Anne Marie Cahill

High prevalence of temporomandibular joint arthritis at disease onset in children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis, as detected by magnetic resonance imaging but not by ultrasound.

OBJECTIVE To determine the prevalence of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disease in a cohort of children with new-onset juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), and to compare magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with ultrasound (US) for the detection of acute and chronic changes of TMJ arthritis. METHODS Between January 2005 and April 2007, children with newly diagnosed JIA were prospectively evaluated for TMJ arthritis. Prior to imaging, jaw pain and disability were assessed with questionnaires and physical examination. The TMJs of all patients were imaged with MRI and US within 8 weeks of diagnosis. RESULTS Of the 32 patients enrolled, 78% were female, and the median age was 8.6 years (range 1.5-17.2 years). Acute TMJ arthritis was diagnosed in 75% of the children by MRI and in none by US; chronic arthritis was diagnosed in 69% by MRI and in 28% by US. Findings of both acute and chronic TMJ disease were detected by MRI in 53% of the patients. Of those with acute TMJ arthritis, 71% were asymptomatic, and 63% had normal findings on jaw examination. Fifty-six percent of patients with acute disease had an improved maximal incisal opening after corticosteroid injection. Among these responders, 56% had been asymptomatic and had normal jaw examination findings. CONCLUSION TMJ arthritis was present in the majority of patients with new-onset JIA. Findings on MRI along with responses to treatment among asymptomatic patients with normal jaw examination findings suggest that a history review and physical examination are not sufficient to screen for TMJ disease. Our results also suggest that MRI and US findings are not well correlated, and that MRI is preferable for the detection of TMJ disease in new-onset JIA.

Pediatric Vascular Malformations: Pathophysiology, Diagnosis, and the Role of Interventional Radiology

The Mulliken and Glowacki classification (1982) differentiated vascular anomalies into two groups based on their endothelial characteristics: hemangiomas and vascular malformations. Vascular anomalies are localized defects of the vasculature that affect a limited number of vessels in a restricted area of the body. These defects are secondary to errors in vascular morphogenesis. Depending on the type of vessel involved, the vascular malformation group was subdivided into high-flow (such as arteriovenous malformation and arteriovenous fistula) and low-flow lesions (such as venous and lymphatic malformations). Depending on the type of lesion, the location and degree of involvement and the clinical effect, different types of treatment would be required. For the purpose of this review, we concentrate solely on vascular malformations: the clinical features, genetics, diagnosis, and current treatment options.

Cavoatrial Junction and Central Venous Anatomy: Implications for Central Venous Access Tip Position

PURPOSE To quantify the anatomic relationships of the cavoatrial junction and propose a system for describing central venous access device tip location on the basis of structures visible on chest radiographs. MATERIALS AND METHODS The authors performed a retrospective study of 100 consecutive computed tomographic (CT) studies from a predominantly pediatric population consisting of 52 male and 48 female patients aged 12-28 years (mean age, 16 years). With use of multiplanar and scout images, relevant mediastinal structures were marked, vertebral levels were noted, and measurements were made electronically. Catheter tip positions were recorded in the 26 children who had central catheters. RESULTS A vertebral body unit was defined as the distance between the inferior endplate of one vertebra to the inferior endplate of the next, with the upper intervertebral disk included. The most reliable estimate of cavoatrial junction position is a point two vertebral body units below the carina; there was no association with patient age or other parameters. CONCLUSIONS A more accurate understanding of the superior vena cava anatomy is essential for the correct interpretation of central venous access device position. The true cavoatrial junction is located more inferiorly than commonly believed and is not accurately estimated with commonly used imaging landmarks. A point two vertebral body units below the carina enables the reliable estimate of the position of the cavoatrial junction. Catheter tip position can be most reliably described in vertebral body units below the carina, with use of the thoracic spine as an internal ruler.

Evaluation of ultrasound-guided radial artery cannulation in children

Objective: To compare ultrasound (US)-guided radial artery cannulation with the traditional palpation technique. Design: Prospective randomized study. Setting: Operating room in a tertiary care pediatric center. Patients: One hundred fifty-two children under 18 yrs of age requiring radial artery cannulation. Interventions: Patients were randomized to either 1) palpation or 2) US guidance technique for radial artery cannulation. Measurements and Main Results: The primary end point of the study was the time taken for attempted cannulation by the first operator at the first site. Secondary end points included the number of attempts at arterial cannulation, the number of cannulae used, and the need for additional assistance from another anesthesiologist. Eighty and 72 children were randomized to the palpation and the US-guided groups, respectively. There were no statistically significant differences in age, gender, weight, and systolic blood pressure between the two study groups. The designated first operator (20 pediatric subspecialty trainees and eight consultant anesthesiologists) had previous experience in US-guided arterial cannulation in <10 cases, with 94% having experience in <5 cases. Although the radial artery was eventually cannulated in all patients, the designated operator was successful at the first site of cannulation in only 66% and 69% in the palpation and US groups, respectively. There were no statistically significant differences between the groups in time to successful cannulation, total number of attempts, number of successful cannulations during the first attempt, or in the number of cannulae used for catheterization. Conclusions: US guidance did not facilitate faster cannulation of the radial artery in children in our study.

Percutaneous sclerotherapy in neonatal and infant head and neck lymphatic malformations: a single center experience

PURPOSE To evaluate the clinical outcomes of percutaneous sclerotherapy for congenital head and neck lymphatic malformations in our institution. MATERIALS AND METHODS Over a 7-year period, 17 children (10 M, 7 F) mean age 5.8 months (5 days to 13 months) underwent 49 sclerotherapy procedures for congenital head and neck malformations. The imaging and clinical records were reviewed for each patient. Ten of 17 had macrocystic disease; 7 of 17 had microcystic disease. Imaging response was categorized by volume reductions of 0% to 25%, 25% to 50%, 50% to 75%, or 75% to 100%. A concentration of 10 mg/mL doxycycline was used routinely via catheter in 3 instillations with a dose range of 50 to 500 mg per session as per our standard protocol in 17 of 17 patients. In more recent patients, systemic doxycycline levels were obtained after instillations. Additional treatments included direct injection doxycycline (10/17), instillation of absolute ethanol (7/17) or sodium tetradecyl sulfate (4/17), or a combination of these methods. RESULTS Imaging improvement of ≥ 76% was noted in 11 of 17. Of these, 8 of 11 had macrocystic disease. Four of 17 had 51% to 75% resolution, of which 3/4 were mixed. Two of 17 children had 25% to 50% resolution with a mixed lesion. Seven of 49 peri-procedural complications: hemolytic anemia in 2 infants, hypoglycemic and metabolic acidosis in 3 neonates aged 7 to 10 days, transient hypotension during absolute alcohol instillation in 1 neonate, and self-limiting skin excoriation secondary to peri-catheter leakage of doxycycline in one neonate. Neonates prone to these systemic complications had doxycycline doses of greater than 250 mg and resulted in serum levels of >5 μg/mL but as high as 21 μg/mL. Delayed neural complications occurred in 7 of 49 procedures, Horners syndromes in 4 of 49 procedures, transient left lip weakness in 1 of 49 procedures, right facial nerve palsy in 1 of 49 procedures, and transient left hemidiaphragm paralysis in 1/49 procedures. CONCLUSION Our experience with catheter directed doxycycline sclerotherapy provides excellent results for large macrocystic head and neck lymphatic malformations. Microcystic and mixed lesions continue to provide a therapeutic challenge.

CT-Guided Percutaneous Steroid Injection for Management of Inflammatory Arthropathy of the Temporomandibular Joint in Children

OBJECTIVE The purposes of this study were to retrospectively review an injection technique, to develop a grading system for evaluation of imaging findings, and to report preliminary outcome related to percutaneous CT-guided steroid injection into the temporomandibular joints of children with inflammatory arthropathy. CONCLUSION CT-guided steroid injection into the temporomandibular joint of children with inflammatory arthropathy results in clinical and imaging improvement in a substantial proportion of children treated.

CT-guided percutaneous lung biopsy in children

PURPOSE To describe techniques and evaluate outcomes of computed tomography (CT)-guided percutaneous lung biopsy in children. MATERIALS AND METHODS Between April 1992 and June 2003, 64 patients (32 male, 32 female) with a mean age of 10.8 years (0.6-20 years) were referred for 75 lung biopsies. Most biopsies were performed for suspected malignancy (n = 24; 32%) or to distinguish posttransplantation lymphoproliferative disorder from fungal infection in immunocompromised patients (n = 17; 23%). All children referred to the pediatric interventionalists in two childrens hospitals for CT-guided biopsy of parenchymal or pleural-based lesions in the thorax were studied. Prospectively gathered procedural data were reviewed for medical history and indications for procedure, admission status, type of anesthesia, technical approach (core vs aspiration biopsy), procedural modifications, lesion size, number of passes required, and immediate complications. Medical records were retrospectively reviewed for diagnostic outcome, impact on patient management, and delayed complications. RESULTS Procedures were performed under deep sedation whenever possible (n = 61; 81%) with use of a coaxial core biopsy technique (n = 56; 75%), a fine needle aspiration biopsy technique (n = 15; 20%), or both (n = 4; 5%). Mean lesion diameters were 2.5 cm (range, 1-10 cm) in the core biopsy group and 1.0 cm (range, 0.5-1.7 cm) in the aspiration biopsy group. Sixty-four biopsies (85%) were diagnostic. There was one major complication (1.3%), a tension pneumothorax treated with intraprocedural placement of a chest tube. CONCLUSION Percutaneous CT-guided lung biopsy is a safe and accurate diagnostic procedure in children that obviates open surgical biopsy in most patients.

A prospective observational study of IVC filters in pediatric patients

The use of inferior vena cava (IVC) filters to prevent pulmonary embolism (PE) has increased with the advent of retrievable filters (Crowther: Am J Med 120: S13–S17, 2007). Both permanent and retrievable filters have been used in the pediatric population, though reports describing such patients and their outcomes are limited.

Botulinum Toxin A Injection of Salivary Glands in Children with Drooling and Chronic Aspiration

PURPOSE To review outcomes of ultrasound (US)-guided percutaneous submandibular gland injection of botulinum toxin A (BTX-A) in the treatment of drooling and chronic aspiration. MATERIALS AND METHODS A 3-year retrospective review was performed of 220 US-guided salivary gland injections in 36 patients. There were 21 male patients and 15 female patients with an age range of 1.4 to 19.8 years (mean, 8.6 y) and a weight range of 7.8 to 73 kg (mean, 24.4 kg). The mean pretreatment analysis period was 48 months and the mean follow-up period was 21 months. The study group was divided into groups with anterior (n = 9) and posterior (n = 27) drooling, with those with both (n = 10) included in the posterior group. RESULTS All procedures were technically successful. Bilateral submandibular injections were performed in 34 procedures and bilateral submandibular and parotid injections were performed in 38 procedures. Of the 27 patients with posterior drooling, improvement occurred in 24 patients (88%), no improvement was seen in two (8%), and one (4%) was lost to follow-up. Of the nine patients with anterior drooling, six (66%) showed improvement, there was no response in two (22%), and one (12%) was lost to follow-up. The total number of hospitalizations for respiratory issues and presumed aspiration pneumonia decreased by 56.4% per year in the patients with posterior drooling. There was one procedure-related complication: an episode of self-limited oral bleeding. CONCLUSION Salivary gland BTX-A injection for salivary control shows promising results in decreasing saliva production and frequency of respiratory symptoms in children with drooling and chronic aspiration.

May-Thurner syndrome (iliac vein compression) and thrombosis in adolescents.

May–Thurner syndrome refers to anatomic compression of the left iliofemoral vein by the overriding right iliac artery. We report three adolescents who presented to our pediatric hospital with iliac vein thrombosis and were diagnosed with May–Thurner syndrome. Each received catheter‐directed thrombolysis followed by balloon angioplasty to restore flow. Two patients had endovascular stents placed. The procedures were well tolerated, without major complications. Additional thrombophilic risk factors were identified in each patient. Though uncommon, pediatric hematologists should consider May–Thurner syndrome in adolescents who present with a left lower extremity thrombosis. Aggressive therapy may be warranted due to the risk of post‐thrombotic syndrome. Pediatric Blood Cancer 2006;47:834–838.