Biomedical subjects
A Cotten
Publications and source records attributed to A Cotten.
[Osteoporotic vertebral crush fractures with severe neurologic manifestations. Apropos of 6 cases].
Osteoporotic vertebral crush fractures with neurologic complications are rarely reported in the literature. We report six new cases particularly severe in which death occurred in two cases. The study group included four women and two men with a mean age of 75 years (range: 72-79). Vertebral collapse causing neurological deficit was T5, T9, T11 in two cases, L1 and L3. The mean number of vertebral collapses was three per patient (range: 1-9). Back pain appeared without traumatism 6 weeks before admission (range: 1-24). Neurological complications appeared 2.5 weeks after back pain (range: 1-8). One patient suffered from a paraplegia, three from a paraparesia with bladder dysfunction (n = 1). In one case there was a severe weakness of the levator muscles of the foot and in another a L3 femoral neuralgia with severe bowel and bladder dysfunction. X-rays demonstrated backwards displacement of the posterior cortex in three cases, an intravertebral vacuum phenomenon in two cases and a heterogeneous appearance suggesting a malignancy in two cases. Computed tomography, performed in four patients and tomography in one patient, demonstrated fragmentation of the vertebral body in all the cases and vacuum phenomenon in four cases. Magnetic resonance imaging performed in four cases has confirmed the absence of epiduritis and a compression due to bony structures in two cases. A vertebral biopsy was performed in three cases. Osteoporosis was observed in all the cases and in two cases there was also an osteonecrosis. Surgical treatment was performed in three cases and conservative medical treatment in the other cases. After surgical treatment we have observed an absence of improvement of neurological complications in one case, an improvement in another and finally a full recovery in the last case. After conservative treatment we have noted in two cases an absence of improvement of neurological complications and in one case an improvement of neurological deficit. Two patients died (one after medical treatment and another after surgical treatment).
SAPHO syndrome.
Palmoplantar pustulosis and severe acne are sometimes associated with peculiar aseptic skeletal conditions, but such skeletal lesions can be found without skin lesions. The term SAPHO syndrome has been coined for this cluster of manifestations. (The acronym SAPHO refers to synovitis, acne, palmoplantar pustulosis, hyperostosis, and osteitis.) The most common site of the disease is the upper anterior chest wall, characterized by predominantly osteosclerotic lesions, hyperostosis, and arthritis of the adjacent joints. Osteosclerosis of the vertebral bodies, hyperostosis, and erosions of the vertebral plates can be encountered. Unilateral sacroiliitis is frequently observed. Long bone involvement consists of osteosclerosis or osteolysis with periosteal new bone formation. Peripheral arthritis can be present but is rarely associated with joint destruction. The pathogenesis of this syndrome remains unknown, but a link with seronegative spondyloarthropathies is probable. Radiologists should be aware of this unusual syndrome to avoid misdiagnosis (eg, tumor, infection), unnecessary surgery, and antibiotic therapy.
Malignant acetabular osteolyses: percutaneous injection of acrylic bone cement.
Percutaneous osteoplasty with acrylic bone cement was performed in 12 acetabular osteolytic lesions in 11 patients with inoperable metastases (n = 8) and myeloma (n = 3). Complementary radiation therapy was started 15-30 days after injection in each case. Pain diminished within hours to 4 days in nine patients, and walking improved in each patient within 1-5 days. Five patients died during the follow-up period. Clinical improvement was maintained in all but two patients.
Cervical myelopathy secondary to Hunter syndrome in an adult.
We present a case of type II mucopolysaccharidosis in which the diagnosis was delayed until the onset of cervical myelopathy in adulthood. Radiographic features were characteristic, with striking dural thickening shown on CT and MR imaging.
Intraosseous lipoma: role and limitations of modern imaging techniques.
We report a case of intraosseous lipoma involving the ilium in a 37-year-old male. There were no clinical symptoms. Plain films suggested the diagnosis, which was confirmed by computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging with fat-cancelling sequences. However, we were unable to rule out fatty involution of an old aneurysmal bone cyst. Modern imaging techniques are very reliable for the diagnosis of intraosseous lipoma. Computed tomography is usually sufficient to establish the diagnosis and to guide therapeutic decisions.
Foraminal lumbar disc herniation. Experience with 83 patients.
STUDY DESIGN: This study analyzed a series of 83 patients operated on for foraminal lumbar disc herniation. OBJECTIVES: This study sought to develop clinical and radiologic diagnoses, evaluate interlaminar and extra-articular exposures, and evaluate postoperative results. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Some authors have reported a specific clinical syndrome, but other reports have indicated the clinical picture is indistinguishable from usual posterolateral disc herniation. Surgical management often has been compared between the interlaminar and extra-articular approaches. METHODS: Clinical findings were reviewed. All patients were evaluated with computed tomography, but radiologic diagnosis required computed tomographic discography for 26 patients. Interlaminar exposure with partial medial facetectomy was performed in 73 patients and an extra-articular approach was necessary in 10 patients. Postoperative results were evaluated with a 2-year follow-up. RESULTS: Foraminal lumbar disc herniations have a specific clinical picture, particularly severe radicular signs. Precise preoperative radiologic evaluation is essential for successful operative procedure. Postoperative results were good in 76% of the patients. The other patients felt mild residual radicular pain, although no residual root compression was found on postoperative computed tomography. Only 21% of the patients that had a radicular deficit recovered totally. CONCLUSIONS: Foraminal lumbar disc herniation involves characteristic clinical features. Radiologic diagnosis requires high-resolution computed tomography, computed tomographic discography, or magnetic resonance imaging. Most foraminal lumbar disc herniations are reached through the interlaminar exposure extended to the upper lamina and medial facet without total facetectomy. An extra-articular approach should be reserved for extra-foraminal herniations.
Antenatal differentiation of the human intervertebral disc.
To study the antenatal differentiation of the human intervertebral disc, the columns of forty eight embryos and fetuses were examined histologically. The primitive disc is composed of two structures: the notochord which shows a progressive expansion into the disc, and the fibro-cartilaginous perinotochordal disc. No histological sign of interaction between notochordal and perinotochordal cells, which may explain the notochordal expansion into the discs, was seen. On the other hand, the notochordal intervention in the cartilaginous differentiation of the inner zone is probable.
[Diagnostic value of spinal puncture-biopsy in non-infectious spinal diseases. Apropos of 41 cases].
To evaluate the diagnostic value of percutaneous vertebral biopsy in noninfectious diseases of the spine, we retrospectively studied 41 cases seen between 1985 and 1992. The level of the lesion was lumbar in 29 cases, thoracic in 11, and cervical in one. There were 19 crush fractures, 11 lytic lesions, six sclerotic lesions, and three mixed lesions. The biopsy was done because of an abnormal magnetic resonance imaging signal in one patient and because of epiduritis in another. The thoracic and lumbar biopsies were done under x-ray guidance using the technique developed by Laredo and Bard. Computed tomography guidance was used for the cervical biopsy. There were no adverse events. The final histological diagnosis was metastatic disease in 17 cases (41.5%), myeloma or plasmacytoma in six cases (14.7%), primary vertebral neoplasia in two cases (4.8%), lymphoma in one case (2.4%), osteoporosis in nine cases (22%), Paget's disease in three cases (7.4%), amyloidosis in one case (2.4%), aseptic osteitis in one case (2.4%), and vertebral necrosis in one case (2.4%). A second biopsy procedure was done in three patients (surgically in two cases and percutaneously in one) because of discrepancies between histological findings and other data. The final diagnosis was metastatic disease in all three patients. Overall, the diagnostic yield of percutaneous vertebral biopsy was 92.6% and varied little with initial roentgenographic or computed tomographic findings. However, yield was only 56% for the diagnosis of tumorous lesions, with variations according to roentgenographic and computed tomographic changes, 90.1% for osteolytic lesions, 66.6% for mixed lesions, 47.4% for crush fractures, and 16.6% for sclerotic lesions.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
[Hip diseases in hemorrhagic rectocolitis. Apropos of 4 cases].
Erosive hip lesions are uncommon in patients with ulcerative colitis. We analyzed features of chronic hip lesions in four ulcerative colitis patients seen over the last 30 years. Two patients also had axial disease. Both hips were involved in all four cases. Roentgenographic features resembled those seen in ankylosing spondylitis in two cases. Severe destruction occurred in two patients. Two patients developed acetabular protrusion. All four patients rapidly required total hip arthroplasty, illustrating the poor prognosis of hip lesions associated with ulcerative colitis.
[Pigmented villonodular synovitis of the hip. Results of a national survey apropos of 58 cases].
Pigmented villonodular synovitis is an uncommon synovial disease which only rarely involves the hip. In a multicenter retrospective study, we identified 58 histologically-proven cases. There were 33 females and 25 males. Mean age at diagnosis was 38 years. In all but two cases, only one hip was involved; the right hip was affected somewhat more often (33 cases) than the left. Two patients probably had bilateral hip disease. Mean delay to diagnosis was four years. Pain was the presenting symptom in most cases. A palpable mass in the groin was found in six patients. Plain roentgenograms were considered normal in only three patients. Bony cysts were seen in 39 patients and kissing cysts in 19. Joint space narrowing was found in 40 patients and was diffuse in half the cases. Roentgenograms suggested pigmented villonodular synovitis in 63% of cases, osteoarthritis of the hip in 16%, and inflammatory hip disease in 14%. Additional imaging studies included opaque arthrography in 21 subjects, computed tomography in 23, magnetic resonance imaging in 11, and arthroscopy in 9. Initial treatment was osmic acid synoviorthesis in 14 patients, partial synovectomy in 9, and total synovectomy in 21; in addition, eight patients had insertion of a cup prosthesis and 13 had total arthroplasty of the hip. Treatment was successful in 65% of cases after a mean follow-up of three years; among the 35% of failures, there were seven recurrences (14%). Total hip arthroplasty was performed secondarily in nine patients. This study illustrates the diversity of roentgenological changes in pigmented villonodular synovitis of the hip and the high frequency of osteoarticular lesions precluding conservative treatment. Magnetic resonance imaging and/or arthroscopy should be used to establish the diagnosis at an early stage when conservative treatment with total synovectomy and synoviorthesis is most likely to be successful.
[Value of vertebroplasty combined with surgical decompression in the treatment of aggressive spinal angioma. Apropos of 3 cases].
Vertebral hemangiomas can cause difficult-to-treat neurological complications. We report our experience with three such cases. Patients no. 1 and 2 were females aged 64 and 71 years, respectively; patient no. 1 had a two-year history of weakness in the lower limbs and patient no. 2 had a five-month history of back pain. Both these patients had a pyramidal syndrome in the lower limbs. Patient no. 3 was a 61 year old male with a one-year history of left sciatica. Roentgenograms were suggestive of a hemangioma occupying the entire T8 (cases 1 and 2) or L5 (case 3) vertebra. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging confirmed this diagnosis and showed that patients 1 and 2 had an anterior epidural hemangioma opposite T8 impinging on the spinal cord. In patients 1 and 2, treatment consisted in embolization of T8 followed by transpedicular injection of 6 cc of methylmethacrylate into the body of T8. One cubic centimeter of histoacryl was also injected in each lamina. The third patient had a similar vertebroplasty procedure without prior embolization since he had no epidural hemangioma. One patient (no. 1) developed intercostal neuralgia of several hours duration after the procedure. All three patients subsequently underwent laminectomy (T7-T8 with removal of the epidural hemangioma in cases 1 and 2, L5 in case 3). The pyramidal syndrome resolved within 15 days in patients 1 and 2; the nerve root pain resolved within 48 hours in patient 3.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Causes of dislocation of total hip arthroplasty. CT study of component alignment.
We reviewed radiographs and CT scans of 38 total hip arthroplasties which had dislocated (36 posteriorly; 2 anteriorly) and compared the alignment of the prosthetic components with those of 14 uncomplicated arthroplasties. No difference was found between the alignment of the prosthetic components in the two groups. In the seven patients who had reoperations, the cause of dislocation diagnosed by CT was confirmed in only two cases (one retroversion of the cup and one protruding osteophyte). Muscular imbalance rather than malposition of the components was the major factor determining dislocation. CT allows accurate measurement of cup and neck anteversion but contributes little to preoperative planning.
[Musculoskeletal imaging].
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Surgical removal of pseudotumoral calcified bursitis of the shoulder in a patient with hemodialysis.
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MR arthrography of the elbow: normal anatomy and diagnostic pitfalls.
PURPOSE: Our goal was to determine the normal MR arthrographic appearance of the elbow and to identify the potential diagnostic pitfalls of this technique. METHOD: MRI with intra-articularly administered gadopentetate dimeglumine was performed in seven elbow joints derived from cadavers. Coronal, sagittal, and axial SE T1-weighted images with fat suppression and coronal 3D SPGR images with fat suppression were obtained in each elbow. The elbows were then sectioned. RESULTS: This technique allowed depiction of the cartilaginous surfaces of the elbow joint as well as clear delineation of the inner surface of the collateral ligaments. Potential diagnostic pitfalls included fat pads projecting into the joint, synovial folds, and cartilaginous pseudoerosions. CONCLUSION: MR arthrography allows clear delineation of the intraarticular structures of the elbow. However, diagnostic pitfalls exist that increase the difficulty of interpreting MR arthrographic images.
Acetabular labrum: MRI in asymptomatic volunteers.
PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to describe the MR appearance of the acetabular labrum in asymptomatic hips on high resolution MRI. METHOD: Fifty-two hips in 46 asymptomatic volunteers with an age range of 15-85 years were evaluated with coronal and axial T1-weighted and T2-weighted sequences. The shape, margin, size, and signal intensity of the acetabular labrum were analyzed. RESULTS: The labrum was absent in its anterosuperior aspect in five hips (10%). Intralabral regions of intermediate of high signal intensity were detected in 30 hips (58%) imaged with T1-weighted and proton density-weighted sequences. Intralabral linear hyperintense foci reaching the articular surface and consistent with a labral tear were detected in four labra on T2-weighted images. Intralabral microcysts were seen in three labra. CONCLUSION: The MR appearance of the hip labrum is varied in asymptomatic volunteers. Intralabral increased signal intensity and absent anterosuperior labra are especially frequent and may represent asymptomatic lesions or normal variations.
Percutaneous vertebroplasty: state of the art.
Vertebroplasty is an effective new radiologic procedure consisting of the percutaneous injection of a biomaterial, usually methyl methacrylate, into a lesion of a vertebral body. This technique allows marked or complete pain relief and bone strengthening in most cases. The principal indications for vertebroplasty are osteolytic metastasis and myeloma, painful or aggressive hemangioma, and osteoporotic vertebral collapse with debilitating pain that persists despite correct medical treatment. Radiography and computed tomography must be performed in the days preceding vertebroplasty to assess the extent of vertebral collapse, the location and extent of the lytic process, the visibility and degree of involvement of the pedicles, the presence of cortical destruction or fracture, and the presence of epidural or foraminal stenosis caused by tumor extension or bone fragment retropulsion. Leakage of methyl methacrylate during vertebroplasty may cause compression of adjacent structures and necessitate emergency decompressive surgery; thus, the procedure should be performed only in a surgical center. The decision to perform vertebroplasty should be made by a multidisciplinary team because the choice between vertebroplasty, surgery, radiation therapy, medical treatment, or a combination thereof depends on a number of factors. Radiologists need to be aware of the various indications for vertebroplasty and of potential future developments and applications of the procedure.