Pseudoaneurysms complicating organ transplantation: roles of CT, duplex sonography, and angiography

In a retrospective study of proved pseudoaneurysms (PAs) in 15 patients with transplanted organs (11 liver, three kidney, one pancreas), the results of computed tomography (CT), duplex sonography, and angiography were reviewed. Of the 15 cases of PA, eight occurred at the arterial anastomosis and seven were nonanastomotic. Three of the eight anastomotic PAs were caused by infection. Of the seven nonanastomotic PAs, four were caused by percutaneous biopsy, two were caused by infection, and one was of undetermined cause. In nine (60%) of the 15 patients the PAs were incidentally detected at imaging studies performed for other reasons. Diagnosis requires a high degree of suspicion. CT was performed in nine cases and duplex sonography in ten. The diagnosis of PA was made with CT in six (67%) patients and with duplex sonography in five (50%). CT and duplex sonography could not enable diagnosis when the PA was small, when the arterial anastomosis was not included in the field of study, or when enhancement with intravenously administered contract material was suboptimal. Angiography depicted the PAs in all 15 patients. In three liver transplant recipients with gastrointestinal tract bleeding, the causative PAs were detected only with angiography.     

Paget's disease in the hand: correlation of magnetic resonance imaging with histology

A 62-year-old white woman was seen initially with a 4-month history of swelling over the dorsum of her wrist and thumb pain at the basal joint. Radiographs revealed pantrapezial arthritis and a marked increase in the radiodensity of the capitate. Tomograms showed slight enlargement of the capitate, and magnetic resonance imaging revealed a dramatic decrease in the signal intensity on T1- and T2-weighted images. A biopsy of the capitate was done at the time of thumb carpometacarpal joint arthroplasty. Active Paget's disease was diagnosed. It is postulated that loss of marrow fat in active Paget's disease decreased the T1- and T2-weighted signals in a manner similar to processes, such as Gaucher's disease and osteonecrosis.     

Diet and the risk of invasive cervical cancer among white women in the United States

A case-control study of incident invasive cervical cancer was conducted in Birmingham, Alabama; Chicago, Illinois; Denver, Colorado; Miami, Florida; and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, during 1982-1983. Controls were selected by random-digit dialing and were matched to cases by age, race, and telephone exchange. Of the white, non-Hispanic cases and controls identified, 271 (73%) and 502 (74%), respectively, were successfully interviewed. Diet was assessed by asking about the usual adult frequency of consumption of 75 food items and the use of vitamin supplements. Included were the major sources of the four micronutrients believed to reduce the risk of cervical cancer: carotenoids, vitamin A, vitamin C, and folate. Women in the highest quartiles of intake of each of these micronutrients had adjusted relative risks of invasive squamous cell cervical cancer comparable to those of women in the lowest quartiles, although their micronutrient intake was estimated to be 3-4 times as high. Risk was not affected by increased consumption of vegetables, dark green vegetables, dark yellow-orange vegetables, fruits, or legumes, or by high intake of the basic food groups. These generally negative findings stand in contrast to findings in previous epidemiologic studies, and the discrepancy is not readily explained by bias, uncontrolled confounding, or inadequate power. The question of the role of diet and nutrition in the etiology of cervical cancer is not yet resolved.     

Posttraumatic sesamoid arthritis of the metacarpophalangeal joint of the thumb

The articular interface between the radial sesamoid and the radial condyle of the metacarpal head, which is the radial subsesamoid joint, is the most frequently involved area of abnormality in the metacarpophalangeal joint complex. More than 85% of all adult cadavers demonstrate degenerative arthritis of the radial subsesamoid joint. Confusing this condition with degenerative arthritis of the metacarpophalangeal joint may lead to unnecessary joint fusions. The predisposition of the radial subsesamoid to degenerative arthritis is related to the asymmetry of the palmar condyles of the metacarpal. The ulnar sesamoid has a flatter and broader condyle compared with the radial sesamoid, which rides on a high, narrow ridge. Thirty-six patients with symptomatic sesamoiditis have been treated by sesamoidectomy since 1978. Twenty-one of these patients were available for follow-up examination between 1 and 5 years after surgery, and 19 had relief of proximal thumb pain after sesamoidectomy.     

Comparison of pullout button versus suture anchor for zone I flexor tendon repair

PURPOSE: To evaluate the clinical outcome after repair of zone I flexor tendon injuries using either the pullout button technique or suture anchors placed in the distal phalanx. METHODS: Between 1998 and 2002 we treated 26 consecutive zone I flexor tendon injuries. Thirteen patients had repairs from 1998 to 2000 using a modified pullout button technique (group A) and 13 patients had repair using suture anchors placed in the distal phalanx (group B). Patient characteristics were similar for both groups. The same postoperative flexor tendon rehabilitation protocol and follow-up schedule were used for both groups. Evaluation included range of motion, sensibility and grip strength, failure, complications, and return to work. The Student t test was used to determine significant differences. RESULTS: All patients completed 1 year of follow-up evaluation. There were 2 infections in group A that resolved with oral antibiotics and no infections in group B. There were no tendon repair failures and no repeat surgeries in either group. At final follow-up evaluation there were no statistically significant differences for the following end points: sensibility (Semmes-Weinstein monofilament testing and 2-point discrimination), active range of motion (at the proximal interphalangeal joint, distal interphalangeal joint, or their combined motion), flexion contracture (at the proximal interphalangeal joint, distal interphalangeal joint, or their combined contracture), and grip strength (injured tendon as a percent of the contralateral uninjured tendon). The suture anchor group had a statistically significant improvement for time to return to work. CONCLUSIONS: There was no significant difference in the clinical outcome after flexor tendon repair using either suture anchors or the pullout button technique. A significant improvement was found for time to return to work for repairs using the suture anchor technique. Flexor tendon repair can be achieved using suture anchors placed in the distal phalanx, thereby avoiding the potential morbidity associated with the pullout button technique. TYPE OF STUDY/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic, Level III.