Preoperative Shoulder MRI Findings to Predict Subscapularis Tendon Tear Requiring Surgical Repair.

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate which indirect parameters on preoperative MRI were the principal predictors of subscapularis tendon tears (STTs) requiring surgical repair.

Materials And Methods: Preoperative MRI scans of 86 patients were retrospectively reviewed for visual assessment of the STT, pathology of the long head of the biceps tendon (LHBT), posterior decentering (PD) of the humeral head, humeral rotation, fatty degeneration, and subscapularis muscle atrophy. To evaluate atrophy, visual grading using the anatomical line connecting the coracoid tip to the glenoid base, designated as the base-to-tip line (BTL), and thickness measurements were performed in the en-face view.

Quantification of the Elastic Property of Normal Thigh Muscles Using MR Elastography: Our Initial Experience.

Purpose: This study aimed to apply MR elastography (MRE) to achieve evaluation of the elastic properties of thigh muscles and validate the feasibility of quantifying the elasticity of normal thigh muscles using MRE.

Materials And Methods: This prospective study included 10 volunteer subjects [mean age, 32.5 years, (range, 23-45 years)] who reported normal activities of daily living and underwent both T2-weighted axial images and MRE of thigh muscles on the same day.

Digital Tomosynthesis versus Conventional Radiography for Evaluating Osteonecrosis of the Femoral Head.

Objective: The aim of this study was to compare the diagnostic performances of digital tomosynthesis (DTS) and conventional radiography in detecting osteonecrosis of the femoral head (ONFH) using computed tomography (CT), as the reference standard and evaluate the diagnostic reproducibility of DTS.

Materials And Methods: Forty-five patients (24 male and 21 female; age range, 25-77 years) with clinically suspected ONFH underwent anteroposterior radiography, DTS, and CT. Two musculoskeletal radiologists independently evaluated the presence and type of ONFH.

Increased external rotation of the osteoarthritic knee joint according to the genu varum deformity.

Purpose: To evaluate the rotational profile of the lower extremity using computed tomography (CT) in accordance with the degree of varus deformity in medial condyle-affected knee joint osteoarthritis (OA).

Methods: This retrospective study included 1036 patients (872 lower extremities) with end-stage knee OA. The coronal alignment of the lower extremity was measured using standing anteroposterior radiography.

[Ossification of the Transverse Ligament of the Atlas on CT: Frequency and Associated Findings].

Purpose: To determine the frequency of ossification of the transverse ligament of the atlas (OTLA) and to investigate the associated findings on cervical spine CT and plain radiography.

Materials And Methods: We reviewed 5201 CT scans of the cervical spine of 3975 consecutive patients over an 11-year period for the presence of OTLA and compared them with those of age- and sex-matched controls. The frequency and associated findings of OTLA were investigated and statistically correlated.

The feasibility of shear wave elastography for diagnosing superficial benign soft tissue masses.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the feasibility of shear wave ultrasound elastography for differentiating superficial benign soft tissue masses through a comparison of their shear moduli.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 48 masses from 46 patients from February 2014 to May 2016. Surgical excision, fine-needle aspiration, and clinical findings were used for the differential diagnosis.

Biological function integrated prediction of severe radiographic progression in rheumatoid arthritis: a nested case control study.

Background: Radiographic progression is reported to be highly heritable in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). However, previous study using genetic loci showed an insufficient accuracy of prediction for radiographic progression. The aim of this study is to identify a biologically relevant prediction model of radiographic progression in patients with RA using a genome-wide association study (GWAS) combined with bioinformatics analysis.

Current status of musculoskeletal application of shear wave elastography.

Ultrasonography (US) is a very powerful diagnostic modality for the musculoskeletal system due to the ability to perform real-time dynamic high-resolution examinations with the Doppler technique. In addition to acquiring morphologic data, we can now obtain biomechanical information by quantifying the elasticity of the musculoskeletal structures with US elastography. The earlier diagnosis of degeneration and the ability to perform follow-up evaluations of healing and the effects of treatment are possible.

Predictors of severe radiographic progression in patients with early rheumatoid arthritis: A Prospective observational cohort study.

Aim: To identify predictors of severe radiographic progression in patients with early rheumatoid arthritis (ERA).

Methods: A total of 374 patients with ERA were selected from a Korean prospective cohort. Based on their annual Sharp/Van der Heijde modified score changes (ΔSHS/year), patients were classified into severe and no progression groups.

Sonographic Differentiation Between Schwannomas and Neurofibromas in the Musculoskeletal System.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to determine key features and define a strategy for differentiation between schwannomas and neurofibromas using sonography.

Methods: This retrospective study was approved by the Institutional Review Board at our hospital, and informed consent was waived. We reviewed sonograms of pathologically proven schwannomas and neurofibromas of the extremities and body wall.

Sarcopenia as a useful predictor for long-term mortality in cirrhotic patients with ascites.

This study aimed to assess and compare sarcopenia with other prognostic factors for predicting long-term mortality in cirrhotic patients with ascites. Clinical data of 65 among 89 patients with measurement of all parameters were consecutively collected. Sarcopenia was evaluated as right psoas muscle thickness measurement divided by height (PMTH) (mm/m).

How to evaluate appendices with borderline diameters on CT: proposal of a quick solution to overcome the limitations of the established CT criteria.

Rationale And Objectives: To propose a useful computed tomography (CT) criterion, the diameter with compression (DWC), especially in appendices with borderline diameters.

Materials And Methods: We retrospectively collected 216 patients with visible appendices on CT after clinicopathologic confirmation of appendicitis. Each CT criterion of appendicitis was evaluated by an experienced abdominal radiologist: maximal outer diameter (MOD), DWC, mural thickness and enhancement, periappendiceal infiltration, and appendicolith.

The influence of vertebral fracture on the functional disability of patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

The aim of the present study was to identify the influence of vertebral fracture (VF) on the functional disability in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). This study consecutively enrolled 100 female patients aged 50 yr or older with RA. All participants underwent lateral imaging of the thoracolumbar spine by simple radiography to identify any VFs.

Nondiseased liver stiffness measured by shear wave elastography: a pilot study.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate the value of liver stiffness in patients without liver disease using shear wave elastography and to determine the liver stiffness threshold value for identifying patients with chronic liver diseases.

Methods: A total of 150 patients who underwent liver sonography coupled with shear wave elastography were enrolled. On the basis of clinical and pathologic criteria, they were assigned to 1 of 2 groups: nondiseased liver (n = 97) and noncirrhotic chronic liver disease (n = 53).

The effect of zoledronic acid on the volume of the fusion-mass in lumbar spinal fusion.

Background: Few studies have explored the effects of bisphosphonates on bony healing in patients undergoing spinal fusion surgery. Most previous studies used animal models and found that bisphosphonate shows negative effects on spinal fusion consolidation. We intended to evaluate the effect of a single-dose of zoledronic acid on the volume of the fusion-mass in lumbar spinal fusion.

Detection of prefracture hip lesions in atypical subtrochanteric fracture with dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry images.

Purpose: To retrospectively assess how often and how early hip dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) images show prefracture lesions in patients with atypical subtrochanteric fracture (ASF) and determine whether DXA images with assessment of prodromal symptoms could be used for early ASF prediction.

Materials And Methods: The retrospective research protocol complied with HIPAA and was institutional review board approved, with waiver of informed consent. Among 62 women with ASF, nine without hip DXA images and seven without clear documentation of prodromal symptoms were excluded.

Validity and role of vertebral fracture assessment in detecting prevalent vertebral fracture in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Objectives: We aimed to identify the validity and the role of vertebral fracture assessment (VFA) for the diagnosis of prevalent vertebral fracture (VF) in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients.

Methods: Total of 100 women with RA who were 50 years or older were enrolled. All participants underwent lateral imaging of the thoraco-lumbar spine by radiography and VFA.

Shoulder sonography after intraarticular fluid injection for evaluation of anterior labral tears: comparison with conventional sonography.

Purpose: To compare shoulder sonography (US) after intraarticular fluid injection ("arthrosonography") with conventional shoulder US for diagnosing anterior labral tears.

Methods: Thirty consecutive patients who were to undergo shoulder MR arthrography were enrolled after written informed consent was obtained. A radiologist performed conventional US, using a 2- to 5-MHz convex transducer on the subject whose arm was externally rotated, then abducted perpendicular to the trunk, and rotated internally and externally.

Determination of optimal imaging mode for ultrasonographic detection of subdermal contraceptive rods: comparison of spatial compound, conventional, and tissue harmonic imaging methods.

Objective: To determine which mode of ultrasonography (US), among the conventional, spatial compound, and tissue-harmonic methods, exhibits the best performance for the detection of Implanon® with respect to generation of posterior acoustic shadowing (PAS).

Materials And Methods: A total of 21 patients, referred for localization of impalpable Implanon®, underwent US, using the three modes with default settings (i.e.

Evaluation of the chondromalacia patella using a microscopy coil: comparison of the two-dimensional fast spin echo techniques and the three-dimensional fast field echo techniques.

Objective: We wanted to compare the two-dimensional (2D) fast spin echo (FSE) techniques and the three-dimensional (3D) fast field echo techniques for the evaluation of the chondromalacia patella using a microscopy coil.

Materials And Methods: Twenty five patients who underwent total knee arthroplasty were included in this study. Preoperative MRI evaluation of the patella was performed using a microscopy coil (47 mm).

A comparison of the diagnostic performances of visceral organ-targeted versus spine-targeted protocols for the evaluation of spinal fractures using sixteen-channel multidetector row computed tomography: is additional spine-targeted computed tomography necessary to evaluate thoracolumbar spinal fractures in blunt trauma victims?

Background: It remains to be determined whether spine-targeted computed tomography (thoracolumbar spine computed tomography [TLS-CT]) images and visceral organ-targeted CT (abdominopelvic [AP]-CT) images are comparable for the evaluation of thoracolumbar spinal fractures using 16-channel multidetector row CT. The elimination of an additional spine-targeted CT protocol would substantially reduce time, the storage burden, and potential patient radiation exposure.

Methods: A total of 420 vertebrae in 72 consecutive patients who underwent AP-CT to assess blunt traumatic injury and an additional CT examination using a TLS-CT protocol to evaluate spinal fractures were retrospectively evaluated.

Cyst-like solid tumors of the musculoskeletal system: an analysis of ultrasound findings.

Objective: When evaluating superficial soft tissue masses with ultrasonography, it is not always clear whether the mass is cystic or solid. We reviewed sonograms of soft tissue masses, which were interpreted as cystic but confirmed as solid tumors.

Materials And Methods: We scanned a database of patients with superficial soft tissue masses from two different institutions.