANCE: Needle-detector systems have shown up to a 50% dose reduction compared to traditional screen-film systems. There is also a dose reduction capability of up to 50% comparing direct radiography (DR) systems to computed radiography (CR) systems for chest X-rays. However, despite the most recent achievements of CR technology, the dose efficiency of DR systems (caesium iodide flat-panel detector) is unparalleled. ACHIEVEMENTS: The progress in detector technology has contributed to dose reduction and improved image quality, while saving time and providing a higher examination rate. PRACTICAL RECOMMENDATIONS: The use of dose indicators and longitudinal dose control are important to avoid substantial accidental dose increase. The dose applied to patients should fall markedly below the defined diagnostic reference levels within the European Union. Regular quality control, as well as continuous education and training of medical and technical personnel, contribute to ensure that the ALARA (as low as reasonably achievable) principle is consistently followed.

Musculoskeletal imaging with a prototype photon-counting detector.

OBJECTIVE: To test a digital imaging X-ray device based on the direct capture of X-ray photons with pixel detectors, which are coupled with photon-counting readout electronics. METHODS: The chip consists of a matrix of 256 × 256 pixels with a pixel pitch of 55 µm. A monolithic image of 11.2 cm × 7 cm was obtained by the consecutive displacement approach. Images of embalmed anatomical specimens of eight human hands were obtained at four different dose levels (skin dose 2.4, 6, 12, 25 µGy) with the new detector, as well as with a flat-panel detector. RESULTS: The overall rating scores for the evaluated anatomical regions ranged from 5.23 at the lowest dose level, 6.32 at approximately 6 µGy, 6.70 at 12 µGy, to 6.99 at the highest dose level with the photon-counting system. The corresponding rating scores for the flat-panel detector were 3.84, 5.39, 6.64, and 7.34. When images obtained at the same dose were compared, the new system outperformed the conventional DR system at the two lowest dose levels. At the higher dose levels, there were no significant differences between the two systems. CONCLUSION: The photon-counting detector has great potential to obtain musculoskeletal images of excellent quality at very low dose levels.

Improved quality of life in patients treated with Peptide radionuclides.

Peptide receptor radionuclide therapy (PRRT) has recently been established as an important treatment modality for somatostatin receptor (SSTR)-positive tumors. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical response, side-effects as well as the quality of life following (90)Y-DOTA-lanreotide (DOTALAN) and/or (90)Y-DOTA-Tyr (3)-DPhe(1)-octreotide (DOTATOC) therapy in patients with progressive metastatic disease during a 6-year follow-up period. Following dosimetric evaluation with (111)In-DOTALAN and (111)In-DOTATOC, 13 patients with estimated absorbed tumor doses of >5 Gy/GBq (carcinoid, n = 5; radioiodine-negative thyroid cancer, n = 4; gastrinoma, n = 1; insulinoma, n = 1; glucagonoma, n = 1; glomus jugularis tumor, n = 1) were assigned for PRRT. A dose of 925 MBq of (90)Y-DOTALAN (four patients) or 1.85-3.7 GBq of (90)Y-DOTATOC (10 patients) was administered intravenously and repeated every 4-8 weeks. Tumor dosimetry was performed prior to and under therapy, re-staging every 2-3 months. Pain intensity, Karnofsky score and general symptoms were evaluated in order to determine quality of life. Patients were followed until death. Altogether, 53 infusions of PRRT (1.85-14.1 GBq) were administered. After the first follow-up of 3 months of (90)Y-DOTALAN therapy, stable disease (SD) was observed in one patient and progressive disease (PD) in three patients. With (90)Y-DOTATOC therapy, SD was found in all 10 patients. During the re-evaluation period (4-27 months), one patient had to be shifted from (90)Y-DOTALAN to (90)Y-DOTATOC therapy due to reduced (111)In-DOTALAN uptake after 5.5 GBq. In the first 6 months after PRRT with DOTATOC, SD was found in nine of 10 patients and PD in one patient. Thereafter, SD was observed in two patients and PD in eight patients. Nine of 13 patients after PRRT with either DOTALAN or DOTATOC died. None of the patients had experienced severe acute hematological side-effects. Transient thrombocytopenia or lymphocytopenia was seen in 10 patients after 3.7 GBq, and a skin reaction in one patient. Total accumulated kidney dose ranged between 4 and 64 Gy, with reduced creatinine clearance in two patients. Pain relief was achieved in three of three patients after ~3.7 GBq ERT within 4-6 months. Appetite, weight, Karnofsky score and general well-being had improved in patients with SD during and after therapy. Based on the results of this study conducted on a small group of patients, we conclude that PRRT may offer an alternative treatment option for SSTR-positive tumors, with only mild transient side-effects and a marked improvement in the quality of life.

Computer-aided detection (CAD) of lung nodules and small tumours on chest radiographs.

Detection of focal pulmonary lesions is limited by quantum and anatomic noise and highly influenced by variable perception capacity of the reader. Multiple studies have proven that lesions - missed at time of primary interpretation - were visible on the chest radiographs in retrospect. Computer-aided diagnosis (CAD) schemes do not alter the anatomic noise but aim at decreasing the intrinsic limitations and variations of human perception by alerting the reader to suspicious areas in a chest radiograph when used as a 'second reader'. Multiple studies have shown that the detection performance can be improved using CAD especially for less experienced readers at a variable amount of decreased specificity. There seem to be a substantial learning process for both, experienced and inexperienced readers, to be able to optimally differentiate between false positive and true positive lesions and to build up sufficient trust in the capabilities of these systems to be able to use them at their full advantage. Studies so far focussed on stand-alone performance of the CAD schemes to reveal the magnitude of potential impact or on retrospective evaluation of CAD as a second reader for selected study groups. Further research is needed to assess the performance of these systems in clinical routine and to determine the trade-off between performance increase in terms of increased sensitivity and decreased inter-reader variability and loss of specificity and secondary indicated follow-up examinations for further diagnostic workup.

DR and CR: Recent advances in technology.

After some initial reluctance, nowadays transition from conventional analogue-to-digital radiographic technique is realized in the vast majority of institutions. The eventual triumph of digital over conventional technique is related to its undoubted advantages with respect to image quality and improved image handling in the context of a picture archiving and communication system. CR represents the older system, which matured over decades and experienced some important recent improvements with respect to dose efficiency and work-flow efficiency that strengthened its position. It represents a very versatile, economically attractive system that is equally suited for integrated systems as well as for cassette-based imaging at the bedside. DR systems offer superb image quality and realistic options for dose reduction based on their high dose efficiency. While for a long time only integrated systems were on the market suited for a large patient throughput, also mobile DR systems became recently available. While for the next years, it is likely that DR and CR systems will coexist, the long term perspective of CR will depend on further innovations with respect to dose efficiency and signal-to-noise characteristics while for DR economical aspects and broader availability of mobile systems will play a role.

[Peritoneum and mesenterium. Radiological anatomy and extent of peritoneal diseases]. / Peritoneum und Mesenterium: Radiologische Anatomie und Ausbreitungswege intraabdomineller Erkrankungen.

The abdominal cavity is subdivided into the peritoneal cavity, lined by the parietal peritoneum, and the extraperitoneal space. It extends from the diaphragm to the pelvic floor. The visceral peritoneum covers the intraperitoneal organs and part of the pelvic organs. The parietal and visceral layers of the peritoneum are in sliding contact; the potential space between them is called the peritoneal cavity and is a part of the embryologic abdominal cavity or primitive coelomic duct. To understand the complex anatomical construction of the different variants of plicae and recesses of the peritoneum, an appreciation of the embryologic development of the peritoneal cavity is crucial. This knowledge reflects the understanding of the peritoneal anatomy, deep knowledge of which is very important in determining the cause and extent of peritoneal diseases as well as in decision making when choosing the appropriate therapeutic approach, whether surgery, conservative treatment, or interventional radiology.

[Diseases of the peritoneum and mesenterium]. / Erkrankungen von Peritoneum und Mesenterium.

Peritoneal diseases can be seen in the different imaging modalities either as fluid collections or solid tumors along the ligaments, mesenteries, and spaces of the peritoneal cavity. The broad spectrum of different abnormalities includes inflammatory, infectious, traumatic, and neoplastic diseases. In this article, a large variety of peritoneal abnormalities such as ascites, peritonitis, intraperitoneal hemorrhage, and both primary and secondary peritoneal tumors are discussed. The different imaging modalities, characteristic radiological features, and typical pathways of anatomic spread are explained.

[Balance of required dose and image quality in digital radiography]. / Abwägen von Dosisbedarf und Bildqualität in der digitalen Radiographie.

Projection radiography is in an advanced stage of progressive transition from conventional screen-film imaging to digital image acquisition modalities. The radiographic technique, including examination parameters such as tube voltage, tube current and filtration has frequently been adopted from screen-film technology. Digital systems, however, are characterized by their flexibility as the dose can be reduced at the expense of image quality and vice versa. The imaging parameters need to be individually optimized according to the best performance of a system. The traditional means of dose adjustment, such as positioning and collimation, are as valid for digital techniques as they were for conventional techniques. Digital techniques increasingly offer options for dose reduction. At the same time there is a risk to accidentally substantially increase patient dose due to the lack of visual control. Therefore, the implementation of dose indicators and dose monitoring is mandatory for digital radiography. The use of image quality classes according to the dose requirements of given clinical indications are a further step towards modern radiation protection.

[Overuse syndromes of the foot]. / Uberlastungssyndrome des Fusses.

Overuse syndromes due to lifestyle problems or sporting activities commonly lead to foot abnormalities. The tendons of the long flexor and extensor muscles are specifically prone to degeneration. The various disorders may be classified by a grading system that includes peritendinous inflammation, degenerative tendon disease, and ruptures. Bone marrow edema is another typical manifestation of overuse. It may be differentiated from inflammatory or traumatic forms of edema by its anatomic distribution. Systematic pattern recognition is based on the concept of musculotendinous and osseous kinetic chains.

Very recent onset rheumatoid arthritis: clinical and serological patient characteristics associated with radiographic progression over the first years of disease.

OBJECTIVES: Despite early recognition and disease modifying anti-rheumatic drug (DMARD) treatment, a sizable proportion of early rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients show radiological progression. This study was performed to determine the frequency of erosive arthritis and the pace of radiological progression in an inception cohort of patients with very early RA (

[Systemic manifestations of rheumatoid arthritis]. / Systemische Manifestationen der rheumatoiden Arthritis.

Extra-articular manifestations of rheumatoid arthritis are gaining in importance both in rheumatology and other specialities. This report provides information on various organ manifestations and interactions between mere disease-related symptoms and therapeutic effects. Diagnostic radiology plays a crucial role in finding the diagnosis, planning and monitoring of treatment, early detection of complications and drug-related adverse events.

Does marathon running cause acute lesions of the knee? Evaluation with magnetic resonance imaging.

An investigation was conducted into whether running a marathon causes acute alterations in menisci, cartilage, bone marrow, ligaments, or joint effusions, which could be evaluated by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Twenty-two non-professional marathon runners underwent MRI of the knee before and immediately after running a marathon. Lesions of menisci and cartilage (five-point scale), bone marrow, ligaments (three-point scale), joint effusion, and additional findings were evaluated and a total score was assessed. Before the marathon, grade 1 lesions of the menisci were found in eight runners, and grade 2 lesions in five runners. After the marathon, an upgrading from a meniscal lesion grade 1 to grade 2 was observed in one runner. Before the marathon, grade 1 cartilage lesions were found in three runners, and grade 2 lesions in one runner, all of which remained unchanged after the marathon. Before and after the marathon, unchanged bone marrow edema was present in three runners and unchanged anterior cruciate ligament lesions (grade 1) were seen in two runners. Joint effusions were present in 13 runners in the pre-run scans, slightly increased in four runners after the marathon, and newly occurred in one runner after the marathon. A total score comprising all knee lesions in each runner showed an increase after the marathon in two runners, whereas no runner showed an improvement of the radiological findings (Wilcoxon signed-rank test, P>0.05). The evaluation of lesions of the knee with MRI shows that marathon running does not cause severe, acute lesions of cartilage, ligaments, or bone marrow of the knee in well-trained runners. Only subtle changes, such as joint effusions or increased intrameniscal signal alterations, were imaged after running a marathon.

Autoantibody profiling as early diagnostic and prognostic tool for rheumatoid arthritis.

BACKGROUND: Early treatment prevents progression of joint damage in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), but diagnosis in early disease is impeded by lack of appropriate diagnostic criteria. OBJECTIVE: To study the value of rheumatoid factor (RF), anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide autoantibodies (anti-CCP), and anti-RA33 autoantibodies for diagnosis of RA and prediction of outcome in patients with very early arthritis. METHODS: The prospective follow up inception cohort included 200 patients with very early (<3 months) inflammatory joint disease. Autoantibodies were measured at baseline and analysed in a tree based model which aimed at determining the added diagnostic value of testing for anti-CCP and anti-RA33 as compared with RF alone. RESULTS: RA was diagnosed in 102 patients, while 98 developed other inflammatory arthropathies. Receiver operator curve analysis showed an optimum cut off level for RF at 50 U/ml, above which anti-CCP and anti-RA33 had no additional diagnostic value. Remarkably, RF >or=50 U/ml and anti-CCP showed similar sensitivity and high specificity for RA, but overlapped considerably. Anti-RA33 was less specific and did not correlate with RF or anti-CCP. Among patients with RA, 72% showed at least one of these three autoantibodies, compared with 15% of non-RA patients. RF >or=50 U/ml and anti-CCP were predictors of erosive disease, whereas anti-RA33 was associated with mild disease. CONCLUSIONS: Stepwise autoantibody testing in early inflammatory joint disease, starting with RF, followed by anti-CCP (in patients with RF <50 U/ml), and finally anti-RA33, should be used as a sensitive and effective strategy for distinguishing patients with RA at high risk for poor outcome.

Benefit of very early referral and very early therapy with disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs in patients with early rheumatoid arthritis.

OBJECTIVE: Delay of disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug (DMARD) therapy is a major contributing factor for poor outcome in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Although early therapy has been shown to be particularly effective, there is still uncertainty about the optimal time point of DMARD introduction. We wanted to test if a therapeutic window of opportunity may exist within the first few months of the disease. METHODS: In this case-control parallel-group study, 20 very early RA (VERA) patients with median disease duration of 3 months were age and gender matched to a group of 20 late early RA (LERA) patients with median disease duration of 12 months until first DMARD initiation. Follow-up time was 36 months. Primary outcome measures were the disease activity score (DAS28) and radiological joint destruction using the Larsen method. RESULTS: Already after 3 months of DMARD therapy we found a significant difference of improvement in favour of the VERA patients in the DAS28. This trend continued over the study period. At study end the DAS28 showed an improvement of 2.8+/-1.5 in the VERA vs 1.7+/-1.2 in the LERA group (P(c)<0.05). The Larsen scores showed a statistically significant retardation of progression in the VERA compared with the LERA. CONCLUSION: Our results indicate that there is a window of opportunity for highly successful treatment of RA in the first year, and especially within the first 3 months of therapy. Thus, early diagnosis and therapy may be the crucial step in achieving optimal control of disease progression and prognosis in RA.

[Radiological diagnostics of Hodgkin- and non-Hodgkin lymphomas of the thorax]. / Radiologische Diagnostik von Hodgkin- und Non-Hodgkin-Lymphomen des Thorax.

Malignant lymphomas belong to the most important malignant diseases in western countries with an increasing incidence of Non-Hodgkin lymphoma. The thorax is the location of primary manifestation especially in patients with Hodgkin's disease. Progression of disease and therapy associated complications are frequently located in the chest. Based on morphological imaging criteria the two types of lymphoma cannot be differentiated, helpful for differentiation is, however, the way of disease spread. Primary and secondary thoracic lymphoma represent a diagnostic challenge in radiology: the patterns are variable in radiography as well as in computed tomography and alter under therapy. Radiological studies, especially CT, are an integral part of the staging process. MRI is considered advantageous for chest wall disease. PET as functional imaging technique has its proven role for staging of high grade lymphomas, the combination of functional and morphological information provided by PET-CT will become the first diagnostic standard in the future.

[Digital thorax radiography: flat-panel detector or storage phosphor plates]. / Digitale Thoraxradiographie: Flat-panel-Detektor oder Speicherfolie?

Flat panel detectors are characterized by improved handling and increased dose efficiency. This allows for increasing of work flow efficiency and for reducing the exposure dose by about 50% compared to current systems with a sensitivity of 400. Whether the increased dose efficiency should be used to reduce acquisition dose or to increase image quality in the chest, will be shown by further clinical experience and will be also determined by the subjective preference of the radiologists. The decreased level of image noise opens new perspectives for image processing that way that elaborated multifrequency processing allows for optimizing the display of very small and low contrast structures that was so far limited by overlying image noise. Specialized applications of dual energy subtraction and temporal subtraction will also profit by the new detector technology and will be further driven forward in context with applications such as computed assisted diagnosis even though this is currently not yet broadly applied. Storage phosphor radiography still represents an important alternative technique based on its larger flexibility with respect to equipment configuration, its broader application options in intensive care and emergency radiology and due to economic reasons. These facts are further underlined by the fact that image quality also in storage phosphor radiography could be constantly increased by improving detector technology and image processing and consequently has a high standard.

[Digital radiography: from storage phosphor plates to direct detector systems]. / Digitale Radiographie: Von der Speicherfolie zum Direktdetektor.

All three currently commercially available systems for digital radiography of the chest such as the selenium drum, storage phosphor plates and the flat panel direct detector systems provide an excellent image quality that is at least equivalent or superior to that of conventional film. Reasons for that are the continuously improved detective or dose efficiency of the detector systems and an improved image processing. The new direct detector systems have the largest potential for dose reduction while storage phosphor and selenium radiographs are usually obtained with a dose comparable to that of a 400 speed system. Improved image processing algorithms allow for the production of digital images that are adapted to the conventional image characteristics within the lung regions combined with an increased transparency of the high absorption areas such as the retrocardial and retrodiaphragmatic regions.

Lung manifestation in asymptomatic patients with primary Sjögren syndrome: assessment with high resolution CT and pulmonary function tests.

The authors studied 37 consecutive patients with primary Sjögren syndrome and normal chest radiographs. Thin-section CT images were analyzed using a semiquantitative grading system. The presence, distribution, and severity of 9 morphologic parameters were assessed. In 34 patients, CT findings were correlated to pulmonary function tests (PFTs). Abnormal high resolution CT (HRCT) findings were seen in 24 of 37 patients (65%): interlobular septal thickening, n = 9; micronodules, n = 9; ground glass attenuation n = 4; parenchymal cysts, n = 5. Intralobular opacities, honey combing, bronchial wall thickening, bronchiectasis, and pleural irregularities were less frequent. Both HRCT and PFTs were normal in 10 patients. Computed tomography was normal in four patients with PFTs that indicated the presence of small airway disease. High resolution CT abnormalities were found in seven patients with normal PFT. The overall correlation between HRCT and PFTs was poor. High resolution CT and PFTs appear to be sensitive for both the early detection of parenchymal abnormalities and a decreases in lung function in asymptomatic patients with primary Sjögren syndrome. However, abnormal HRCT findings do not necessarily indicate a substantial alteration in PFTs.