Non-traumatic calcifications/ossifications of the bone surface and soft tissues of the wrist, hand and fingers: a diagnostic approach.

In the absence of obvious trauma, the calcifications/ossifications of the bone surface and soft tissues of the wrist, hand and fingers can be challenging and may not be noticed or lead to unnecessary examinations and monitoring. Although these are usually benign conditions and despite a favorable spontaneous outcome, surgical resection may be required and recurrence may occur. In practice, only paraneoplastic syndromes such as secondary hypertrophic osteoarthropathy (Pierre Marie-Bamberger syndrome) may reveal a malignant tumor, most often pulmonary. We suggest a diagnostic approach based on the initial clinical presentation (acute pain, chronic pain, growth±pain) and the radiological features.

[Vertebral involvement in SAPHO syndrome]. / Atteintes vertébrales du SAPHO.

SAPHO syndrome (Synovitis, Acne, Pustulosis, Hyperostosis, Osteitis) is characterized by a great variety of radiographic findings, including sclerosing osteitis, ivory vertebra, hyperostosis with paravertebral ossification, spondylodiscitis and even vertebral compression fractures. On the other hand, the MR imaging features are quite stereotypical with presence of entesopathy at the anterior vertebral corner similar to other spondyloarthropathies. In about 15% of cases, the entesophytes are limited to the anterior vertebral corner. In all other cases, it extends to involve the adjacent vertebral endplate, the anterior vertebral cortex or the adjacent vertebral corner through the disc annulus. As such, involvement of at least two adjacent vertebrae is present in about 30% of cases. The intervertebral disc may be narrowed, and, in 10% of cases, show intense T2W signal and postcontrast enhancement, simulating infections spondylodiscitis. The pseudo-infectious appearance is further increased in about one third of cases by the presence of an enhancing mass in the adjacent soft tissues. Therefore, these lesions may sometimes be difficult to differentiate from infectious spondylodiscitis and even tumors. An important differential diagnostic feature is the presence of lesions of varying ages on adjacent vertebral segments, with presence of characteristic entesopathy of a vertebral corner.

CT of the middiaphyseal femur: cortical bone mineral density and relation to porosity.

PURPOSE: To determine whether computed tomography (CT) can be used to quantify age- and site-related changes in cortical bone mineral density (cBMD) at the middiaphyseal femur and whether cBMD differences are related to intracortical porosity. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Cortical bone specimens from 163 femurs were studied with CT and microradiography. Femurs were from 77 males and 86 females in a white anthropologic collection covering a broad age spectrum. In each sample, the cBMD was measured in the entire cortical width and in periosteal, midcortical, and endosteal subregions of interest. Age- and site-related changes in cBMD were tested for significance by using a two-way analysis of variance for both sexes. By using linear regression, cBMD was compared with porosity in the entire cortical width and in each subregion. RESULTS: There were significant age-related differences in cBMD (P <.001 in females, P =.008 in males). In addition, cBMD values were significantly different between the three cortical subregions (P <.001 for both sexes), decreasing from the periosteum to the midcortex to the endosteum. The cBMD values were closely related to porosity, and porosity contributed to 71.6% of the variance in cBMD in the overall population. CONCLUSION: CT is effective in the measurement of age- and site-related changes in cBMD. Decreases in cBMD are closely correlated with increased cortical porosity.

Multifocal osteogenic sarcoma in Paget's disease.

The most serious complication of Paget's disease is sarcomatous degeneration of pagetic bone. Multifocal sarcomatous degeneration occurs mainly in polyostotic Paget's disease. Multifocal Paget's sarcoma is uncommon and can arise in any site. We report two cases of synchronous multifocal sarcomatous degeneration. The two patients were elderly women (aged 77 and 86 years, respectively) who developed sarcomatous lesions concomitantly, in the first case report in left ilium, left tibia, and first lumbar vertebra and in the second case report in the skull, right ilium, and sacrum. Whether these cases are due to the simultaneous development of several primaries or to metastases from a single primary remains unclear.

Serial anatomy of the larynx in MRI: MRI-histologic correlations.

The larynx is an organ with a complex anatomic structure. MRI allows the performance of sections in the three planes of space, so that this study of the soft parts of the larynx yields results superior to those of other imaging techniques. Together with laryngoscopy, MRI is most often used in assessing the extension of malignant laryngeal tumors. This assessment is fundamental in choosing the indications for surgery, but the published reports of MRI of the larynx are sometimes discordant. The visualization of certain important anatomic structures such as the conus elasticus is uncertain. Our aim was to study the MRI radio-anatomy of the larynx based on correlations between MRI and histologic sections. Eight anatomic specimens were studied: four in the transverse plane, two in the sagittal plane, and two in the frontal plane. The MRI and histologic sections made at the same levels were compared. These comparisons allowed a description of the sectional radio-anatomy of the larynx and an assessment of the reliability and limitations of MRI. All the major anatomic structures could be identified. It was possible to demonstrate the conus elasticus. We were able to visualize the vocal process of the arytenoid cartilage, which has not to our knowledge been previously described in the literature.

[Differential diagnosis of infective spondylodiscitis and erosive degenerative disk disease]. / Diagnostic différentiel entre spondylodiscite infectieuse et discopathie dégénérative erosive.

PURPOSE: To assess the value of imaging in the differential diagnosis of erosive intervertebral osteochondrosis (EIVO) versus infectious discitis (ID). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twelve cases of EIVO and 30 cases of ID were reviewed to define the usefull signs for differential diagnosis on plain films, CT, and MR. RESULTS: No single sign is sufficient, but the association of several signs is suggestive of EIVO: discal vacuum phenomenom, well-defined sclerosis and erosions of vertebral endplates, high signal strip surrounding low signal of vertebral endplates on T1-weighted images. CONCLUSION: Imaging is helpful in difficult differential diagnosis of EIVO versus ID.

Symptomatic lumbar facet joint synovial cysts: clinical assessment of facet joint steroid injection after 1 and 6 months and long-term follow-up in 30 patients.

PURPOSE: To study the results of facet joint intraarticular steroid injections in patients with symptomatic lumbar facet joint synovial cysts. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data from 30 patients (age range, 44-82 years; mean age, 67 years) with nerve root pain due to a lumbar facet joint synovial cyst and treated with facet joint steroid injection were retrospectively studied. On the basis of MacNab criteria, the clinical course of nerve root pain was evaluated after 1 (n = 30) and 6 (n = 28) months. Data from long-term follow-up (mean, 26 months) were also available in 14 nonsurgically treated patients. RESULTS: After 1 month, the nerve root pain outcome was excellent or good in 20 patients (67%) and fair or poor in 10 (33%). After 6 months, 10 (50%) of these 20 patients still had excellent or good results, and 18 (60%) of the 30 patients had a fair or poor clinical status, 14 of whom underwent surgery; two patients (7%) were lost to follow-up. Excellent and good results were maintained at further follow-up (range, 9-50 months). CONCLUSION: One-third of patients with symptomatic lumbar facet joint synovial cysts had long-lasting acceptable benefit from facet joint steroid injections in this study. Steroid injection should be indicated before surgery.

Osteoid osteoma of the acetabulum. Three cases treated by percutaneous resection.

The acetabulum is a rare location for osteoid osteoma. Conventional surgery of such lesions may require either a large bone resection, an arthrotomy, or a hip dislocation. This report describes the technique and results of percutaneous lesion removal using computed tomography guidance in three osteoid osteomas of the acetabulum. Histologic confirmation was obtained in the three cases. The three patients experienced complete pain relief with a mean followup of 36 months.

High-resolution computed tomographic study of the retrotympanum. Anatomic correlations.

The aim of this study was to define the imaging of the retrotympanum precisely by means of high-resolution CT. Based on 66 scans of petrous bones performed in 49 patients observed in an otologic department, several retrotympanic structures were studied: the pyramidal eminence, ponticulus, subiculum, chordal ridge, tympanic sinus of Proctor, sinus tympani and recess of the facial n. The variations in morphology and depth were noted as well as the relationship between the pyramid and the facial canal. In a second phase the same anatomic structures were studied in 24 temporal bones removed from embalmed cadavers and investigated with the same radiologic technique. Anatomic correlations were made for six temporal bones to confirm the general applicability of our radiologic hypotheses. In CT the pyramidal eminence was visualised in 100% of cases, the chordal ridge in 52%, the ponticulus in 63% and the subiculum in 57%. As regards the different recesses, the sinus tympani was visualised in 95% of cases, the posterior tympanic sinus of Proctor in 38%, the fossula of Grivot in 47% and the facial recess in 80%. The mean depth of the sinus tympani was 2.7 mm and that of the tympanic sinus of Proctor was 1.65 mm; the fossula of Grivot was assessed as 2.1 mm and the facial recess as 2.2 mm. A better knowledge of these sinuses and their variations will aid the surgeon, particularly in a posterior tympanotomy or a retro-facial approach.

Percutaneous removal of osteoid osteoma.

In most cases, osteoid osteomas can be removed through a percutaneous approach. The authors report their experience of percutaneous removal of osteoid osteomas under CT guidance. The literature on percutaneous treatments of osteoid osteomas is reviewed. The respective advantages of percutaneous removal and percutaneous destruction of the nidus using thermocoagulation or interstitial laser photocoagulation are discussed.

Percutaneous treatments of painful shoulder.

Percutaneous treatments are useful in two, frequent, painful conditions involving the shoulder. In frozen shoulder syndrome, distention arthrography with intra-articular injection of steroid is used to provide pain relief and to improve joint motion. In rotator cuff tendon calcifications, needle aspiration of calcific deposits is used to treat pain. Surgery should be restricted to failures of needle aspiration. The techniques of these procedures are described and their results are reported.

High-resolution computed tomography of the canals of the temporal bone: anatomic correlations.

The aim of this study was to define precisely the imaging of the canals of the temporal bone by means of high-resolution computed tomography (HR CT). Based on 24 temporal bones removed from embalmed cadavers and investigated with HR CT, several canals were studied: the canal of the chorda tympani (CdT), the canal of the auricular branch of the vagus nerve (ABV), the canal of the tympanic nerve, the canal of the carotico-tympanic nerve and that of the lesser petrosal nerve. Anatomic correlations for six temporal bones were made to confirm the validity of our radiologic hypotheses. In CT, in axial sections OM 0 degree, the posterior canal of the CdT was visualized in 71% of cases, the ABV canal in 4%, the inferior tympanic canal in 12.5%, the carotico-tympanic canal in no cases and the canal of the lesser petrosal nerve in 50% (and in 75% with an incidence of OM + 10 degrees). In coronal incidence, the posterior canal of the CdT was seen in 20% of cases, the ABV canal in 25%, the inferior tympanic canal in 85%, the caroticotympanic canal in 65% and that of the lesser petrosal nerve in 15%. The six anatomic comparisons confirmed the radiologic hypotheses in every case. These different structures are easy to identify in HR CT and are important to define so that any lesion (tumoral or vascular) developing in their vicinity may not be overlooked.

-Cervical myelography using the lumbar route-. / La myélographie cervicale par voie lombaire.

Cervical myelography is obtained after injection of contrast medium into the lumbar subarachnoid space through a lumbar puncture. The patient is prone with a large radiolucent block under the pelvis so that the site of lumbar puncture is at a higher level than that of the cervical spine lordosis. Lumbar contrast is injected gently so that the contrast fluid slides along the ventral aspect of the dural sac and immediately reaches the cervical subarachnoid space. Then AP and lateral (with a horizontal X-ray beam) views are obtained. The patient has to remain firmly immobilized during the whole procedure to avoid blending of the contrast medium with CSF. This procedure is safe and allows cervical myelography to reach the same quality as that obtained through cervical puncture.

[Secret information provided by lumbosacral myelography]. / Les informations secrètes de la saccoradiculographie.

The authors emphasize the misleading images of lumbar myelography encountered in common vertebral diseases: disk disease, posterior interapophyseal joint diseases, degenerative and narrow spinal canal, in which dynamic views in the upright position represent the most original contribution of lumbosacral myelography as compared to new techniques. The authors also describe the postoperative appearances observed on lumbosacral myelography and some rarer diseases which must not be missed, such as epidural arachnoid cysts and epidural lipomatosis.

[Normal and pathologic imaging of the pituitary stalk]. / Imagerie normale et pathologique de la tige pituitaire.

Study of the pituitary stalk pathology about six demonstrative cases. This illustrative cases are described after review of literature, anatomy and imaging modalities. CT and MRI are very sensitive technics but not very specific.

[Subdural abscess. Rare complication of epidural infiltration. Apropos of a case and review of the literature]. / Abcès sous-dural. Complication rare d'une infiltration épidurale. A propos d'un cas et revue de la littérature.

Lumbar subdural abscesses have rarely been reported in the literature, and the complications of epidural infiltrations predominantly include arachnoiditis, meningitis and epidural abscesses. We report a case of lumbar subdural abscess confirmed by surgery, which appeared following epidural infiltration for lumbar sciatica and was examined with computed tomography and MRI. Only the latter technique alone showed the abscess, after gadolinium injection, and established its intradural site.