Ultrasonography of the calcaneus in Sever's disease.

Severs disease (calcaneal apophysitis) is a self-limiting condition seen in physically active children. Although there is controversy about the radiographic appearance, some reports propose the importance of fragmentation of the secondary nucleus in the diagnosis of Severs disease. We studied secondary nucleus of the calcaneus with ultrasonography. Twenty-one symptomatic heels of 14 children were examined. All these heels showed fragmentation of the secondary nucleus on both conventional radiograph and sonography. Ultrasonographic examination also showed 2 retrocalcaneal bursitis. Our initial data showed that sonography may be valuable in the diagnosis of Severs disease.

Clinical and radiologic behaviour of ameloblastoma in 4 cases.

Ameloblastoma is a benign but locally aggressive epithelial odontogenic neoplasm. It represents 1% of all tumours of the jaw bone. In 80% of cases, it is localized in the mandibular molar and ascending ramus area, mostly associated with an unerupted tooth. It occurs over a wide range of ages (mean age is in the 20s or 30s) and with equal frequency in men and women. Ameloblastoma may be discovered during a routine radiographic examination or as a clinically observed developing mass. It has a characteristic, but not diagnostic, radiographic appearance. It can be treated by enucleation, bone curettage or wide resection. The rate of local recurrence is high when it is treated inadequately. We describe the clinical and radiologic behaviour of ameloblastoma and discuss treatment protocols and the possibility of conservative management of this tumour. Our results suggest the importance of long-term follow-up with various radiographic techniques.