Gouty arthritis: A prospective radiographic evaluation of sixty patients

A prospective analysis of 60 patients with gout was undertaken to evaluate the radiographic spectrum of gouty arthritis in patients treated in the era of hypouricemic therapy. Twenty-two of these patients were clinically tophaceous; 36 were considered to have radiographic findings diagnostic of gouty arthritis by strict radiographic criteria. Up to 24% of the patients denied symptoms in joints with radiographic changes of gout; 42% with no evidence of tophi on clinical examination had radiographic changes characteristic of gout. Radiographic assessment can be extremely helpful in the management of gout by documenting the degree and extent of bony involvement, particularly in patients with limited symptoms or without clinical tophi.     

Diagnostic utility of an echo-contrast agent in patients with synovitis using power Doppler ultrasound: a preliminary study with comparison to contrast-enhanced MRI

The purpose of this study was to first evaluate Levovist (Schering, Berlin, Germany), an echo-contrast agent, during power Doppler sonography (PDS) in patients with synovitis using asymptomatic joints as controls. Then we evaluated the accuracy of this technique against contrast-enhanced MRI. Forty patients (19 men and 21 women; mean age 40 years) were enrolled on the basis of clinical signs, laboratory tests, and radiographic findings positive for articular inflammatory disease. They were examined with conventional ultrasonography (US) and PDS techniques before and after intravenous contrast medium injection. Fourteen patients then underwent MRI with and without contrast medium 8–14 days after PDS studies. Three expert readers independently evaluated each examination. After contrast medium, synovium in inflammatory arthritis enhanced on PDS compared with normal joints in the same patient. Power Doppler sonography after contrast medium and MRI were concordant in all cases. Power Doppler sonography with contrast medium showed a qualitative increase in signal from synovial vessels, the first sign of synovial changes in inflammatory diseases. Received: 10 February 2000 Revised: 27 July 2000 Accepted: 1 August 2000     

痛风性关节炎的CT、MRI对照分析

目的比较CT、MRI影像检查在痛风性关节炎中的诊断价值。方法选取我院2017年4月~2020年4月收治的经临床证实为痛风性关节炎患者80例作为观察对象,对所有患者实施CT及MRI检查,观察两种检查方法的诊断结果及影像学表现。结果80例患者确诊病变关节194个。CT检查共检出病变关节146个,MRI共检出病变关节186个,CT检查灵敏度(146/194)低于MRI(173/194)(P<0.05);相比于CT,MRI在关节积液、痛风结节、滑膜增厚、骨质破坏、关节周围水肿的检出率都更高。结论MRI对痛风性关节炎的诊断效果良好,可对关节炎病变进行较为准确的观察,具有临床推广价值。     

痛风性关节炎的超声研究进展

痛风性关节炎是临床常见疾病，由单钠尿酸盐结晶沉积在软骨、关节和周围软组织引发。超声不仅能用于痛风性关节炎的诊断和疗效评估，还可以引导细针穿刺获得诊断所需的组织样本。介绍痛风性关节炎的实用超声检查方法（六分钟检查法），以及超声在痛风性关节炎不同时期（无症状高尿酸血症期、急性期、发作间期和慢性期）中的诊断应用。在痛风性关节炎的诊治上，超声比X线、CT和MRI更有效，而且无辐射、检查费用低。     

99m-Tc HMDP bone scintigraphic findings of gouty arthropathy of both hands: extending soft tissue uptake adjacent to the joints

The 99mTc hydroxy methylene diphosphonate scintigraphic findings of both hands are correlated to the radiographic findings in a patient with a 30-year history of gouty arthropathy. Scintigraphic differentiation of the type of arthritis on the basis of uptake pattern is difficult. However, the findings of rheumatoid arthritis are confined to the joints and usually the involvement is symmetrical. With gout there is a tendency toward asymmetrical, bilateral, multifocal joint involvement with areas of intense abnormal uptake; because of the associated soft tissue swelling, the intense uptake usually extends beyond the involved joints.     

Omental infarction in children: color Doppler sonography correlated with surgery and pathology findings

OBJECTIVE: The objective of our report is to describe color Doppler sonography findings of omental infarction and correlate them with surgical and pathology findings. Ten children underwent preoperative gray-scale and color Doppler sonographic examinations; omental infarction was confirmed at surgery. CONCLUSION: Color Doppler sonography findings were reviewed and correlated with surgical and pathology findings. Color Doppler sonography features of idiopathic omental infarction differ from those of infarction secondary to omental torsion.     

Comparison of tuberculous and pyogenic epididymal abscesses: clinical, gray-scale sonographic, and color Doppler sonographic features

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the capability of clinical, gray-scale sonographic, and color Doppler sonographic features for differentiating tuberculous and pyogenic epididymal abscesses. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retrospective analysis was performed in 10 cases of tuberculous epididymal abscess and in 13 cases of pyogenic epididymal abscess. The following clinical, gray-scale sonographic, and color Doppler sonographic features were analyzed: patient's age; duration of symptoms; scrotal tenderness; presence of sinus tract; concurrent tuberculosis in other organs; location, size, and echogenicity of the abscess; hyperechoic rim; testicular involvement; hydrocele; and blood flow in the epididymal lesion. RESULTS: Tuberculous epididymal abscess had a longer duration of symptoms (p = 0.0001) and a lower frequency of scrotal tenderness (p = 0.0048) than pyogenic epididymal abscess. The size of the abscess was larger in tuberculous epididymal abscess than in pyogenic epididymal abscess (p = 0.0002). The degree of blood flow in the peripheral portion of the abscess was lower in tuberculous epididymal abscess (p = 0.001). The patient's age, location and echogeninicity of the abscess, presence of sinus tract, hyperechoic rim, testicular involvement, and hydrocele did not differ between the tuberculous and pyogenic epididymal abscesses. CONCLUSION: Some clinical findings, gray-scale sonography, and color Doppler sonography were useful in differentiating tuberculous epididymal abscess from pyogenic epididymal abscess. The presence of long-term scrotal swelling without tenderness and a lower degree of blood flow in the peripheral portion of a large abscess are suggestive of tuberculous epididymal abscess.     

Inflammatory bowel disease in children and young adults: correlation of sonographic and clinical parameters during treatment

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to evaluate the sonographic findings of inflammatory bowel disease activity in children undergoing treatment. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Eighty-eight sonograms were obtained of 23 bowel segments in 17 children and young adults (age range, 10-21 years; mean, 16 years) with new or recurrent inflammatory bowel disease. Sixteen segments were involved with Crohn's disease and seven with ulcerative colitis. Serial sonography (range, two to eight examinations; mean, four per segment) was performed while patients underwent treatment. Bowel wall thickness measurements and color and power Doppler sonography grading were recorded and compared with clinical data. RESULTS: All 17 patients had at least one abnormal bowel segment on initial sonography. The correlation was significant (p < 0.01). Agreement was 91% on direction of change over time between bowel wall thickness and Doppler grades, with 100% correlation between color and power Doppler sonography grades. In patients with Crohn's disease, the correlation was significant (p < 0.05) between bowel wall thickness and Doppler grades with two of seven and four of seven clinical parameters, respectively. In patients with ulcerative colitis, the correlation was significant (p < 0.05) between bowel wall thickness and Doppler sonography grades with four of seven and three of seven clinical parameters, respectively. The erythrocyte sedimentation rate correlated with all sonographic measurements in both patient groups. Combining bowel wall thickness and Doppler sonography, the percentage of agreement was significant in the direction of change, with five of seven clinical parameters in both patient groups. CONCLUSION: Gray-scale and color or power Doppler sonography can show changes in disease activity in children and young adults undergoing treatment for inflammatory bowel disease.     

Identification of feeding arteries to establish the intra- or extraparotid location of jugulodigastric nodules: value of color Doppler sonography

OBJECTIVE: The objective of our study was to determine the value of color Doppler imaging as an adjunct to gray-scale sonography to reveal the intra- or extraparotid origin of jugulodigastric nodules of uncertain location. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Forty nodules in the jugulodigastric area from 38 patients were imaged with gray-scale, color, and power Doppler sonography. Nodules receiving vessels from salivary glands were assumed to be intraglandular; those accepting vessels from paraparotid spaces were considered to arise from outside the gland. Imaging results were correlated with biopsy and surgical findings. RESULTS: In 38 of 40 cases, color and power Doppler sonography displayed discrete feeding arteries leading to the nodules: 25 nodules had one supplying artery, nine received two arteries, and four had three or more arteries. Intraparotid nodules received vessels from the gland in 20 cases. In two cases, the source of vessels was indeterminate. In two malignant tumors, multiple arteries derived from both the parotid and the neck spaces. All 14 extraparotid nodules received the arterial supply from paraparotid spaces. Color Doppler sonography enabled prediction of the intraglandular location of the nodules in 91% of cases and the extraglandular location in 87.5% of cases. The correct diagnosis was achieved in 34 of 40 nodules, with a global accuracy of 85%. CONCLUSION: Color Doppler sonography can help to assess the intra- or extraparotid location of jugulodigastric nodules. In practice, this technique can support the diagnosis when gray-scale sonography raises doubts about the origin of a jugulodigastric nodule.     

Using gray-scale and color and power Doppler sonography to detect prostatic cancer

OBJECTIVE: We performed a prospective study to assess gray-scale and color and power Doppler sonography for the detection of prostatic cancer and to determine the impact of operator experience. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Four radiologists with prior experience using gray-scale and Doppler imaging and four urologists with prior experience limited to gray-scale imaging performed sextant biopsies on 251 patients. Each biopsy site was prospectively scored for gray-scale and Doppler abnormality. RESULTS: Cancer was detected in 211 biopsy sites from 85 patients. Overall agreement between sonographic findings and biopsy results as measured with the kappa statistic was minimally superior to chance (kappa = 0.12 for gray-scale, kappa = 0.11 for color Doppler, kappa < or =0.09 for power Doppler). With respect to gray-scale diagnosis of cancer, the performance of radiologists (kappa = 0.12) and urologists (kappa = 0.13) was similar. With respect to power Doppler, the performance of radiologists (kappa = 0.09) was superior to that of urologists (kappa = -0.03, p<0.002). Among patients with at least one positive biopsy for cancer, foci of increased power Doppler flow detected by a radiologist were 4.7 times more likely to contain cancer than adjacent tissues without flow. CONCLUSION: Gray-scale and Doppler imaging did not reveal prostatic cancer with sufficient accuracy to avoid sextant biopsy. Power Doppler may be useful for targeted biopsies when the number of biopsy passes must be limited. There is benefit from increased operator experience with Doppler imaging, but there is no demonstrable benefit of power Doppler over conventional color Doppler sonography.     

Initial experience with contrast-enhanced sonography of the prostate

OBJECTIVE: We investigated the usefulness of contrast-enhanced sonography to depict vascularity in the prostate and improve the detection of prostatic cancer. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Twenty-six patients with an elevated prostate-specific antigen level (> or = 4 ng/ml) or an abnormal digital rectal examination were enrolled in a phase II study of an i.v. injected sonographic contrast agent. Continuous gray-scale, intermittent gray-scale, phase inversion gray-scale, and power Doppler sonography of the prostate were performed. Sonographic findings were correlated with sextant biopsy results. RESULTS: After the administration of contrast material, gray-scale and Doppler images revealed visible enhancement (p < 0.05). Using intermittent imaging, we found focal enhancement in two isoechoic tumors that were not visible on baseline images. No definite focal area of enhancement was identified in any patient without cancer. Contrast-enhanced images revealed transient hemorrhage in the biopsy tracts of three patients. CONCLUSION: Enhancement of the prostate can be seen on gray-scale and Doppler sonographic images after the administration of an i.v. contrast agent. Contrast-enhanced intermittent sonography of the prostate may be useful for the selective enhancement of malignant prostatic tissue.     

痛风性膝关节炎MRI骨侵蚀、骨髓水肿、滑膜炎与痛风石的相关性研究

目的探讨膝关节痛风性关节炎MRI特征,及骨侵蚀、骨髓水肿、滑膜炎与痛风石之间的相互关系,以研究痛风骨侵蚀和关节损伤的潜在机制。方法回顾性分析31例慢性痛风患者膝关节双能量CT和MRI影像检查,对比分析痛风石、骨髓水肿、骨侵蚀及滑膜炎之间的相关关系。结果4例患者为双侧膝关节检查,共35个膝关节纳入研究,其中34%的存在骨侵蚀,与痛风石有明显相关性,OR值76.4(95%CI 10.0,582.2)(P<0.001)。骨髓水肿不常见,发生率仅为1.2%(3/245),骨侵蚀和骨髓水肿之间没有明显相关性。在有骨侵蚀的膝关节中,75%的膝关节同时伴有滑膜炎,而在没有骨侵蚀的膝关节,43.4%的膝关节具有滑膜炎,骨侵蚀和滑膜炎之间的OR值为5.3(95%CI 1.1,25.5)(P=0.035)。结论痛风性关节炎骨侵蚀,与痛风石沉积明显相关;痛风骨髓水肿不常见,且水肿程度轻微。痛风石是骨侵蚀发生的主要危险因素之一。     

A re-look at an old disease: a multimodality review on gout

Gout, the most common form of microcrystalline arthropathy has always interested radiologists. The diagnosis of gout is primarily based on clinical and laboratory findings; however, it has well known and characteristic radiographic manifestations. Radiographs remain the examination of choice in the diagnosis of joint involvement. Plain radiographs are less sensitive to early changes in gout than other imaging techniques. Recently, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), ultrasound (US), and computed tomography (CT) have demonstrated an increasing role in early diagnosis of gouty arthritis, for assessing the extent of soft-tissue involvement and as problem-solving tools for diagnostically difficult cases. Cross-sectional imaging can also be used for guiding needle aspirations in patients with an acute attack of gout, which may simulate an infective process clinically. This pictorial review illustrates the main imaging features of gout on radiographs, MRI, CT, and ultrasound with the aim of helping the radiologist to make a confident diagnosis in radiographically typical cases and to serve as a problem-solving tool in cases that present a diagnostic dilemma.     

Graded compression sonography of the colon in the diagnosis of polyps in pediatric patients

OBJECTIVE: We report seven cases of juvenile polyps detected by graded compression gray-scale and color Doppler sonography in five children with nonspecific symptoms. CONCLUSION: Intestinal polyps can be detected by graded compression gray-scale and color Doppler sonography without colonic preparation. On gray-scale sonography, polyps appeared as spherical or ovoid hypoechoic nodules in the colon lumen. Small cysts were identified inside the nodules. Four polyps had fewer and smaller cysts, whereas three others contained many cysts. A hyperechoic layer surrounding the polyp corresponded to the submucosa. In two patients, the polyp was visualized in the transverse colon and caused a colocolic intussusception, which reduced spontaneously during sonography. Color Doppler sonography showed four hypovascularized and three hypervascularized polyps.     

足踝部X线表现阴性痛风性关节炎的CT与MRI表现对比研究

目的:对足踝部X线平片表现阴性痛风患者的CT和MRI表现进行对比研究,评估其隐匿性骨质破坏及其他影像学表现。方法:收集于我院就诊的36例X线平片阴性痛风患者,于2周内均行CT与MRI平扫,分析骨质破坏、关节内和/(或)周围痛风石、软组织肿胀、关节腔积液、滑膜增厚和骨髓水肿等征象。结果:36例CT平扫可见骨质破坏23例,MRI可见13例,二者差异有统计学意义(P=0.002)。CT平扫可见关节内和/(或)周围痛风石23例,MRI可见27例,二者差异无统计学意义(P=0.289);其中21例CT、MRI均见痛风石表现,6例仅MRI可见,2例仅CT可见。CT与MRI平扫分别有11例和15例可见关节腔积液表现,二者差异无统计学意义(P=0.125)。2种检查均见软组织肿胀24例,差异无统计学意义(P=1.000)。另外,36例的MRI平扫中,4例可见滑膜增厚,30例见骨髓水肿表现。结论:CT与MRI平扫可显示X线平片无法显示的隐匿性骨质破坏及微小痛风石,CT平扫对于早期骨质破坏的显示优于MRI,但MRI可提供更多影像信息。对于足踝部X线表现阴性痛风性关节炎,CT与MRI相结合为最佳检查手段。     

Appendicitis in children: color Doppler sonography.

The authors used color Doppler ultrasonography (US) to evaluate 33 children with suspected appendicitis and found locally increased blood flow in all of 10 patients with appendicitis or periappendiceal abscess; the studies were normal in 16 patients without appendicitis. The gray-scale sonographic results were concordant in all 26 of these patients. In two other patients with presumptive mesenteric adenitis and in one patient with a hemorrhagic ovarian cyst at gray-scale US, color Doppler imaging showed no increased perfusion and aided in confirming the absence of a significant inflammatory process. In four other children, color Doppler US clarified gray-scale sonographic findings that might have been confused with complicated appendicitis and aided in the diagnosis of other causes of acute abdominal pain. These findings indicate that color Doppler US is a useful adjunct to gray-scale US in evaluating children with suspected acute appendicitis.     

The hand in psoriatic arthropathy. Radiographic and xeroradiographic comparison

The hands of 45 cases of psoriasis with arthritis and of 100 cases of rheumatoid arthritis without psoriasis were studied by radiographic and xerographic techniques. The characteristic findings of both methods were recorded separately and compared later. In 44% of cases of psoriatic arthritis, radiographic and xerographic changes are indistinguishable from typical rheumatoid arthritis, but with predominant involvement of distal interphalangeal joints, often bilaterally asymmetric. On the contrary, in 31% of cases, erosive polyarthritis associated with proliferation of subperiosteal new bone (enthesopathy) is present, also with characteristic feature of arthritis mutilans. In 25% of cases, psoriasis of the skin and/or nails is associated with clinical manifestations of rheumatoid arthritis, without roentgenographic findings of arthropathy. The xerographs and radiographs of each patient were compared, assessing the degree of subperiosteal erosion, soft tissue swelling, acro-osteolysis, distruction of small joints and osteolysis of the phalanges, bony ankylosis. The soft tissue swelling ("sausage" finger) was more easily demonstrated by xeroradiography than by conventional radiography, because of its wide recording latitude. However, radiograph remains the technique of choice in the assessment of bone changes of the hand, especially at the first stage of arthritides.     

Advanced imaging of gout

Gout is a metabolic disorder in which there is either an increase in production or a decrease in excretion of uric acid leading to hyperuricemia. Long-lasting hyperuricemia causes the deposition of monosodium urate crystals in the joints and soft tissues triggering gouty arthritis and, if not properly treated, the formation of gouty tophi. Characteristic of gout are well-defined, punched-out erosion with overhanging edges, with preservation of the joint space, lack of periarticular osteopenia, asymmetrical involvement, soft tissue nodules, and intraosseous calcifications. On magnetic resonance imaging, tophi usually have low signal intensity on both TI- and T2-weighted images and a variable enhancement pattern.     

乳腺脂肪坏死的X线和超声诊断

目的探讨乳腺脂肪坏死的X线及B超表现，提高对本病影像诊断的认识。资料与方法回顾性分析25例经手术、病理证实的乳腺脂肪坏死X线平片及超声声像图表现。结果X线片表现：(1)双侧乳腺结构、密度不对称10例；(2)淡薄片影3例；(3)有毛刺的结节5例；(4)X线片无阳性发现5例。超声声像图表现：(1)16例(16／17，94．1％)非医源性脂肪坏死病灶位于皮下脂肪层；(2)结节回声高低不一(高、低、无)；(3)彩色Doppler超声病灶无血流信号8例。结论乳腺脂肪坏死根据其病因和时期，其影像表现多种多样。X线与B超检查结合，本组有65％可排除乳腺癌的诊断。位于乳腺脂肪层内的网状片影或有毛刺的结节首先考虑脂肪坏死的可能，紧密结合临床病史，可提高本病诊断准确性。     

Nodal osteoarthritis and gout: a report of four new cases

 Recently gout has been recognized as a cause of inflammation in patients with nodal osteoarthritis. We reviewed the clinical data and radiographs of four patients with known osteoarthritis of the interphalangeal joints of the hands who developed gout. Radiographic changes of osteoarthritis in the affected interphalangeal joint were present in all four patients. In our cases, radiographic findings were typical of gout in one patient, including the presence of large eccentric soft tissue masses and periarticular erosions. In three patients, radiographic findings were non-specific, including only a small eccentric nodule in one patient, diffuse soft tissue swelling in a second, and a large calcified soft tissue mass with bony erosions in a third. Whenever a patient with interphalangeal joint osteoarthritis presents with an acute episode of inflammation the possibility of gout should be considered. Recognition of gout will allow the timely initiation of appropriate therapy.