scholarly journals Imaging of Spinal Metastatic Disease

2011 ◽  
Vol 2011 ◽  
pp. 1-12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lubdha M. Shah ◽  
Karen L. Salzman

Metastases to the spine can involve the bone, epidural space, leptomeninges, and spinal cord. The spine is the third most common site for metastatic disease, following the lung and the liver. Approximately 60–70% of patients with systemic cancer will have spinal metastasis.Materials/Methods. This is a review of the imaging techniques and typical imaging appearances of spinal metastatic disease.Conclusions. Awareness of the different manifestations of spinal metastatic disease is essential as the spine is the most common site of osseous metastatic disease. Imaging modalities have complimentary roles in the evaluation of spinal metastatic disease. CT best delineates osseous integrity, while MRI is better at assessing soft tissue involvement. Physiologic properties, particularly in treated disease, can be evaluated with other imaging modalities such as FDG PET and advanced MRI sequences. Imaging plays a fundamental role in not only diagnosis but also treatment planning of spinal metastatic disease.

2018 ◽  
Vol 17 (3) ◽  
pp. E101-E101
Author(s):  
Oluwaseun O Akinduro ◽  
Eric W Nottmeier

Abstract We describe the operative approach and management for thoracic metastatic disease in a 78-yr-old man with worsening mechanical lower back and left-sided thoracic radicular pain. Imaging of the thoracic spine revealed an osteolytic T11 mass with destruction of the left T11 pedicle and transverse process. Biopsy confirmed spinal metastasis from the liver. Preoperative angiogram was completed for localization of the artery of Adamkewicz and microparticle embolization of the left T11 intercostal artery. Surgical resection was supplemented with electrophysiological monitoring and neuronavigation. The corpectomy was approached by resecting the medial aspect of the rib, transverse process, and pedicle, which were all invaded with tumor. The left T11 nerve root was isolated and sacrificed to allow for placement of the expandable corpectomy cage and also resulted in sustained relief of the patient's radicular pain. The patient recovered from surgery well, with postoperative improvement of his pain. This case highlights the complex technical nuances of this procedure, and the importance of a thorough preoperative evaluation, including angiography, as proper identification of the artery of Adamkewitz can prevent severe neurological deficit from a spinal cord stroke. The patient consented to the procedure.


1998 ◽  
Vol 19 (10) ◽  
pp. 698-704 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Thomas Temple ◽  
Mark S. Mizel ◽  
Mark D. Murphey ◽  
Donald E. Sweet

A total of 329 patients with osteoblastoma were retrospectively reviewed from the archives of the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, of which 41 (12.5%) presented with tumors in the foot and ankle. This was the third most common site of disease after the spine and femur. Overall, the mean age was 22.5 years, which was the same for the foot and ankle subset of patients; however, there was a significant male predominance in foot and ankle patients compared with the whole group. The majority of patients were skeletally mature (85.4%). Clinically, most patients presented with pain (97.2%), although one-third of the total related a history of antecedent trauma. The interval between the onset of symptoms and biopsy was 84 days (range, 0–572 days). Radiographically, the majority of lesions were in the hindfoot (N = 18; 44%) of which 16 of 18 tumors (89%) were in the talus. Of these, one-half were subperiosteal and dorsally based and were associated with osseous tumor matrix and a soft tissue mass. Two osteoblastomas, both in the metatarsals, transitioned into sarcomas; the rest were histologically benign. For diagnostic purposes, it was essential to obtain clinical, radiographic, and histologic correlation.


2021 ◽  
pp. 028418512199965
Author(s):  
Abdulrahman M Alfuraih ◽  
Faisal N Almutairi ◽  
Sultan B Alotaibi ◽  
Abdullah A Alshmrani

Background Accurate identification of foreign bodies (FB) using medical imaging is essential for diagnosis and determining the suitable retrieval technique. Purpose To compare the sensitivity of different imaging modalities for detecting various FB materials in soft tissue and assess the reproducibility of a scoring system for grading the conspicuity of FBs. Material and Methods Five FB materials (plastic, wood, glass, aluminum, and copper) were embedded in a tissue-mimicking phantom. Computed radiography (CR), ultrasound, computed tomography (CT), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were compared using a semi-quantitative 5-point Likert scale scoring system. The intra- and inter-reader reproducibility of four independent readers was analyzed using Kendall’s coefficient of concordance (W). Results Glass was visible on all imaging modalities. Plastic was only visible in excellent detail using ultrasound. Wood was detected in excellent resolution using ultrasound and CT using the default window while plain X-ray failed to detect it. Ultrasound was the only modality that showed aluminum in excellent quality while CT showed it with good demarcation from the surroundings. Copper was detectable in excellent detail using CR, ultrasound, and CT. MRI performance was suboptimal, especially with the plastic FB. The scoring system showed excellent intra-reader (W = 0.91, P = 0.001) and inter-reader (W = 0.88, P < 0.001) reproducibility. Conclusion Ultrasound can be used as the first line of investigation for wood, plastic, glass, and metallic FBs impacted at superficial depths in soft tissue. The semi-quantitative FB scoring system showed excellent within- and between-reader reliability, which can be used to score and compare the detection performance of new imaging techniques.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alice C. Shea ◽  
Anderson H. Kuo ◽  
Liangge Hsu

AbstractMultiple diverse pathologies result in the clinical presentation of myelopathy. The preferred way to image the spinal cord depends on clinical history, anatomic site of interest, and patient issues limiting certain imaging modalities. This radiology-focused article discusses pertinent physiological considerations, reviews basic and newer imaging techniques, and examines several distinct disease entities in order to highlight the key role of imaging in the work-up of myelopathy.


2021 ◽  
Vol 23 (9) ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrea Di Matteo ◽  
Gianluca Smerilli ◽  
Edoardo Cipolletta ◽  
Fausto Salaffi ◽  
Rossella De Angelis ◽  
...  

Abstract Purpose of Review To highlight the potential uses and applications of imaging in the assessment of the most common and relevant musculoskeletal (MSK) manifestations in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Recent Findings Ultrasound (US) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are accurate and sensitive in the assessment of inflammation and structural damage at the joint and soft tissue structures in patients with SLE. The US is particularly helpful for the detection of joint and/or tendon inflammation in patients with arthralgia but without clinical synovitis, and for the early identification of bone erosions. MRI plays a key role in the early diagnosis of osteonecrosis and in the assessment of muscle involvement (i.e., myositis and myopathy). Conventional radiography (CR) remains the traditional gold standard for the evaluation of structural damage in patients with joint involvement, and for the study of bone pathology. The diagnostic value of CR is affected by the poor sensitivity in demonstrating early structural changes at joint and soft tissue level. Computed tomography allows a detailed evaluation of bone damage. However, the inability to distinguish different soft tissues and the need for ionizing radiation limit its use to selected clinical circumstances. Nuclear imaging techniques are valuable resources in patients with suspected bone infection (i.e., osteomyelitis), especially when MRI is contraindicated. Finally, dual energy X-ray absorptiometry represents the imaging mainstay for the assessment and monitoring of bone status in patients with or at-risk of osteoporosis. Summary Imaging provides relevant and valuable information in the assessment of MSK involvement in SLE.


BMJ Open ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (9) ◽  
pp. e027772 ◽  
Author(s):  
GAM Govaert ◽  
MGG Hobbelink ◽  
IHF Reininga ◽  
P Bosch ◽  
TC Kwee ◽  
...  

IntroductionThe optimal diagnostic imaging strategy for fracture-related infection (FRI) remains to be established. In this prospective study, the three commonly used advanced imaging techniques for diagnosing FRI will be compared. Primary endpoints are (1) determining the overall diagnostic performances of white blood cell (WBC) scintigraphy, fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in patients with suspected FRI and (2) establishing the most accurate imaging strategy for diagnosing FRI.Methods and analysisThis study is a non-randomised, partially blinded, prospective cohort study involving two level 1 trauma centres in The Netherlands. All adult patients who require advanced medical imaging for suspected FRI are eligible for inclusion. Patients will undergo all three investigational imaging procedures (WBC scintigraphy, FDG-PET and MRI) within a time frame of 14 days after inclusion. The reference standard will be the result of at least five intraoperative sampled microbiology cultures, or, in case of no surgery, the clinical presence or absence of infection at 1 year follow-up. Initially, the results of all three imaging modalities will be available to the treating team as per local protocol. At a later time point, all scans will be centrally reassessed by nuclear medicine physicians and radiologists who are blinded for the identity of the patients and their clinical outcome. The discriminative ability of the imaging modalities will be quantified by several measures of diagnostic accuracy.Ethics and disseminationApproval of the study by the Institutional Review Board has been obtained prior to the start of this study. The results of this trial will be disseminated by publication of peer-reviewed manuscripts, presentation in abstract form at scientific meetings and data sharing with other investigators through academically established means.Trial registration numberThe IFI trial is registered in the Netherlands Trial Register (NTR7490).


2015 ◽  
Vol 23 (4) ◽  
pp. 400-411 ◽  
Author(s):  
Claudio E. Tatsui ◽  
R. Jason Stafford ◽  
Jing Li ◽  
Jonathan N. Sellin ◽  
Behrang Amini ◽  
...  

OBJECT High-grade malignant spinal cord compression is commonly managed with a combination of surgery aimed at removing the epidural tumor, followed by spinal stereotactic radiosurgery (SSRS) aimed at local tumor control. The authors here introduce the use of spinal laser interstitial thermotherapy (SLITT) as an alternative to surgery prior to SSRS. METHODS Patients with a high degree of epidural malignant compression due to radioresistant tumors were selected for study. Visual analog scale (VAS) scores for pain and quality of life were obtained before and within 30 and 60 days after treatment. A laser probe was percutaneously placed in the epidural space. Real-time thermal MRI was used to monitor tissue damage in the region of interest. All patients received postoperative SSRS. The maximum thickness of the epidural tumor was measured, and the degree of epidural spinal cord compression (ESCC) was scored in pre- and postprocedure MRI. RESULTS In the 11 patients eligible for study, the mean VAS score for pain decreased from 6.18 in the preoperative period to 4.27 within 30 days and 2.8 within 60 days after the procedure. A similar VAS interrogating the percentage of quality of life demonstrated improvement from 60% preoperatively to 70% within both 30 and 60 days after treatment. Imaging follow-up 2 months after the procedure demonstrated a significant reduction in the mean thickness of the epidural tumor from 8.82 mm (95% CI 7.38–10.25) before treatment to 6.36 mm (95% CI 4.65–8.07) after SLITT and SSRS (p = 0.0001). The median preoperative ESCC Grade 2 was scored as 4, which was significantly higher than the score of 2 for Grade 1b (p = 0.04) on imaging follow-up 2 months after the procedure. CONCLUTIONS The authors present the first report on an innovative minimally invasive alternative to surgery in the management of spinal metastasis. In their early experience, SLITT has provided local control with low morbidity and improvement in both pain and the quality of life of patients.


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (5) ◽  
pp. 2757
Author(s):  
Braden Miller ◽  
Hunter Chalfant ◽  
Alexandra Thomas ◽  
Elizabeth Wellberg ◽  
Christina Henson ◽  
...  

Obesity, diabetes, and inflammation increase the risk of breast cancer, the most common malignancy in women. One of the mainstays of breast cancer treatment and improving outcomes is early detection through imaging-based screening. There may be a role for individualized imaging strategies for patients with certain co-morbidities. Herein, we review the literature regarding the accuracy of conventional imaging modalities in obese and diabetic women, the potential role of anti-inflammatory agents to improve detection, and the novel molecular imaging techniques that may have a role for breast cancer screening in these patients. We demonstrate that with conventional imaging modalities, increased sensitivity often comes with a loss of specificity, resulting in unnecessary biopsies and overtreatment. Obese women have body size limitations that impair image quality, and diabetes increases the risk for dense breast tis-sue. Increased density is known to obscure the diagnosis of cancer on routine screening mammography. Novel molecu-lar imaging agents with targets such as estrogen receptor, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2), pyrimi-dine analogues, and ligand-targeted receptor probes, among others, have potential to reduce false positive results. They can also improve detection rates with increased resolution and inform therapeutic decision making. These emerg-ing imaging techniques promise to improve breast cancer diagnosis in obese patients with diabetes who have dense breasts, but more work is needed to validate their clinical application.


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