AI Article Synopsis

  • Dual-energy computed tomography (DECT) effectively visualizes monosodium urate (MSU) deposits in various body areas, specifically in cadaver studies.
  • Out of 49 cadavers analyzed, 80.5% showed MSU deposits in the thoracic aorta, with other significant deposits found in foot tendons and metatarsophalangeal joints, while no deposits were detected in the cranial or coronary regions.
  • Microscopic verification confirmed the presence of MSU deposits in specific tissues, suggesting that DECT could serve as a valuable tool for screening and assessing uric acid levels in the body, with further research needed to clarify its clinical relevance.

Article Abstract

Background: Dual-energy computed tomography (DECT) allows direct visualization of monosodium urate (MSU) deposits in joints and soft tissues.

Purpose: To describe the distribution of MSU deposits in cadavers using DECT in the head, body trunk, and feet.

Materials And Methods: A total of 49 cadavers (41 embalmed and 8 fresh cadavers; 20 male, 29 female; mean age, 79.5 years; SD ± 11.3; range 52-95) of unknown clinical history underwent DECT to assess MSU deposits in the head, body trunk, and feet. Lens, thoracic aorta, and foot tendon dissections of fresh cadavers were used to verify MSU deposits by polarizing light microscopy.

Results: 33/41 embalmed cadavers (80.5%) showed MSU deposits within the thoracic aorta. 11/41 cadavers (26.8%) showed MSU deposits within the metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joints and 46.3% of cadavers demonstrated MSU deposits within foot tendons, larger than and equal to 5 mm. No MSU deposits were detected in the cranium/intracerebral vessels, or the coronary arteries. Microscopy used as a gold standard could verify the presence of MSU deposits within the lens, thoracic aorta, or foot tendons in eight fresh cadavers.

Conclusions: Microscopy confirmed the presence of MSU deposits in fresh cadavers within the lens, thoracic aorta, and foot tendons, whereas no MSU deposits could be detected in cranium/intracerebral vessels or coronary arteries. DECT may offer great potential as a screening tool to detect MSU deposits and measure the total uric acid burden in the body. The clinical impact of this cadaver study in terms of assessment of MSU burden should be further proven.

Download full-text PDF

Source
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9139977PMC
http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics12051240DOI Listing

Publication Analysis

Top Keywords

msu deposits
52
thoracic aorta
16
msu
14
deposits
13
fresh cadavers
12
lens thoracic
12
aorta foot
12
foot tendons
12
cadavers
9
monosodium urate
8

Similar Publications

Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?

Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!