A Complementary Method for the Detection of Osteoblastic Metastases on Digitized Radiographs

Purpose This study was conducted to evaluate the diagnostic usefulness of gray level parameters in order to distinguish healthy bone from osteoblastic metastases on digitized radiographs. Materials and methods Skeletal radiographs of healthy bone (n = 144) and osteoblastic metastases (n = 35) were digitized using pixels 0.175 mm in size and 4,096 gray levels. We obtained an optimized healthy bone classification to compare with pathological bone: cortical, trabecular, and flat bone. The osteoblastic metastases (OM) were classified in nonflat and flat bone. These radiological images were analyzed by using a computerized method. The parameters (gray scale) calculated were: mean, standard deviation, and coefficient of variation (MGL, SDGL, and CVGL, respectively) based on gray level histogram analysis. Diagnostic utility was quantified by measurement of parameters on healthy and pathological bone, yielding quantification of area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, AUC. Results All three image parameters showed high and significant values of AUC when comparing healthy trabecular bone and nonflat bone OM, showing MGL the best discriminatory ability (0.97). As for flat bones, MGL showed no ability to distinguish between healthy and flat bone OM (0.50). This could be achieved by using SDGL or CVGL, with both showing a similar diagnostic ability (0.85 and 0.83, respectively). Conclusion Our results show that the use of gray level parameters quantify healthy bone and osteoblastic metastases zones on digitized radiographs. This may be helpful as a complementary method for differential diagnosis. Moreover, our method will allow us to study the evolution of osteoblastic metastases under medical treatment.     

直电极与弯电极序列人工耳蜗植入深度的比较

目的测量比较Nucleus CI 24M直电极序列和CI24 Contour弯电极序列两种型号植入体的电极植入深度。方法对41例CI 24M和8例CI 24 Contour植入者,术后拍摄耳蜗位X线平片。应用图像处理技术,比照耳蜗螺旋模板,建立电极序列的极坐标图形,测量第22号电极与耳蜗开窗处的极坐标角度,两者之差代表了电极序列的植入深度。以t检验比较两种型号植入体的植入深度状况。结果 无内耳畸形、手术条件相当的情况下,CI 24 Contour植入体的平均插入角度为413°,CI 24M植入体的平均插入角度为316°,P=0.0001。结论CI 24 Contour植入体的植入深度明显深于CI 24M。前者更有利于医师进行植入。     

Synovial sarcoma in childhood: Clinical and radiological findings

Objective: To study the clinical characteristics andradiological features of synovial sarcoma in childhood and its relation to the diagnosis and treatment. Methods: The clinical radiological features of 15 children with synovial sarcoma proved surgically and pathologically were analyzed. Results: In children, the tumor boundaries are poorly defined due to paucity of fat, and metastasis usually occurs early. Eight patients in this series had bone involvement, including: direct erosion by tumor causing cortical destruction, indirect pressure defect with sharp margin and reactive bone sclerosis and bone destruction of the primary intraosseous synovial sarcoma. Conclusion: The tumor is often misdiagnosed, the final confirmed diagnosis must be made by histological examination with imaging findings. It is emphasized that the patients should be treated with radiotherapy and chemotherapy preoperatively and postoperatively.     

SYNOVIAL SARCOMA IN CHILDHOOD:CLINICAL AND RADIOLOGICAL FINDINGS

ＳＹＮＯＶＩＡＬＳＡＲＣＯＭＡＩＮＣＨＩＬＤＨＯＯＤ：ＣＬＩＮＩＣＡＬＡＮＤＲＡＤＩＯＬＯＧＩＣＡＬＦＩＮＤＩＮＧＳＸｕＤｅｙｏｎｇ，徐德永ＺｈａｎＡｌａｉ占阿来ＬｕａｎＨｏｎｇｍｅｉ栾红梅ＦｅｎｇＷｅｉｈｕａ冯卫华ＳｕｎＸｉｈｅ孙锡和Ｙａｎｇ...     

The sensitivity of ct scans in diagnosing occult femoral neck fractures

Non-displaced hip fractures can be difficult to diagnose on plain film radiographs. When there is ongoing clinical suspicion of an occult fracture, further imaging is obtained. We investigated the sensitivity of computed tomography (CT) scans in detecting these fractures and the delays to surgery that three-dimensional imaging causes. We identified 78 CT scans performed for possible hip fractures over the past 3 years with the presence and absence of a fracture recorded. Based on subsequent imaging, the accuracy of CT scans was determined. CT scanning yielded sensitivity was 86% and specificity 98% for occult hip fracture (OHF). The median delay to definitive diagnosis was 37 h. Our results demonstrate that CT scan does not bear sufficient sensitivity to detect all OHFs. We therefore recommend that MRI should be offered when a fracture is suspected. CT scans should be reserved for when MRI is not available, but a negative scan should be confirmed with subsequent MRI.     

Long term inhibition of hip joint damage under tumor necrosis factor-alpha inhibitors in spondyloarthritis

The aim of this study was to assess the impact of long-term treatment with TNF blockers on the radiographic progression of hip disease in spondyloarthritis (SpA).This retrospective multicentric cohort study included 2 groups of patients with SpA and hip involvement. Patients of group 1 were treated with anti-TNF alpha for at least 2 years, whereas those of group 2 were anti-TNF-naïve patients. Clinical, laboratory and radiologic parameters were assessed at baseline and after at least 2 years.Groups 1 and 2 included respectively 48 and 46 patients. The radiological features of hip disease were comparable between the two groups at baseline. The second evaluation was performed after an average duration of 4.1 ± 2.9 years [2–10] in group 1 and 4.8 ± 2.1 years [2–14] in group 2 (p = 0.116). The absence of hip structural damage was more frequently found in group 1 (72 hips vs 52, p < 0.0001, odds ratio [OR] = 4.7, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 2.1–10.4). The better outcome in group 1 remained significant even after adjusting for BASDAI (p < 0.05, (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 3.3, 95% CI = 1.2–9.2), BASFI (p < 0.0001, aOR = 3.1, 95% CI = 1.1–8.9), and CRP (p < 0.01, aOR = 4.2, 95% CI = 1.8–9.8).Our finding suggests that anti-TNF therapy may inhibit hip joint damage in patients with SpA.     

Esophageal space-occupying lesion caused by Ascaris lumbricoides

Ascaris lumbricoides is the largest intestinal nematode parasite of man, which can lead to various complications because of its mobility. As the esophagus is not normal habitat of Ascaris, the report of esophageal ascariasis is rare. An old female presented with dysphagia after an intake of several red bean buns and haw jellies. The barium meal examination revealed a spherical defect in the lower esophagus. Esophageal bezoar or esophageal carcinoma was considered at the beginning. The patient fasted, and received fluid replacement treatment as well as some oral drugs such as proton pump inhibitor and sodium bicarbonate. Then upper gastrointestinal endoscopy was done to further confirm the diagnosis and found a live Ascaris lumbricoides in the gastric antrum and two in the duodenal bulb. The conclusive diagnosis was ascariasis. The esophageal space-occupying lesion might be the entangled worm bolus. Anthelmitnic treatment with mebendazole improved patient's clinical manifestations along with normalization of the radiological findings during a 2-wk follow-up. Authors report herein this rare case of Ascaris lumbricoides in the esophagus, emphasizing the importance of awareness of this parasitic infection as it often presents with different and unspecific symptoms.