Imaging features of iliopsoas bursitis

The aim of this study was firstly to describe the spectrum of imaging findings seen in iliopsoas bursitis, and secondly to compare cross-sectional imaging techniques in the demonstration of the extent, size and appearance of the iliopsoas bursitis as referenced by surgery. Imaging studies of 18 patients (13 women, 5 men; mean age 53 years) with surgically proven iliopsoas bursitis were reviewed. All patients received conventional radiographs of the pelvis and hip, US and MR imaging of the hip. The CT was performed in 5 of the 18 patients. Ultrasound, CT and MR all demonstrated enlarged iliopsoas bursae. The bursal wall was thin and well defined in 83% and thickened in 17% of all cases. The two cases with septations on US were not seen by CT and MRI. A communication between the bursa and the hip joint was seen, and surgically verified, in all 18 patients by MR imaging, whereas US and CT failed to demonstrate it in 44 and 40% of the cases, respectively. Hip joint effusion was seen and verified by surgery in 16 patients by MRI, whereas CT (4 of 5) and US ( n=12) underestimated the number. The overall size of the bursa corresponded best between MRI and surgery, whereas CT and US tended to underestimate the size. Contrast enhancement of the bursal wall was seen in all cases. The imaging characteristics of iliopsoas bursitis are a well-defined, thin-walled cystic mass with a communication to the hip joint and peripheral contrast enhancement. The most accurate way to assess iliopsoas bursitis is with MR imaging; thus, it should be used for accurate therapy planning and follow-up studies. In order to initially prove an iliopsoas bursitis, US is the most cost-effective, easy-to-perform and fast alternative.     

Obturator externus bursa: anatomic origin and MR imaging features of pathologic involvement

PURPOSE: To investigate the anatomy of the obturator externus bursa of the hip and describe the magnetic resonance (MR) imaging features of pathologic involvement. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The authors dissected eight cadaver hemipelvises to assess for the presence of periarticular bursae of the hip and bursal communication with the fascial plane of the obturator externus muscle. In addition, 10 consecutive patients with obturator externus bursa enlargement were prospectively identified with MR imaging. A bursa was considered present when a fluid collection was seen extending along the obturator externus muscle, continuous with the posterior inferior hip joint. The direction, extent, contour, and thickness of the bursa and hip capsule were recorded. Surgical findings were available for eight of the 10 patients, with histopathologic correlation between the bursal lining and hip capsule. RESULTS: At cadaveric dissection, one specimen showed a bursa communicating with and extending from the posteroinferior aspect of the hip joint deep to the obturator externus tendon. In all 10 patients, MR images showed a hip joint effusion with a continuous bursa extending medially and displacing the obturator externus inferiorly. At surgery, a bursa was seen displacing the obturator externus muscle inferiorly and originating from the posteroinferior aspect of the hip joint in all eight patients. Results of pathologic analysis confirmed disease identical to the primary hip abnormality in all eight patients. CONCLUSION: The obturator externus bursa is a potential posteroinferior communication of the hip joint capsule, can be a site of disease spread from the hip joint, and can be accurately identified with MR imaging.     

Synovial cysts of the hip joint and iliopsoas bursitis: A spectrum of imaging abnormalities

Synovium-related soft tissue disease around the hip constitutes a spectrum ranging from isolated iliopsoas bursitis to pure articular synovial herniations without bursal involvement. The clinical, pathologic, and radiographic features of these entities are discussed as they pertain to the variety of underlying disorders which predispose to their occurrence. Nine case reports are utilized to illustrate the variable clinical and radiographic presentations which may be encountered. Based upon these cases as well as those in the literature, an imaging algorithm has been developed which should eliminate unnecessary studies and allow prompt and accurate diagnosis.     

髂腰肌囊积液的临床、CT诊断

目的 分析髂腰肌囊积液的CT表现，探讨其发病机制和鉴别诊断。资料与方法 回顾分析经手术或穿刺证实的34例髂腰肌囊积液的临床和CT资料。结果 34例髂腰肌囊积液中，30例伴有筋关节疾病，其中股骨头缺血坏死20例，类风湿性关节炎2例，筋关节退变5例，化脓性关节炎2例，滑膜骨软骨瘤病1例。临床表现为筋部疼痛、跛行、腹股沟区肿胀及下肢放射痛，8例腹股沟区可触及囊性肿物且有波动感。CT表现为单纯髂腰肌囊积液扩张26例，呈圆形、卵圆形及倒水滴状低密度影，其中8例增强扫描囊壁呈线样强化；髂腰肌囊积液扩张伴囊壁增厚6例；髂腰肌囊扩张囊壁呈斑点状或弧形钙化2例。结论CT扫描可显示扩张滑囊的范围、大小及形状，是正确诊断髂腰肌囊积液扩张的重要检查方法。     

Acute diverticulitis in patients under 40 years of age: radiologic diagnosis

During a 4-year period, eight patients 40 years old or younger had surgically proved diverticulitis at our institution. None of these patients had connective-tissue diseases or were on medication (i.e., steroids) that would predispose them to diverticulosis. The presenting clinical symptoms in this group of patients were often misleading, and in only one of the eight cases was the correct clinical diagnosis made at the time of admission. Of the three diagnostic studies that were performed (barium enema, sonography, and CT), barium enema was the most accurate, yielding evidence for diverticulitis in six of seven cases. The degree and extent of diverticulosis in these patients was minimal compared with that in the older patients. CT showed abdominal abscesses in two patients; in one, a mistaken diagnosis of Crohn disease was made; in the other, diverticulitis was correctly identified. In the three patients in whom sonography was performed, the findings were negative for diverticulitis. Our experience suggests that the diagnosis of acute diverticulitis should be considered in patients with abdominal pain who are less than 40 years old.     

Pseudobursae: a useful finding in patients with painful hip arthroplasty

A retrospective review of 178 consecutive subtraction hip arthrograms (175 patients) was performed to evaluate the significance of cavities or bursal communications (or both) with the pseudocapsule in patients with painful hip arthroplasty. Bursae and/or communicating cavities were shown in 75 (43%) of the 175 patients. Communicating irregular cavities were noted in 12 patients (nine infected), and smooth bursae or bursalike structures were noted in 63 patients. The most frequent bursal locations were the greater trochanteric region (32/63), supraacetabular region (18/63), and iliopsoas (12/63). Three patients had multiple bursae. Six of the 18 acetabular bursae were associated with previous dislocations. Twenty-seven patients with bursae had no radiographic findings of loosening or infection. Of these 27, 12 (44%) responded to local injection of anesthetic into the bursa and were judged clinically to have bursitis. Arthrography, with aspiration from the bursae or cavities and injection of anesthetic, provides additional information regarding painful hip arthroplasty and may prevent unnecessary surgery.     

Diagnostic and therapeutic use of sonography-guided iliopsoas peritendinous injections

OBJECTIVE: Our objective was to review our experience performing sonography-guided iliopsoas bursal/peritendinous injections as a diagnostic and therapeutic tool in the workup and treatment of patients with hip pain. CONCLUSION: Sonography-guided iliopsoas bursal/peritendinous injections are useful in determining the cause of hip pain. They can provide relief to most patients with iliopsoas tendinosis/bursitis after hip replacement. The results of injection alone are not as successful in cases of idiopathic iliopsoas tendinosis/bursitis, but the technique can help determine which patients may benefit from a surgical tendon release.     

Double contrast barium enema in Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis.

Double contrast barium enema examinations in 24 patients with Crohn's disease of the colon and 29 patients with ulcerative colitis were reviewed without knowledge of the clinical diagnosis. The radiologic diagnosis of Crohn's disease agreed with the clinical diagnosis in 98% of patients. In this condition the most common radiologic findings were discontinuous or asymmetric disease (88%) and discrete ulcers (67%) often on a normal mucosa. The latter are characteristic of early Crohn's disease and may enable the radiologist to be the first to suggest the diagnosis, particularly when both sigmoidoscopy and small bowel examination are normal. Of the patients with ulcerative colitis, a positive radiologic diagnosis was made in 83% on the basis of a granular mucosal pattern (79%) and continuous distal involvement (86%). The high accuracy of the double contrast technique, especially in Crohn's disease, and the relative specificity of the signs that it can demonstrate suggest that this is the preferred examination in the radiologic evaluation of inflammatory bowel disease.     

External impingement of the shoulder

The relationship between external shoulder impingement and rotator cuff disease has been the subject of much research, but the theories of cause and effect remain controversial. Patients with symptoms of external impingement are referred for imaging to identify bony abnormalities of the coracoacromial arch and associated bursal and rotator cuff disease. Attempts have been made to identify objective imaging criteria that confirm the diagnosis of impingement, but at present external impingement remains primarily a clinical diagnosis. Therapeutic management varies from rehabilitation with physiotherapy to surgical procedures aimed at decompressing the subacromial space and repairing rotator cuff tears. This article reviews the relevant anatomy, biomechanics, and theories of external impingement, the role of imaging in the diagnosis of external impingement and rotator cuff disease, and implications upon management.     

Invasive carcinoma of the cervix uteri (stage IB-IIB): evaluation using magnetic resonance

In patients with cervical carcinoma the selection of the optimal therapy depends on the precise preoperative assessment of the extent of disease. Currently, decisions regarding the management of these patients are made on the basis of clinical (FIGO) staging that has 50% mean error rate. To investigate the value of MR imaging in staging patients with invasive cervical cancer, we performed 25 MR examinations on 23 patients with histologic diagnosis of cervical cancer. All patients were clinically considered as having stage IB or IIB disease and underwent radical hysterectomy, providing specimens for pathologic correlation. The overall accuracy of MR imaging in staging cervical carcinoma (stage IB-IIB) was 78.1%. MR imaging seems to be the most reliable preoperative modality for staging invasive cervical cancer.     

Masked assessment of MRI findings: is it possible to differentiate neuro-Behçet's disease from other central nervous system

Two neuroradiologists reviewed MRI studies of 34 patients with neuro-Behçet's disease (NBD), 22 with multiple sclerosis (MS) and 7 with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) with central nervous system involvement, masked to the clinical diagnosis, age and sex of the patients. Of the patients with NBD 12 were in an acute attack; the others had chronic disease. MRI was assessed using a set of criteria, looking at atrophy, the site of discrete parenchymal lesions, regions of predominant involvement and the extent of the lesion(s). The observers also made a guess at the clinical diagnosis. The brain stem and/or basal ganglia were the most predominantly involved sites in all patients with acute NBD; 75 % of these lesions were large and confluent, mainly extending from the brain stem to the diencephalon and basal ganglia. However, in chronic cases, the predominant involvement was in the brain stem and/or basal ganglia in only 36 %, and in cerebral hemisphere white matter in another 36 %; 27 % of these patients showed no parenchymal lesion. Hemisphere white-matter lesions were equally distributed between periventricular and other areas in NBD, while in MS more were periventricular, and in SLE more were nonperiventricular. Brain-stem atrophy was seen in 21 % of patients with NBD, with a specificity of 96.5 %. In the absence of cortical atrophy, its specificity was 100 %. The attempt at making a radiological diagnosis was successful in all cases of acute NBD and 95.5 % of patients with MS, but in only 40 % of patients with chronic NBD. Most of this latter groups MRI studies were interpreted as MS. An extensive lesion involving the brain stem and basal ganglia seemed to be diagnostic of acute NBD. However, hemisphere white-matter lesions could not be differentiated from those in MS.     

Reliability of the Thomas test for assessing range of motion about the hip

ObjectivesRehabilitative protocols and research are significantly influenced by the ability to perform reliable measures of specific physical attributes or functions. The hypothesis was that the Thomas test for evaluating range of motion about the hip joint is a reliable clinical assessment tool.SubjectsParticipants (n=54) were between the ages of 18 and 45, and had no history of trauma.MethodsThree Board-Certified Athletic Therapists assessed hip range of motion using pass/fail and goniometer scoring systems. A re-test session was completed seven to ten days later.ResultsStatistically, Kappa values for pass/fail scoring (intra-rater ℜ=0.47, inter-rater ℜ=0.39) and ICC values (intra-rater ℜ=0.52, inter-rater ℜ=0.60) for goniometer data both indicated that the Thomas test demonstrated poor intra and inter-rater reliability. However, measurement error values (SEM=1°, ME=2°, and CV=15%) and Bland and Altman plots demonstrated that there was only a small degree of intra-rater variance for each examiner when executing the Thomas test in a clinical setting.ConclusionsResults call into question the statistical reliability of the Thomas test, but provide clinicians with important information regarding the reliability limits of the Thomas test when used to clinically evaluate hip range of motion and ilio-psoas muscle flexibility in a physically active population. More research is required in order to determine the variables that may confound statistical reliability of this orthopaedic technique that is commonly used in a clinical setting to assess hip function.     

Evaluation of ultrasound-guided diagnostic local anaesthetic hip joint injection for osteoarthritis

Purpose

The diagnosis of hip osteoarthritis is often complicated by co-existing pathology in the knee and spine, and mismatch between clinical and radiological signs. Temporary pain relief from a local anaesthetic injection into the hip joint has been reported to help localise symptoms, reducing the risk of unnecessary surgery being performed. We hypothesize that good surgical outcome is predicted by good analgesia following diagnostic injection, and that alternative pathology is present when there is no response to injection.

Methods

Data were analysed from a prospective database of 163 consecutive patients who underwent diagnostic hip injection for possible osteoarthritis. We recorded result of injection and whether hip arthroplasty was performed. A good outcome to surgery was defined as subsequent pain relief without significant residual symptoms.

Results

A total of 138 patients were suitable for inclusion in the study. Fifty-eight patients had hip arthroplasty following a good response to diagnostic injection. Of these 54 had a good outcome following surgery (93%). There was also a quantitative improvement in pain and function in these patients as measured by 1?year post-operative and pre-operative Harris hip scores (P?Conclusion Diagnostic ultrasound-guided local anaesthetic injection of the hip joint is a useful test in confirming hip pathology. Complete relief of hip pain following intracapsular injection of local anaesthetic is associated with good surgical outcome following joint replacement.     

Radiologic manifestations of extra-cardiac complications of infective endocarditis

Infective endocarditis (IE) is a disease with high morbidity and a mortality rate of 9–30%, even with appropriate diagnosis and therapy. Septic emboli, caused by IE, can affect any organ or tissue in the body with an arterial supply and occur in 12–40% of IE cases. The most common extra-cardiac organ system involved in IE is the central nervous system. Other organs frequently involved are the lungs (especially in right-sided IE), spleen, kidneys, liver, and the musculoskeletal system. In addition, the arterial system itself is susceptible to the development of potentially fatal mycotic aneurysms. As extra-cardiac complications often antedate the clinical diagnosis of IE, it is important that the diagnosis is suggested when characteristic findings are encountered during imaging. In addition, imaging is often used to monitor the extent of complications in patients with a known diagnosis of IE.     

Epidemiology and prognostic aspects of ankylosing spondylitis

The spondyloarthritides (SpA) comprise ankylosing spondylitis (AS), psoriatic SpA (PsSpA), reactive SpA (ReSpA), arthritis associated with chronic inflammatory bowel disease (SpAIBD) and undifferentiated SpA (uSpA). There are characteristic clinical features of SpA: inflammatory back pain (IBP), asymmetric peripheral arthritis, enthesitis, anterior uveitis, positive family history and others. The SpA, mainly AS, are strongly associated with HLA B27. AS is the most frequent and potentially most severe subtype, next to PsSpA. The prevalence of all SpA is rather high and not much different from rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and AS patients carry a burden of disease similar to RA patients. The prognosis of AS has not been extensively studied but some factors have been identified. There is a clear role for imaging modalities in the diagnosis of AS. Changes in the sacroiliac joint as detected by radiography still constitute the basis for the diagnosis of AS (New York criteria 1984). A diagnosis of sacroiliitis as made by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) provides more objective evidence to a diagnosis of IBP arguing in favour of SpA which is defined on the basis of the ESSG criteria 1991 mainly on a clinical basis. Radiographic spinal changes such as syndesmophytes are important for the staging and outcome of AS. MR based assessment of spinal changes in are now being increasingly used to assess disease activity of AS patients. The presence of spinal radiographic changes at time of presentation was found to be the best predictor of further deterioration using the score modified SASSS' in a recent study. Other clinical features such as hip arthritis, early onset of disease, dactylitis, oligoarthritis, limitation of spinal mobility and poor efficacy of nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs were found to also have negative prognostic value.     

The symptomatic hip in childhood: scintigraphic findings in the presence of a normal radiograph

The principal causes in children of a nonacute painful hip are Perthes disease and synovitis (irritable hip). The ^99mTc methylene diphosphonate (MDP) bone scan appearances in Perthes disease are well-known; in synovitis, the hip may show a diffuse increase in activity or may be normal. The significance of bone scintigraphy in the clinical setting of non-acute hip symptoms with normal skeletal radiography has been evaluated in 36 symptomatic children. The mean duration of symptoms prior to scan was 3 months (range 1 week-17 months). On the basis of final diagnosis, established by clinical findings, bone scan, X-ray and follow-up, the children were divided into two groups: synovitis or Perthes disease. Of the 33 scans in the 32 children with synovitis, 18 were normal and 15 showed diffusely increased activity on the painful side. All four patients with Perthes disease had focal femoral head abnormalities in the painful hip. Of the 18 children with normal scans, none went on to develop a skeletal disorder. In children with hip pain of over 1 week's duration, the main value of the bone scan is the early detection of Perthes disease. Diffuse increased activity on the painful side suggests synovitis. A normal scan virtually excludes significant skeletal abnormality.     

Diagnostic imaging of liver masses in children

We reviewed the investigation of liver masses in 45 children. Plain films of the abdomen (in 42) and radionuclide liver and spleen scans (in 38) were nonspecific, although the latter had a sensitivity of 100%. Sonography detected lesions in 39 of the 40 patients in whom it was performed (sensitivity 97.5%), and suggested a specific diagnosis in 16 (41%). Computerized tomography (CT) detected all lesions (sensitivity 100%) and gave more information than the other modalities in 17 of the 38 cases (44.7%), as well as the best definition of the extent of liver lesions. Sonography should be the initial modality of choice in children with suspected liver masses but, in most patients, CT is the single most helpful method for defining the extent of such masses. In addition, CT may also show extrahepatic disease. In a particular clinical context, the characteristic CT pattern of contrast enhancement is diagnostic of hemangioma. Angiography provides a preoperative map of abdominal vasculature in patients with malignant disease or vascular aneurysm, and is indicated for this purpose.     

Role of 99mTc Sulesomab in the diagnosis of prosthetic joint infections

BACKGROUND: Investigation of suspected infection in prosthetic joint replacements is a difficult orthopaedic problem with important therapeutic implications. METHODS: We retrospectively analysed the results of 38 patients referred with a clinical suspicion of bone or joint infections. Referrals were made for suspected infection of prosthetic hip joints (17), total knee replacements (13), total elbow replacements (4) and total shoulder replacements (4). Sulesomab imaging was done with 650 MBq of 99mTc Sulesomab. The scintigraphic diagnosis was compared with the final clinical diagnosis and information collected from routine blood tests (erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein and full blood count), plain radiographs, appropriate microbiology, culture and/or histology where available. The final diagnosis was determined by conclusive microbiology, culture and/or histology, intra-operative findings, aspiration, complementary investigations like computed tomography/magnetic resonance imaging and long-term clinical follow-up. RESULTS: The overall sensitivity was 90.90% and specificity 81.48%. The individual sensitivity and specificity of each category were compared. Knee prostheses showed better sensitivity and specificity compared to that for hip prostheses. CONCLUSIONS: 99mTc Sulesomab seems to be useful in excluding infection rather than confirming it, with a high negative predictive value (95.65%).     

Painful heel: MR imaging findings.

Heel pain is a common and frequently disabling clinical complaint that may be caused by a broad spectrum of osseous or soft-tissue disorders. These disorders are classified on the basis of anatomic origin and predominant location of heel pain to foster a better understanding of this complaint. The disorders include plantar fascial lesions (fasciitis, rupture, fibromatosis, xanthoma), tendinous lesions (tendinitis, tenosynovitis), osseous lesions (fractures, bone bruises, osteomyelitis, tumors), bursal lesions (retrocalcaneal bursitis, retroachilleal bursitis), tarsal tunnel syndrome, and heel plantar fat pad abnormalities. With its superior soft-tissue contrast resolution and multiplanar capability, magnetic resonance (MR) imaging can help determine the cause of heel pain and help assess the extent and severity of the disease in ambiguous or clinically equivocal cases. Careful analysis of MR imaging findings and correlation of these findings with patient history and findings at physical examination can suggest a specific diagnosis in most cases. The majority of patients with heel pain can be successfully treated conservatively, but in cases requiring surgery (eg, plantar fascia rupture in competitive athletes, deeply infiltrating plantar fibromatosis, masses causing tarsal tunnel syndrome), MR imaging is especially useful in planning surgical treatment by showing the exact location and extent of the lesion.     

Comparison of ultrasound, digital and conventional radiography in differentiating periapical lesions

OBJECTIVES: To carry out an in vivo comparative pilot study to evaluate the efficacy of ultrasound, digital (DR) and conventional plain film-based imaging (PF) in the differential diagnosis of periapical lesions. METHODS: Fifteen patients aged between 13 years and 40 years with periapical lesions associated with anterior maxillary or mandibular teeth requiring endodontic surgery were selected and consented for the study. Pre-operative periapical radiographs (PF) and charge coupled device (CCD) DR were obtained. Measurements and provisional diagnoses of the apical areas were made by three specialist observers (two dental radiologists and one endodontist) on three separate occasions. Pre-operative ultrasound examinations were then performed and the images assessed by two specialist observers (ultrasonographer and endodontist) for the size, contents, vascular supply and a provisional diagnosis made as to whether the lesion was a cyst or granuloma. Endodontic surgery was performed including curettage of the apical tissues to enable histopathological investigation, which provided the gold standard diagnosis. All measurements and findings were compared and statistically analysed. RESULTS: On PF and DR the periapical lesions were readily identified but observers were unable to differentiate granuloma from cyst using either modality. Dimensional measurements were subject to greater interobserver variation on DR than on PF. Where sufficient buccal cortical bone had been resorbed, ultrasound imaging was straightforward but underestimated the size of the lesions compared with PF and DR. In all 15 cases, the ultrasound diagnosis agreed with the histopathological gold standard. CONCLUSIONS: PF and DR enable diagnosis of periapical disease existence, but not of its nature; while ultrasound underestimates the extent of disease, but can provide accurate information on the pathological nature of the lesion.