Ultrasonography of the brachial plexus, normal appearance and practical applications.

Ultrasound examination of the brachial plexus, although at first sight difficult, is perfectly feasible with fairly rapid practical and theoretical training. The roots are accurately identified due to the shape (a single tubercle) of the transverse process of C7 in the paravertebral space, and the superficial position of C5 in the interscalene groove. The téléphérique technique allows the roots, trunks and cords to be followed easily into the supraclavicular fossa.

Effect of 12 months treatment with chondroitin sulfate on cartilage volume in knee osteoarthritis patients: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot study using MRI.

This pilot study aimed to evaluate the correlation between clinical symptoms and cartilage volume through MRI in patients with knee osteoarthritis after 48 weeks of treatment with Structum®. Multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group study. Symptomatic knee osteoarthritis patients aged 50-75 years received either Structum® (500 mg twice daily; N = 22) or placebo (N = 21) during 48 weeks.

Infections of the spinal column--spondylodiscitis.

Infectious spondylodiscitis is an infection of the intervertebral disc and the adjacent vertebral bodies due to the introduction of a pyogen, usually by the haematogenous route. Plain film radiography (which is usually normal in the early stages) shows blurring of the vertebral endplates and a loss of disc height that progresses quickly. MRI is the examination of choice, as it detects oedema within the trabecular bone very early, before the onset of destruction.

[Evolution of the pelvis and hip throughout history: from primates to modern man].

The evolution to a bipedal mode of locomotion was accompanied by a verticalization of the spine and a modification in the shape of the pelvis: horizontal curvature and sagittal rotation. Phylogenesis meets ontogenesis: flat bones in fetuses similar to the monkey, australopithecus features at birth and "human-like" features by 7 or 8years of age. These anatomical modifications explain the characteristics of human bipedalism: stable, economical, with hip and knee extension in the standing position with little lateral motion.

[Imaging features of pubalgia].

Pubalgia is a generic term used to describe groin pain due to a multitude of different etiologies such as skeletal (microtraumatic pubic symphysis arthropathy), muscular (adductor or rectus abdominis disorders), or abdominal wall (inguinal hernia) disorders. Diagnosis relies mainly on MRI for musculoskeletal disorders and ultrasound for abdominal wall disorders.

[The chronically limping child].

Chronic limping in children usually indicates the presence of an underlying organic lesion. Clinical evaluation establishes the site and type of limping. It may suggest a neurological or mechanical lesion or locoregional etiology at the level of the hip or pelvis.

High-resolution magnetic resonance imaging in study of the skin: normal patterns.

Purpose: To validate quantitative and qualitative criteria of normal healthy skin using high-resolution MR imaging.

Materials And Methods: FIESTA and spin echo sequences of the skin of the heel, back and calf were obtained in 31 healthy volunteers. A dedicated 3-in.

[Cross-sectional imaging of peripheral involvement in psoriatic arthritis].

The purpose of this article is to: 1) describe the main plain film, ultrasound and MR imaging features of peripheral involvement in psoriatic arthritis, 2) describe the advantages of ultrasound and MRI at the early stages of the disease; 3) describe how to use MRI and ultrasound in order to assess response to tumor necrosis factor-alpha blocker therapy.

[Pelvic and spinal MR follow-up of multiple myeloma patients after high-dose chemotherapy and autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplant].

Purpose: To evaluate the changes of bone marrow lesions on pelvic and spinal MR in patients with multiple myeloma after high-dose chemotherapy and autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplant.

Patients And Methods: Pelvic and spinal MR examinations were obtained at presentation (myeloma diagnosis) and 1 year after transplant in 20 patients that were part of a group of 39 patients enrolled in a prospective study. The type of marrow replacement (classified in stages with stage 0: normal; stage 1: salt and pepper; stage 2: focal infiltration; stage 3: diffuse infiltration), the number and size of marrow lesions and the number of vertebral compression fractures were recorded.

[High resolution MR imaging of the skin: normal imaging features].

Purpose: To describe the qualitative and quantitative MR imaging features of normal skin.

Materials And Methods: Thirty-one normal subjects underwent MR evaluation on a 1.5 Tesla magnet using a dedicated coil.

[Elbow: plain radiographs].

Plain radiographs usually allow accurate diagnosis. In this paper, the main radiographic projections will be reviewed along with their normal imaging features. In spite of significant advances in imaging of the elbow (multiplanar capabilities of MRI, volumetric CT imaging), conventional radiographs of the elbow remain a firstline imaging technique in the evaluation of disorders of the elbow.

[Shoulder radiography: useful radiographic views in current practice].

The purposes of this paper are: 1) to review the different radiographic projections commonly used to explore shoulder pathology; 2) to propose a practical approach for radiographic evaluation of the shoulder, adapted to the main clinical situations; 3) to recognize the different imaging features of the most frequent shoulder diseases.

[Shoulder pain: image guided management].

Different interventional radiology techniques used in the management of the painful shoulder will be reviewed in this article. The etiology of shoulder pain is variable, and several image guided procedures are available, from simple to more complex. US and fluoroscopy guided intra-articular and bursal infiltration techniques will be described.

[Imaging of traumatic injuries of the shoulder].

The goals of this article are: 1) to review the different radiographic projections commonly used at the time of initial imaging evaluation of patients presenting with traumatic injuries of the shoulder; 2) to review the indications and findings of cross-sectional imaging modalities in the assessment of shoulder trauma; 3) to recognize the main anatomical lesions secondary to traumatic injuries of the shoulder.

[Ultrasonography of the tendons: from image to pathology].

Radiology allows to define etiologies of tendon injuries and authorize a most suitable treatment. For that reason, the use of the sonography has been developed from several years and has four main purposes to define the type of injury and to orient the treatment: to confirm the real existence of the tendon tear, to need the exact location the same one, to determine the gravity of the lesion, and finally, to evaluate its acute or chronic character. In this paper, we will try to define the normal pattern of the tendon and describe the more frequent lesions of the shoulder or the ankle: complete or partial tear, tendinopathy, dislocation and enthesopathy.

[Shoulder pain: imaging examinations].

Non-traumatic shoulder pain is a diagnostic challenge for clinicians. Usually, the clinical examination is supplemented by nowadays well-defined imaging studies. Radiography is the first examination to be requested on a systematic basis.

Extrasynovial ultrasound abnormalities in the psoriatic finger. Prospective comparative power-doppler study versus rheumatoid arthritis.

We prospectively compared power Doppler ultrasound findings in 25 fingers with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and 25 fingers with psoriatic arthritis (PsA). Erosive synovitis and tenosynovitis were seen in both groups. Extrasynovial changes were found in 21/24 (84%) fingers with PsA versus none of the fingers with RA.

[Use of SSFSE sequence for cine-MRI of the cervical spine in professional front-line rugby players].

A SSFSE sequence is proposed in the sagittal plane for a cine-MRI of the cervical spine in front-line rugby players. Thus one can complete the static study and improve the detection of canal stenosis and the prevention of spinal cord injuries.

[Ultrasound features of entesopathy in patients with psoriatic dactylitis].

Purpose: To describe the sonographic features of entesopathy in patients with psoriatic dactylitis. Materials and methods. Clinical, radiographic and sonographic evaluation of 120 hand joints with clinical abnormality including 20 fingers in 17 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and 20 fingers in 17 patients with psoriatic arthritis (PA).

[Febrile osseous pain in children with sickle cell disease: MRI findings].

Purpose: The aim of this study was to report the MRI findings that can suggest a vaso-occlusive crisis in cases of febrile osseous pain in children suffering from sickle cell disease.

Materials And Methods: MRI (T1 and T2 weighted sequences and T1 weighted sequence with fat saturation before and after gadolinium injection) was performed in 10 children with sickle cell disease, presenting with febrile osseous pain. The diagnosis of vaso-occlusive crisis was made after fast improvement due to symptomatic treatment and negative bacteriological result.

Acitretin-induced enthesitis in a patient with psoriatic arthritis.

A patient with psoriatic arthritis and cutaneous psoriasis took acitretin for 10 years to treat his skin lesions. Radiographs disclosed exuberant ossifications in several entheses. Their features were not typical for psoriatic arthritis but were consistent with acitretin-induced hyperostosis.

[Unusual association of chylopericardium and aortic hypoplasia in a neonate].

We report the case of a neonate with two very rare anomalies: primary chylopericardium and diffuse hypoplasia of the thoraco-abdominal aorta. The presentation on the 16th post-natal day was with dyspnoea and refusal to feed. The initial clinical examination revealed hepatomegaly and weak femoral pulses.

[Necrolytic cutaneous erythema and pancreatic tumour: the glucagonoma].

Glucagonoma is a rare neuroendocrine neoplasm. Characteristics are clinical (necrolytic migratory erythema, weight loss), biological (diabetes) and radiological (pancreatic tumor). The Authors report a case of glucagonoma that also secreted insulin.