Jose Guerra

Melorheostosis of the axial skeleton with associated fibrolipomatous lesions

Two patients with melorheostotic-like lesions of the axial skeleton are described. In each case adjacent soft tissue masses containing both fatty and fibrous tissues were evident. The presence of such soft tissue tumors as well as other soft tissue abnormalities in melorheostosis emphasizes that the disease should not be regarded as one confined to bone. The precise pathogenesis of the osseous and soft tissue abnormalities in melorheostosis remains obscure.

The Skeletal Manifestations of Clubbing: A Study in Patients With Cyanotic Congenital Heart Disease and Hypertrophic Osteoarthropathy

The skeletal manifestations of clubbing of the digits have been occasionally noted and only briefly discussed in the literature. We investigated the radiographic features of digital clubbing in 37 patients with diverse diseases including cyanotic congenital heart disease, lung malignancy-associated hypertrophic osteoarthropathy, and idiopathic cases. We identified two types of bone changes--osteolysis or bone dissolution, and bone formation or hypertrophy. The changes were more evident in the feet than in the hands, and the degree of soft tissue change did not always reflect the underlying osseous abnormalities. The relationship of these changes (ie, osteolysis, hypertrophy) to each other appear to depend in part on the underlying disease as well as the time course or disease duration. Thus, clubbing and hypertrophic osteoarthropathy may not represent distinct entities; our data suggest that they may be stages in an evolving, more generalized process of new bone formation or hypertrophy followed by osteolysis or atrophy affecting many parts of the skeleton.

Arthritides Affecting the Foot: Radiographic—Pathological Correlation∗

Arthritic disorders affect the bones and soft tissues of the foot just as they affect the bones and soft tissues of the hand. However, the resulting characteristic patterns of involvement have been largely neglected in previous descriptions of radiographic and pathological findings in articular diseases. This article reviews the pathogenesis of the microscopic and gross pathology of some common arthritides affecting the foot, and supports the pathological material with correlating radiographs. Rheumatoid arthritis, the seronegative spondylarthropathies, crystal-induced arthritis, degenerative joint disease, and septic arthritis are covered.

Perfluoroctylbromide as a contrast agent for computed tomographic imaging of septic and aseptic arthritis.

Perfluoroctylbromide (PFOB), a perfluorocarbon macrophage-labeling contrast agent, was applied to computed tomographic imaging of septic and aseptic arthritis models in rabbits. Marked enhancement of induced pyarthrosis was observed in both the knee and the sacroiliac joint. Moderate enhancement was noted in tetracycline-induced synovitis of the knee. Sterile synovitis of the sacroiliac joint and simple knee joint effusion showed no enhancement. These results suggest that PFOB is a useful contrast medium for the diagnosis of and distinction between septic and sterile arthritis.

Digital arthrography in the evaluation of painful joint prostheses.

Digital arthrography was accomplished in 16 patients who had painful prostheses. In each instance, resulting arthrographic abnormalities were compared with those apparent on subsequent overhead radiographs. Results indicate the potential value of the digital technique in this clinical setting. The examination is easy to perform and rapid, and allows the examiner to view the changing images in the subtraction mode. Image manipulation and enhancement are also possible.

Investigation of a New Arthrographic Contrast Agent: Iotrol

A new nonionic dimer (Iotrol; Schering AG) and diatrizoate meglumine-diatrizoate sodium (Renografin-60; Squibb) were compared as arthrographic agents by injecting these substances into the knees of rabbits. Three experienced arthrographers judged the image quality produced by Iotrol to be superior to that of Renografin-60. Following animal sacrifice, histologic examination of the synovium revealed a significant difference in the inflammatory response evoked by the contrast agents: Iotrol caused less inflammation. In a second group of rabbits, methylprednisolone was subcutaneously injected 24 hours before the arthrographic studies. The methylprednisolone significantly reduced the inflammation in the Renografin-60 subgroup when compared with the nonmedicated counterparts. No significant effect was noted in a like comparison with Iotrol. In addition, the administration of methylprednisolone led to a deterioration of the radiographic images. Based upon our data, we believe Iotrol is superior to Renografin-60 as an arthrographic agent.