Radiologia最新文献

Objective

Our aim was to add to the small but growing body of evidence on the effectiveness of ultrasound-guided Achilles intratendinous hyperosmolar dextrose prolotherapy and introduce a novel, preceding step of paratenon hydrodissection with lidocaine in patients with chronic Achilles tendinosis resistant to rehabilitation therapy.

Methods

We conducted a longitudinal, observational study on 27 consecutive patients diagnosed with Achilles tendinosis, in whom conservative treatment, ie, physiotherapy or shock wave therapy, had failed. A 2% lidocaine paratenon anesthesia and hydrodissection was followed by ultrasound-guided, intratendinous injections of 25% glucose every 5 weeks. Visual analogue scales (VAS) were used for pain assessment at rest, for activities of daily living, and after moderate exercise at the begining and at the end of the treatment. Moreover, tendon thickness and vascularisation were recorded at baseline and final treatment consultation. Effectiveness was estimated from scoring and relative pain reduction using a 95% CI. The non-parametric Wilcoxon test and a general linear model for repeated measures were applied. Statistical significance was established as p < 0.05.

Results

A median of 5 (1–11) injection consultations per patient were required. Pain scores decreased significantly in all three conditions (p < 0.001). Relative reductions were 75% in pain at rest (95% CI;61–93%), 69% in pain with daily living activities (95% CI; 55–83%), and 70% in pain after moderate exercise (95% CI; 57–84%). Tendon neo-vascularisation was significantly reduced (p < 0.001). We did not observe significant changes in tendon thickness (p = 0.083).

Conclusions

Achilles tendinosis treatment with paratenon lidocaine hydrodissection and subsequent prolotherapy with hyperosmolar glucose solution is safe, effective, inexpensive, and virtually painless with results maintained over time.

Emphysematous osteomyelitis is an extremely rare entity consisting of the presence of intraosseous gas that can extend to the joints and adjacent soft tissues. It is an aggressive infectious process associated with high mortality, especially in patients with risk factors such as tumors or diabetes mellitus. Because early diagnosis and immediate treatment are crucial to prevent the potentially devastating consequences of this condition, imaging tests such as computed tomography play a fundamental role in its diagnosis and management. Therefore, radiologists must be aware that intraosseous gas is a rare but alarming sign that is pathognomonic of emphysematous osteomyelitis, especially in the axial skeleton.

Background and aims

Myxoid liposarcoma is classified in the group of sarcomas with adipose differentiation, which is the second most common group of sarcomas. However, myxoid liposarcoma is not a homogeneous entity, because the behavior and clinical course of these tumours can vary widely. This study aimed to describe the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) features of myxoid liposarcomas and to determine whether the MRI features are associated with the histologic grade and can differentiate between low-grade and high-grade tumours and thus help in clinical decision making.

Material and methods

We studied 36 patients with myxoid liposarcomas treated at our centre between 2010 and 2018. We analysed clinical variables (age, sex, and tumour site) and MRI features (size, depth, borders, fatty component, myxoid component, non-fatty/non-myxoid component, apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC), and type of enhancement after the administration of intravenous contrast material). We correlated the MRI features with the histologic grade and the percentage of round cells.

Results

In our series, patients with myxoid liposarcomas were mainly young adults (median age, 43 years). There were no differences between sexes; 97.2% were located in the lower limbs, 86.1% were deep, and 77.8% had well-defined borders. Of the 23 myxoid liposarcomas that contained no fat, 16 (69.6%) were high grade (p = 0.01). All the tumors with a myxoid component of less than 25% were high grade (p = 0.01); 83.3% of those with a non-fatty/non-myxoid component greater than 50% were high grade (p = 0.03) and 61.5% had more than 5% round cells (p = 0.01). Diffusion sequences were obtained in 14 of the 36 patients; ADC values were high (median, 2 × 10⁻³ mm²/s), although there were no significant associations between low-grade and high-grade tumours. Contrast-enhanced images were available for 30 (83.3%) patients; 83.3% of the tumours with heterogeneous enhancement were high grade (p = 0.01).

Conclusions

MRI can be useful for differentiating between high- and low-grade myxoid liposarcomas and can help in clinical decision making.

Objectives

It is known that COVID-19 has multisystemic effects. However, its early effects on muscle tissue have not been clearly elucidated. The aim of this study is to investigate early changes in the pectoral muscle in patients with COVID-19 infection.

Materials and methods

The pectoral muscle areas (PMA) and pectoral muscle index (PMI) of 139 patients diagnosed with COVID-19 were measured from chest CTs taken at the time of the first diagnosis and within 6 months after the diagnosis. The effect of the infection on the muscle area was investigated by evaluating whether there was a change between the two measurements. Lung involvement of the infection in the first CT was scored with the CT severity score (CT-SS). In addition, the effects of patients' clinics, CT-SS, length of hospital stay, and intubation history on changes in the muscle area were investigated.

Results

When the PMA and PMI values were compared, there was a statistically significant decrease in the values in the control CT group compared to the first diagnosis CT group. The difference was found higher in intubated patients. CT-SS was associated with a decrease in PMI.

Conclusion

COVID-19 is one of the causes of acute sarcopenia. Pectoralis muscle is part of the skeletal muscle, and there may be a decrease in the muscle area in the early period of the disease.

Objective

Calcific tendinopathy of the rotator cuff is a common condition caused by the deposition of calcium crystals in the tendons of the rotator cuff. This study aimed to analyze the effectiveness of ultrasound-guided puncture and aspiration in calcific tendinopathy of the should in 86 patients treated at our center and to determine the factors associated with poor prognosis after this treatment.

Material and methods

This retrospective descriptive study included 86 patients with calcific tendinopathy of the rotator cuff treated with ultrasound-guided puncture and aspiration between 2015 and 2019 for whom clinical and radiological variables were collected 1, 3, 6, and 12 months after the procedure.

Results

One year after treatment, 81.4% patients showed clinical improvement and 96.5% showed radiological improvement. Complications were observed in 34.9%; all complications were mild.

Conclusions

Ultrasound-guided puncture and aspiration is an effective treatment for calcific tendinopathy of the shoulder, resulting in a high rate of clinical and radiological improvement and a low rate of minor complications. This technique has additional advantages, such as interaction with the patient and the lack of ionizing radiation.

In recent decades, the dreaded adverse effect of bisphosphonates, osteonecrosis of the jaw, has been widely reported and described in detail. Osteonecrosis of the jaw consists of the destruction of part of the maxilla as a consequence of these antiresorptive drugs. In recent years, new drugs that can also cause osteonecrosis of the jaw (e.g., some monoclonal antibodies or antiangiogenic drugs) have come on the market. For this reason, the term “bisphosphonate-related osteonecrosis of the jaw” has been replaced with “medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ).

This review aims to describe the radiologic characteristics of MRONJ that, although nonspecific, radiologists need to recognize in the appropriate clinical context.

Image acquisition involves the use of static magnetic fields, field gradients and radiofrequency waves. These elements make the MRI a different modality. More and more centers work with 3.0 T equipment that present higher risks for the patient, compared to those of 1.5 T.

Therefore, there is a need for updating for radiology staff that allows them to understand the risks and reduce them, since serious and even fatal incidents can occur.

The objective of this work is to present a review and update of the risks to which patients are subjected during the performance of a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) study.

Background and objective

Acute aortic syndrome (AAS) is uncommon and difficult to diagnose, with great variability in clinical presentation. To develop a computerized algorithm, or clinical decision support system (CDSS), for managing and requesting imaging in the emergency department, specifically computerized tomography of the aorta (CTA), when there is suspicion of AAS, and to determine the effect of implementing this system. To determine the factors associated with a positive radiological diagnosis that improve the predictive capacity of CTA findings.

Materials and methods

After developing and implementing an evidence-based algorithm, we studied suspected cases of AAS. Chi-squared test was used to analyze the association between the variables included in the algorithm and radiological diagnosis, with 3 categories: no relevant findings, positive for AAS, and alternative diagnoses.

Results

130 requests were identified; 19 (14.6%) had AAS and 34 (26.2%) had a different acute pathology. Of the 19 with AAS, 15 had been stratified as high risk and 4 as intermediate risk. The probability of AAS was 3.4 times higher in patients with known aortic aneurysm (P = .021, 95% CI 1.2–9.6) and 5.1 times higher in patients with a new aortic regurgitation murmur (P = .019, 95% CI 1.3–20.1). The probability of having an alternative severe acute pathology was 3.2 times higher in patients with hypotension or shock (P = .02, 95% CI 1.2–8.5).

Conclusion

The use of a CDSS in the emergency department can help optimize AAS diagnosis. The presence of a known aortic aneurysm and new-onset aortic regurgitation were shown to significantly increase the probability of AAS. Further studies are needed to establish a clinical prediction rule.

Prostate cancer is very common among men. Radiology, mainly through MRI, plays a key role in the different stages of prostate cancer: diagnosis, staging and treatment assessment. The correct management of MRI requires knowledge and proper use of the different guidelines developed for the acquisition, interpretation and reporting of MRI in diagnosis (PI-RADS guide), whole body staging (MET-RADS guide), active surveillance (PRECISE guide) and local recurrence (PI-RR guide) in prostate cancer. The objective of this article is to show an update and synthesis of the most relevant aspects of these MRI guidelines for an optimal use and thus providing a more effective management of prostate cancer.