A Novel Magnetic Resonance Imaging Scoring System in Making Specific Diagnosis of Tubercular Spondylitis in Advanced Infection

2019 ◽  
Vol 1 ◽  
pp. 7-13
Author(s):  
Raghu Teja Sadineni ◽  
N. V. Anupama ◽  
B. T. Pushpa ◽  
Kavya Mikkineni ◽  
Muhil Kannan ◽  
...  

Objective: The diagnosis of tuberculous spondylitis by microbiological and histopathological analysis is time consuming. Non-invasive methods such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are useful for early diagnosis of infective spondylitis; however, the usefulness of MRI in accurate prediction of tuberculosis rather than non-specific infections is still not elucidated. There is a lacuna in the literature with regard to this. Non-invasive identification of tubercular etiology help in initiation of appropriate treatment and thus a better therapeutic response. We intend to devise a novel MRI score in making a confident diagnosis of tubercular spondylitis rather than non-specific infective spondylitis. Materials and Methods: A retrospective observational analysis was performed on 125 biopsy-proven infective spondylitis patients which included 70 tubercular (Group A) and 55 pyogenic (Group B) patients. Tubercular spondylitis was confirmed by either positive result of tissue gene expert test, histopathology or culture results. Eight MRI findings described in literature to be favorable for tubercular spondylitis were selected and analyzed for their predictive value, and a scoring system is derived based on the observations. Results: Statistically significant differentiation was noted in six out of selected eight MRI parameters, namely, (1) involvement of more than two contiguous vertebrae, (2) presence of para or intraosseous abscess, (3) subligamentous spread, (4) vertebral collapse, (5) large collection with thin abscess wall, and (6) presence of hypointense debris/wall on T2WI. Positive predictive value for tubercular spondylitis was obtained for the following MRI parameters by multivariate regression analysis: (1) Sub-ligamentous spread, (2) vertebral collapse, (3) large collection with thin abscess wall, and (4) presence of T2 hypointense debris. These MRI parameters having an independent prediction of tuberculosis were given two points score for each. Less significant MRI findings of more than two contiguous vertebral involvement and presence of intraosseous abscess were given a score of one for each. A total score of 10 was formulated and scoring for both groups was tabulated and analyzed. Contrary to that available in literature, no significant statistical correlation for differentiation was observed in our group for the presence of skip lesions and absence of intervertebral disc involvement. Hence, these were not included in our scoring system. Distribution of scores among the subjects aged 53.4 ± 17 years showed P < 0.001 (t-test and Mann–Whitney U-test) with mean of 7.4 for tubercular and 2.9 for pyogenic group (SD of 1.9). A score of 6 or above suggested tuberculosis and score below 6 suggested pyogenic infection (Chi-square value of 87.67 and P < 0.00001). Conclusion: MRI can thus be used for accurate diagnosis of spinal tuberculosis, and our novel MRI scoring system can be applied to exclude non-specific spondylodiscitis, help in reducing the burden of additional invasive investigations, expenditure and the time delay for initiating antitubercular treatment.

Author(s):  
Hongzhang Zhu ◽  
Shi-Ting Feng ◽  
Xingqi Zhang ◽  
Zunfu Ke ◽  
Ruixi Zeng ◽  
...  

Background: Cutis Verticis Gyrata (CVG) is a rare skin disease caused by overgrowth of the scalp, presenting as cerebriform folds and wrinkles. CVG can be classified into two forms: primary (essential and non-essential) and secondary. The primary non-essential form is often associated with neurological and ophthalmological abnormalities, while the primary essential form occurs without associated comorbidities. Discussion: We report on a rare case of primary essential CVG with a 4-year history of normal-colored scalp skin mass in the parietal-occipital region without symptom in a 34-year-old male patient, retrospectively summarizing his pathological and Computer Tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings. The major clinical observations on the CT and MR sectional images include a thickened dermis and excessive growth of the scalp, forming the characteristic scalp folds. With the help of CT and MRI Three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction techniques, the characteristic skin changes could be displayed intuitively, providing more evidence for a diagnosis of CVG. At the 5-year followup, there were no obvious changes in the lesion. Conclusion: Based on our observations, we propose that not all patients with primary essential CVG need surgical intervention, and continuous clinical observation should be an appropriate therapy for those in stable condition.


2005 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 133-140 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Mietchen ◽  
H. Keupp ◽  
B. Manz ◽  
F. Volke

Abstract. For more than a decade, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) has been routinely employed in clinical diagnostics because it allows non-invasive studies of anatomical structures and physiological processes in vivo and to differentiate between healthy and pathological states, particularly of soft tissue. Here, we demonstrate that MRI can likewise be applied to fossilized biological samples and help in elucidating paleopathological and paleoecological questions: Five anomalous guards of Jurassic and Cretaceous belemnites are presented along with putative paleopathological diagnoses directly derived from 3D MR images with microscopic resolution. Syn vivo deformities of both the mineralized internal rostrum and the surrounding former soft tissue can be traced back in part to traumatic events of predator-prey-interactions, and partly to parasitism. Besides, evidence is presented that the frequently observed anomalous apical collar might be indicative of an inflammatory disease. These findings highlight the potential of Magnetic Resonance techniques for further paleontological applications.


2021 ◽  
Vol 14 ◽  
pp. 117954762198967
Author(s):  
Van Trung Hoang ◽  
Cong Thao Trinh ◽  
Hoang Anh Thi Van ◽  
Thanh Tam Thi Nguyen ◽  
Vichit Chansomphou ◽  
...  

Balo’s concentric sclerosis (BCS) is a rare demyelinating disease known as Multiple Sclerosis (MS) lesion type III. It is a disease of the white matter of the brain characterized by a round lesion with variable concentric myelinated and demyelinated layers, appearing as “onion bulb.” We present a case of BCS and discuss the imaging findings and management strategies of this disease. A 26-y-old male developed headache, weakness, and numbness of limbs. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed concentric lamellar like demyelinating lesions at the subcortical regions. The patient’s neurological symptoms were consistent with the MRI findings.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Seiya Ota ◽  
Eiji Sasaki ◽  
Shizuka Sasaki ◽  
Daisuke Chiba ◽  
Yuka Kimura ◽  
...  

AbstractWe investigated the prevalence of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings and their relationship with knee symptoms in women without radiographic evidence of knee osteoarthritis (KOA). This cross-sectional cohort study included 359 Japanese women without radiographic evidence of KOA (Kellgren‒Lawrence grade < 2). All participants underwent T2-weighted fat-suppressed MRI of their knees. Structural abnormalities (cartilage damage, bone marrow lesions [BMLs], subchondral cysts, bone attrition, osteophytes, meniscal lesions, and synovitis) were scored according to the whole-organ MRI score method. Knee symptoms were evaluated using the Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score. Participants were divided into early and non-KOA groups based on early KOA classification criteria. Logistic regression analysis was performed to evaluate the relationship between MRI abnormalities and knee symptoms. Cartilage damage was the most common abnormality (43.5%). The prevalences of cartilage damage, BMLs, subchondral cysts, bone attrition, meniscal lesions, and synovitis were higher in patients with early KOA than in those without. Synovitis (odds ratio [OR] 2.254, P = 0.002) and meniscal lesions (OR 1.479, P = 0.031) were positively associated with the presence of early KOA. Synovitis was most strongly associated with knee pain and might be a therapeutic target in patients with early KOA.


2020 ◽  
Vol 79 (Suppl 1) ◽  
pp. 694.2-694
Author(s):  
R. D. Vargas Ruíz ◽  
J. A. Gómez Rosero ◽  
C. Muñoz ◽  
D. Jaramillo Arroyave ◽  
L. Hernandez ◽  
...  

Background:muscle involvement is frequently reported in polyarteritis nodosa (PAN), mostly as myalgia, muscle swelling, and gait difficulty due to intramuscular arteries involvement, peripheral neuropathy, or myositis with slightly or no elevation of muscle enzymes. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings of compromised muscles have been reported in isolated cases, mainly as a limited form of PAN, however, muscular involvement patterns in MRI of patients with PAN have been recently describedObjectives:to describe MRI of legs findings in patients with PAN in a tertiary center from Medellin-Colombia.Methods:it was performed a retrospective cross-sectional descriptive study of 15 adult patients who were clinically assessed as having PAN and who had undergone MRI of legs between January 2011 and December 2019. Characteristics already informed in previous studies, affected structures (muscle, subcutaneous tissue, and bone) and pattern of hyperintensities were described as diffuse pattern (signal alterations affecting the entire area of the involved muscle), patched pattern (areas of hyperintensities alternating areas of normal muscle signal intensity), and fluffy nodular pattern or cotton-wool appearance (round hyperintense lesions with fluffy margins centered on blood vessels).Results:clinical characteristics:myalgia, especially calf pain, was the most frequent muscular complaint; other clinical manifestations were: constitutional symptoms (80%), arthralgias or arthritis (50%), mono/polyneuropathy (33%), subcutaneous nodules (33%), livedo reticularis (20%), lower limbs ulcers (13%), abdominal symptoms (13%), and purpura (7%).MRI findings:bilateral muscular edema was found in all patients (100%), fatty infiltration (20%), edema of the subcutaneous cellular tissue (20%), and muscular atrophy (13%) were also described. A diffuse pattern occurred in 46% (n=7) of patients (figure panel A), a patched pattern (figure panel B) in 46% (n=7), and a fluffy nodular pattern or cotton-wool appearance (figure panel C) in 6% (n=1). The most frequently affected muscular group was gastrocnemius and soleus (67%), followed by anterior tibialis (27%), plantar, long peroneus, first finger flexors, and long flexors only affected in 7%. Bone involvement was found in 53%, being the tibia the most affected, followed by the fibula and the calcaneus. MRI led to guide the site of muscle biopsy to prove histological medium-size vasculitis in half of the patients.Conclusion:in patients with PAN suspicion who have muscular complaints, especially calf pain, MRI arises as an important diagnostic tool, and also as a guide to muscular biopsy to prove vasculitis. The patterns associated with PAN are diffuse, patched or fluffy nodular hyperintensities in gastrocnemius and soleus with or without bone compromise.References:[1]Kang, Y. et al. Muscle involvement in polyarteritis nodosa: Report of eight cases with characteristic contrast enhancement pattern on MRI. Am. J. Roentgenol. 206, 378–384 (2016).[2]Hofman DM, Lems WF, Witkamp TD, Putte VD, Bijlsma JW. Demonstration of calf abnormalities by magnetic resonance imaging in polyarteritis nodosa. Clin Rheumatol 1992; 11:402–404.FigureDisclosure of Interests:None declared


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