Rheumatoid arthritis: explanatory power of specific radiographic findings for patient clinical status

Radiographs of the hands and wrists of 201 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) were scored for erosion, joint space narrowing, and malalignment. The explanatory power of these findings for measures of clinical status was studied with stepwise multiple linear regression analyses. Radiographic scores explained 59.2% of variation in physical joint count deformity scores, 58.5% of variation in limited motion scores, 22.5% of variation in grip strength scores, 20.5% of variation in button test scores, and 13.5% of variation for the American Rheumatism Association (ARA) Functional Class. Malalignment scores best explained variation in physical deformity, limited motion, and button test scores; joint-space-narrowing scores best explained variation in grip strength; erosion scores best explained variation in ARA Functional Class. When age, duration of disease, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and rheumatoid factor titer were included in the regression analyses, results were similar to those without these variables. Therefore quantitative scores of specific radiographic findings are in themselves explanatory for measures of clinical status.     

Rheumatoid arthritis: similarity of radiographic abnormalities in men and women

To test the hypothesis that there are significant differences in the radiographic appearance of rheumatoid arthritis between men and women, the authors blindly evaluated bilateral hand and wrist radiographs in 32 men with definite rheumatoid arthritis and 32 age- and disease duration-matched women (mean age, 56.4 years; mean disease duration, 10.5 years). Radiographically, disease distribution and severity were identical in these matched groups. Superimposed osteoarthritis was frequent in both groups and related to age. Ill-defined bone proliferation was present in 13 of 64 hands in both groups. Cystic changes and well-defined erosions were present in 12 of 64 male hands and six of 64 female hands, but this difference was not statistically significant. In women, presence of cysts and bone proliferation was related to disease duration, whereas men exhibited these atypical features independent of disease duration. There was no statistically significant difference in the frequencies of typical and atypical features of rheumatoid arthritis between the two sexes, and the authors postulate that previously reported differences relate to patient selection and lack of adequate matching.     

Rheumatoid arthritis of the cervical spine: early and progressive radiographic features

One hundred thirty-three cervical spine radiographs of 50 patients with rheumatoid arthritis were examined. The patients were a representative random sample chosen from among 675 patients followed up for more than 10 years. The frequency of occurrence for each radiographic finding was correlated with the duration of rheumatoid arthritis. The six radiographic findings that occurred in 30% or more of patients with a disease duration of less than 10 years included odontoid erosions, subaxial subluxation, superficial apophyseal joint erosions, apophyseal joint sclerosis at levels C-4 through C-7, and diskovertebral joint narrowing and osteophytosis at C-4 through C-7. Familiarity with these early findings in the cervical spine may be helpful in both diagnosing and managing rheumatoid arthritis. Subaxial subluxation and superficial apophyseal joint erosions did not progressively increase in frequency with increasing duration of disease, but the other four features did. Other features that were uncommon in early disease became significantly more frequent in later decades.     

Rapid destructive osteoarthritis: clinical, radiographic, and pathologic features.

Twenty-seven cases of an unusual, poorly recognized destructive hip arthropathy with radiographic findings of rapid severe joint destruction are presented. Radiographic findings mimicked those of other disorders such as septic arthritis, rheumatoid and seronegative arthritis, primary osteonecrosis with secondary osteoarthritis, or neuropathic osteoarthropathy, but none of the patients had clinical, pathologic, or laboratory evidence of these entities. All patients underwent hip arthroplasty, and osteoarthritis was confirmed at pathologic examination. Rapid progression of hip pain and disability was a consistent clinical feature. The average duration of symptoms was 1.4 years. Radiographs obtained at various intervals before surgery (average, 18 months) in nine patients documented rapid hip destruction. Involvement was unilateral in 89% (24 of 27 cases). Twenty patients (83%) were elderly women. The authors postulate that these cases represent an uncommon, rapidly destructive subset of osteoarthritis.     

数字化牙片X线摄影技术及其临床应用

目的 :研究数字化牙片X线摄影技术及其临床应用价值。方法 :采用SIRONA数字化牙片机设备 ,对 2 0 0例患者的 2 5 6颗牙齿行根尖片拍摄。结果 :与根尖片传统摄影比较 ,投照时垂直角度要不同程度加大 ,曝光时间缩短 87%～95 %。质量分级 :甲级片 2 2 9张 ,乙级片 19张 ,丙级片 8张。结论 :数字化牙片X线摄影技术具有传统根尖片摄影技术所不具备的优越性 ,在口腔临床及科研工作方面有良好的应用前景。     

Intraabdominal panniculitis: clinical, radiographic, and CT features

Intraabdominal panniculitis, also known as lipodystrophy, is an inflammatory condition of adipose tissue that may result in development of large masses containing necrotic fat (nodular intraabdominal panniculitis). Symptoms are secondary to inflammation or mass effect on adjacent organs. Barium studies may show nonspecific inflammatory changes and displacement of bowel loops. Computed tomography (CT) demonstrates inhomogeneous masses containing fat and soft tissue density. The diagnosis of intraabdominal panniculitis has seldom been made prospectively. However, the CT findings are characteristic and can aid in the evaluation and management of patients with this disease.     

Metastatic disease to the breast: clinical, pathologic, and radiographic features.

Metastatic lesions to the breast are unusual. We add 21 cases to the previously reported 131 clinical cases. The most common sources are malignant melanomas and the lymphoma/leukemia group. Metastatic lesions to the breast tend to be painless discrete lumps that are generally small at the time of discovery. They usually occur in the upper outer quadrant and are commonly associated with axillary adenopathy. Occasionally, they are the initial manifestation of an occult extramammary primary cancer. Prognosis is poor but appears slightly improved since availability of more refined chemo- and immunotherapeutic regimens. The clinical, pathologic, and radiographic features of this problem are described.     

Chronic diverticulitis: clinical, radiographic, and pathologic findings

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of our study is to present a series of 14 patients with chronic diverticulitis on barium enema examinations and to correlate the radiographic findings with the clinical and pathologic findings in these patients. CONCLUSION: Chronic diverticulitis is a distinct pathologic entity characterized by the frequent development of chronic obstructive symptoms and abdominal pain rather than the classic clinical findings of acute sigmoid diverticulitis. Barium enema examinations usually reveal a relatively long segment of circumferential narrowing in the sigmoid colon with a spiculated contour and tapered margins, sometimes associated with retrograde obstruction. Our experience suggests that chronic diverticulitis can often be diagnosed on the basis of the characteristic clinical and radiographic findings in these patients.     

Seronegative and seropositive rheumatoid arthritis: radiographic differences

Patients with seronegative and patients with seropositive rheumatoid arthritis (RA) have clinical, genetic, and immunologic differences. This study was undertaken to determine whether the two populations differ radiologically. Seventeen patients with seronegative RA were closely matched with seropositive control subjects. Radiographs of the hands and wrists were studied blindly, and disease severity was quantified with use of a modification of the Beaver Creek grading sheet. The following distinguishing features were also evaluated: osteosclerosis, new bone formation, carpal predominance, ankylosis (fusion), symmetry, and classical erosions. Seropositive patients had more severe disease, with larger and more numerous erosions, while the seronegative group had more osteosclerosis, carpal predominance, fusion, and new bone formation. Symmetry was equal in both groups. Although there were definite quantitative and qualitative differences between the two populations, radiologists should be cautious in using these criteria because of the great deal of overlap between the two groups.     

Marshall-Smith syndrome: new radiographic, clinical, and pathologic observations

Radiographic, clinical, and histologic findings in two infants and a neonate with a syndrome of profoundly accelerated skeletal maturation included features closely resembling those of Marshall-Smith (MS) syndrome, but patients had dysmorphic ears as well as distinctive generalized skeletal abnormalities suggestive of a bone dysplasia. Among these was an instability at the craniocervical junction with severe spinal stenosis. These previously unrecognized abnormalities may represent uncommon manifestations within the spectrum of MS syndrome or indicate the existence of a separate disorder.     

膝类风湿关节炎的MRI与病理对照研究

目的通过对膝类风湿关节炎(RA)病人关节软骨、软骨下骨髓及半月板进行MR-病理对照分析,探讨膝RA的MRI特点及病变发生机制。方法收集我院2008年11月—2014年12月间确诊为膝RA并行全膝关节置换术的11例病人(共13只膝关节)资料。评价关节软骨、软骨下骨髓及半月板的MRI表现,并在显微镜下对观察膝RA病人膝关节各部位组织的病理学特点。当细胞成分不确定时,使用免疫组织化学方法确定细胞种类。对关节软骨损伤MRI分级和半月板损伤MRI分度以及不同部位关节软骨下骨髓水肿和关节软骨、半月板损伤的病理学表现分度进行分析,并采用Mann-Whitney U检验对位于裸区和远离裸区的软骨下骨髓水肿的病理学表现分度进行比较。结果本组膝RA病人中大部分病人的MRI关节软骨破坏程度为4级,半月板破坏程度为4度。MRI显示52处软骨下骨髓水肿的部位中有18处(34.6%)于骨髓水肿上方覆盖有关节软骨且远离裸区,而34处(65.4%)的骨髓水肿位于裸区且邻近滑膜。在软骨下骨髓水肿的病理学表现中,纤维化、骨小梁镶嵌样结构及淋巴细胞浸润为最常见的表现。位于裸区和远离裸区骨髓水肿的两组间各种病理学表现分度差异均无统计学意义(均P0.05)。在关节软骨破坏的病理学表现中,纤维环、关节软骨破坏变薄及关节软骨增生为最常见的镜下病理表现。在全部13只切除的膝关节共26个半月板标本中,仅发现5个(19.2%)残留半月板标本,在MRI上均表现为萎缩、变薄,信号不均,其最常见的病理学表现为纤维化和吞噬包裹钙化碎片。结论晚期膝RA病人半月板及关节软骨破坏严重,骨髓水肿可发生于关节裸区或远离裸区部位,提示膝RA可同时累及多个部位,导致病人关节功能严重减退甚至丧失。     

The silent sinus syndrome: clinical and radiographic findings.

OBJECTIVE. The purpose of this article is to acquaint the reader with the clinical and imaging features of the silent sinus syndrome, which is relatively unknown. Discussion of the presentation, treatment, and theory regarding pathogenesis of the syndrome follows. CONCLUSION. The silent sinus syndrome consists of painless facial asymmetry and enophthalmos caused by chronic maxillary sinus atelectasis. Although the diagnosis is usually suspected clinically, it is confirmed radiologically by characteristic imaging features that include maxillary sinus outlet obstruction, sinus opacification, and sinus volume loss caused by inward retraction of the sinus walls.     

Neurologic dysfunction in patients with rheumatoid arthritis of the cervical spine. Predictive value of clinical, radiographic and MR imaging parameters

The aim of this study was to evaluate if subjective symptoms, radiographic and especially MR parameters of cervical spine involvement, can predict neurologic dysfunction in patients with severe rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Sequential radiographs, MR imaging, and neurologic examination were performed yearly in 46 consecutive RA patients with symptoms indicative of cervical spine involvement. Radiographic parameters were erosions of the dens or intervertebral joints, disc-space narrowing, horizontal and vertical atlantoaxial subluxation, subluxations below C2, and the diameter of the spinal canal. The MR features evaluated were presence of dens and atlas erosion, brainstem compression, subarachnoid space encroachment, pannus around the dens, abnormal fat body caudal to the clivus, cervicomedullary angle, and distance of the dens to the line of McRae. Muscle weakness was associated with a tenfold increased risk of neurologic dysfunction. Radiographic parameters were not associated. On MR images atlas erosion and a decreased distance of the dens to the line of McRae showed a fivefold increased risk of neurologic dysfunction. Subarachnoid space encroachment was associated with a 12-fold increased risk. Rheumatoid arthritis patients with muscle weakness and subarachnoid space encroachment of the entire cervical spine have a highly increased risk of developing neurologic dysfunction. Received: 31 December 1999 Revised: 30 May 2000 Accepted: 5 June 2000