Mário Müller Lorenzato

Ultrasound Assessment of Medial Meniscal Extrusion: A Validation Study Using MRI as Reference Standard

OBJECTIVE. The purpose of this article is to validate both semiquantitative and quantitative ultrasound assessment of medial meniscal extrusion using MRI assessment as the reference standard. SUBJECTS AND METHODS. Ninety-three consecutive patients with chronic knee pain referred for knee MRI were evaluated by ultrasound and MRI on the same day. Two musculoskeletal radiologists assessed meniscal extrusion on ultrasound and MRI separately and independently and graded it semiquantitatively as follows: 0 (< 2 mm), 1 (≥ 2 mm and < 4 mm), and 2 (≥ 4 mm). Agreement between the ultrasound and MRI evaluations was determined using weighted kappa statistics. Intraclass correlation coefficients were used to evaluate agreement using the absolute values of extrusion (quantitative assessment). We further evaluated the diagnostic performance of ultrasound for the detection of medial meniscal extrusion using MRI as the reference standard. RESULTS. For semiquantitative grading, agreement between ultrasound and MRI was moderate for reader 1 (κ = 0.57) and substantial for reader 2 (κ = 0.64). Substantial agreement was found for both readers (intraclass correlation coefficients, 0.73 and 0.70) when comparing quantitative assessment of meniscal extrusion between ultrasound and MRI. Ultrasound showed excellent sensitivity (95% and 96% for each reader) and good specificity (82% and 70% for each reader) in the detection of meniscal extrusion. CONCLUSION. Ultrasound assessment of meniscal extrusion is reliable and can be used for both quantitative and semiquantitative assessment, exhibiting excellent diagnostic performance for the detection of meniscal extrusion compared with MRI.

Diagnostic performance of 3D TSE MRI versus 2D TSE MRI of the knee at 1.5 T, with prompt arthroscopic correlation, in the detection of meniscal and cruciate ligament tears.

Objective To compare the diagnostic performance of the three-dimensional turbo spin-echo (3D TSE) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technique with the performance of the standard two-dimensional turbo spin-echo (2D TSE) protocol at 1.5 T, in the detection of meniscal and ligament tears. Materials and Methods Thirty-eight patients were imaged twice, first with a standard multiplanar 2D TSE MR technique, and then with a 3D TSE technique, both in the same 1.5 T MRI scanner. The patients underwent knee arthroscopy within the first three days after the MRI. Using arthroscopy as the reference standard, we determined the diagnostic performance and agreement. Results For detecting anterior cruciate ligament tears, the 3D TSE and routine 2D TSE techniques showed similar values for sensitivity (93% and 93%, respectively) and specificity (80% and 85%, respectively). For detecting medial meniscal tears, the two techniques also had similar sensitivity (85% and 83%, respectively) and specificity (68% and 71%, respectively). In addition, for detecting lateral meniscal tears, the two techniques had similar sensitivity (58% and 54%, respectively) and specificity (82% and 92%, respectively). There was a substantial to almost perfect intraobserver and interobserver agreement when comparing the readings for both techniques. Conclusion The 3D TSE technique has a diagnostic performance similar to that of the routine 2D TSE protocol for detecting meniscal and anterior cruciate ligament tears at 1.5 T, with the advantage of faster acquisition.

Incidental enchondromas at knee magnetic resonance imaging: intraobserver and interobserver agreement and prevalence of imaging findings

Objetivo Avaliar a confiabilidade intra e interobservador na identificacao de encondromas incidentais na ressonância magnetica de joelho e estudar a prevalencia das caracteristicas de imagens destas lesoes. Materiais e Metodos Estudo retrospectivo, com revisao de 326 ressonâncias magneticas do joelho realizadas entre novembro de 2009 e setembro de 2010. As imagens foram analisadas por dois medicos especialistas em radiologia musculoesqueletica, de forma independente e as cegas, visando a identificar encondromas incidentais, presenca de focos com sinal semelhante a medula ossea e focos de ausencia de sinal sugestivos de calcificacoes no interior dos encondromas. Foram realizadas analises das concordâncias inter e intraobservador. Resultados Foram identificadas 11 lesoes compativeis com encondromas (3,3%). A concordância interobservador para presenca de encondroma foi alta. A prevalencia de focos de sinal de medula ossea no interior dos encondromas foi 54,55% e de focos sugestivos de calcificacao foi 36,36%. A concordância intraobservador para focos de sinal de medula ossea nos encondromas foi perfeita, e a concordância interobservador foi alta. Conclusao A prevalencia de encondromas incidentais no trabalho atual foi consistente com a literatura. Foi observada excelente concordância no estudo de confiabilidade da identificacao de encondromas e de suas caracteristicas, notando-se maior prevalencia de focos com sinal de gordura do que de calcificacoes.

Fracture of the Fabella: A Rare Injury in Knee Trauma

We present a case of a 21-year-old woman sustaining a traumatic [fabellar] fracture following a motor vehicle accident. The fabellar fracture was confirmed on plain films, which prompted further evaluation of the knee with ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging to evaluate other possible associated injuries. Fracture of the fabella is a rare condition. Clinically, patients present with posterolateral knee pain, edema, and limited knee extension. Occasionally these symptoms may be very subtle, delaying the correct diagnosis and patient management.

Glenohumeral interposition of rotator cuff stumps: a rare complication of traumatic rotator cuff tear

The present report describes a case where typical findings of traumatic glenohumeral interposition of rotator cuff stumps were surgically confirmed. This condition is a rare complication of shoulder trauma. Generally, it occurs in high-energy trauma, frequently in association with glenohumeral joint dislocation. Radiography demonstrated increased joint space, internal rotation of the humerus and coracoid process fracture. In addition to the mentioned findings, magnetic resonance imaging showed massive rotator cuff tear with interposition of the supraspinatus, infraspinatus and subscapularis stumps within the glenohumeral joint. Surgical treatment was performed confirming the injury and the rotator cuff stumps interposition. It is important that radiologists and orthopedic surgeons become familiar with this entity which, because of its rarity, might be neglected in cases of shoulder trauma.

Sobrevida e processos infecciosos em pacientes com AIDS: análise de acordo com os níveis séricos iniciais de vitamina A

Patients with Aids (n = 39) were followed up for a maximum period of 36 weeks, after which the types and topographies of infectious complications presented and patient survival were analyzed and correlated with the vitamin A levels presented by the patients at the beginning of clinical follow-up. Twenty-one (53,8%) patients presented serum retinol levels below 1.6mmol/L, 12 (57%) of whom had values lower than 1.05mmol/L. There was no correlation between low serum vitamin A levels and the types or topographies of the infectious complications that occurred during the follow-up period. Although mean survival at the end of the 36 months follow-up period was similar for the two groups, patients with retinol deficiency presented a lower probability of survival during the first 24 months of follow-up compared to patients without hypovitaminosis A (8.44 x 1.42 months; p = 0.003).Patients with Aids (n = 39) were followed up for a maximum period of 36 weeks, after which the types and topographies of infectious complications presented and patient survival were analyzed and correlated with the vitamin A levels presented by the patients at the beginning of clinical follow-up. Twenty-one (53,8%) patients presented serum retinol levels below 1.6 micromol/L, 12 (57%) of whom had values lower than 1.05 micromol/L. There was no correlation between low serum vitamin A levels and the types or topographies of the infectious complications that occurred during the follow-up period. Although mean survival at the end of the 36 months follow-up period was similar for the two groups, patients with retinol deficiency presented a lower probability of survival during the first 24 months of follow-up compared to patients without hypovitaminosis A (8.44 x 1.42 months; p = 0.003).

Aneurisma venoso na junção esplenomesentérica e emergência da veia porta: relato de caso

Aneurysms in the splenoportomesenteric system constitute a rare entity whose etiology is still to be determined. Predisponent factors include portal hypertension, chronic hepatic disease and trauma, among others. The authors present a case of an aneurysm at the splenomesenteric confluence where it joins the portal vein, in a female, 62-year-old patient with no predisponent factor.

Retrospective study of sonographic findings in bone involvement associated with rotator cuff calcific tendinopathy: preliminary results of a case series.

Objective The present study was aimed at investigating bone involvement secondary to rotator cuff calcific tendonitis at ultrasonography. Materials and Methods Retrospective study of a case series. The authors reviewed shoulder ultrasonography reports of 141 patients diagnosed with rotator cuff calcific tendonitis, collected from the computer-based data records of their institution over a four-year period. Imaging findings were retrospectively and consensually analyzed by two experienced musculoskeletal radiologists looking for bone involvement associated with calcific tendonitis. Only the cases confirmed by computed tomography were considered for descriptive analysis. Results Sonographic findings of calcific tendinopathy with bone involvement were observed in 7/141 (~ 5%) patients (mean age, 50.9 years; age range, 42-58 years; 42% female). Cortical bone erosion adjacent to tendon calcification was the most common finding, observed in 7/7 cases. Signs of intraosseous migration were found in 3/7 cases, and subcortical cysts in 2/7 cases. The findings were confirmed by computed tomography. Calcifications associated with bone abnormalities showed no acoustic shadowing at ultrasonography, favoring the hypothesis of resorption phase of the disease. Conclusion Preliminary results of the present study suggest that ultrasonography can identify bone abnormalities secondary to rotator cuff calcific tendinopathy, particularly the presence of cortical bone erosion.