Degenerative lumbar changes have a statistically significant but small effect on trabecular bone score (TBS)-adjusted fracture risk (FRAX).

Trabecular bone score (TBS) assesses trabecular microarchitecture at the lumbar spine and was shown to improve fracture risk prediction compared to bone mineral density (BMD) alone. We investigated whether lumbar degenerative changes (DC) affect TBS and TBS-adjusted 10-year fracture risk assessment (tool) (FRAX) estimates. All patients who underwent BMD and TBS measurements via dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry at our institution between 1/7/2020 and 1/10/2020 were retrospectively evaluated. We identified all patients who had DC in 1 or 2 vertebrae (out of L1-L4) with a BMD T score > 1 unit higher than the remaining 2 to 3 adjacent vertebrae. TBS and BMD were compared between the vertebrae with and without DC. Change in TBS as well as FRAX estimates for major osteoporotic (MOP) and hip fractures after exclusion of the degenerative vertebrae were also determined. Of the 356 eligible patients, 94 met the inclusion criteria. The mean TBS of vertebrae without DC was not significantly different from that of L1 to L4 (1.31 ± 0.12 vs 1.32 ± 0.12, respectively, P = .11). The FRAX estimates after exclusion of the degenerative vertebrae were statistically significantly higher than for L1 to L4 for both MOP and hip fractures (P = .04 and P = .01, respectively). However, the differences were very small. The mean 10-year MOP FRAX estimate after exclusion of degenerative vertebrae was 7.67% ± 4.50% versus 7.55% ± 4.36% for L1 to L4 and the mean 10-year hip FRAX estimate after exclusion of degenerative vertebrae was 2.06% ± 2.01% versus 2.02% ± 1.98% for L1 to L4. Lumbar DC have a statistically significant but only small effect on TBS-adjusted FRAX making it unnecessary to exclude the degenerative vertebrae when computing TBS.

Bone Scan in Identification, Assessment of Initial Extent and Response to Therapy in Polymyositis.

This is a 51-year-old male who presented with abdominal pain, bilateral proximal upper and lower extremities pain and weakness, and decreased urine output with abnormal kidney function test; Urea and creatinine levels were elevated at 231.5 mg/dl and 11.05 mg/dl, respectively. Initial bone scan showed increased uptake within several muscles suspicious for polymyositis, this was confirmed by biopsy of the right triceps, identified by bone scan as the best superficial biopsy site. Pelvis and thigh MRI demonstrated diffuse hyperintense signal on fluid sensitive sequences involving several muscles. Renal biopsy showed acute tubular injury. He was treated with steroids resulting in significant improvement. A repeat bone scan showed near complete resolution of the muscular uptake seen at presentation. This case nicely illustrates the role of bone scanning in the initial recognition and determination of the extent of polymyositis with identification of a suitable biopsy site as well as assessment of response to treatment.

A Striking Case of Perfusion-Metabolism "Flip-Flop" in a Patient With Left Anterior Descending Artery Total Occlusion.

ABSTRACT: A 57-year-old man diagnosed with left anterior descending artery chronic total occlusion underwent rest gated 99mTc-MIBI scan showing moderately to markedly decreased perfusion with abnormal wall motion in the apex, anterior, anteroseptal, and apical anterolateral walls. 18F-FDG PET showed a "flip-flop" phenomenon with markedly increased FDG uptake in the hypoperfused regions and absent/markedly decreased uptake in the normally perfused, normokinetic myocardium, presumably due to the predominant use of free fatty acids under normoxic conditions. After coronary artery bypass grafting, left ventricular motion normalized except for surgery-related paradoxical septal motion and the left ventricular ejection fraction improved from 52% to 68%.

Rupture of De Novo Middle Cerebral Artery Aneurysm 8 Years After the Clipping of Ruptured M1 Middle Cerebral Artery Aneurysm.

BACKGROUND Development and rupture of a de novo intracranial aneurysm is rare. Little is known regarding its etiology and the appropriate timing of follow-up angiograms after surgical clipping or coiling. CASE REPORT We present a case report of a 39-year-old male smoker with history of hypertension who developed a de novo aneurysm 8 years after surgical clipping of an aneurysm in the middle cerebral artery in the same segment. He presented with neck rigidity and drowsiness. Laboratory analysis did not show blood dyscrasia. Brain computerized tomography showed right temporal lobe hematoma and 4-vessel angiogram demonstrated de novo aneurysm in the same segment of the M1 middle cerebral artery, which was confirmed by intraoperative microsurgical findings. We review the literature on such cases and discuss the pathophysiology, diagnosis, and treatment of this condition. De novo aneurysm, although rare, can develop within days to as long as 10 years after surgical clipping or coiling. CONCLUSIONS This rare case of de novo aneurysm supports follow-up imaging of patients after initial surgical clipping for up to 10 years.