The Bernageau radiographic view is an accurate and reproducible technique for measuring the presence of glenoid erosion, with similar results when compared to the 3D CT scan.

Eighty knees of 40 musculoskeletally normal infants whose age ranged from 0 to 24 months (average 9.65 months) were ultrasonographically analyzed. The lengths of the patella, patellar ligament - and the Insall-Salvati index, knee being flexed at 30 degrees , were assessed. The angles of the femoral cartilaginous sulcus knee flexed at 0, 30, 60, and 90 degrees were also defined. Patellar length varied from 1.84 to 2.02 cm (mean, 93.3 cm; standard deviation, 0.35); patellar ligament length varied from 1.67 to 1.86 (mean, 1.76 cm; standard deviation, 0.25); the Insall-Salvati index varied from 1.04 to 1.13, (mean, 1.09; standard deviation, 0.14); and femoral cartilaginous sulcus angle ranged from 148.7 to 149.3 degrees (average, 148.9 degrees and standard deviation, 6.20). Statistical tests showed no significant difference in the proposed measures according to sex and side (right/left). Moreover, we did not observe significant difference in the femoral cartilaginous sulcus angle with respect to the various degrees of knee flexion. Thus, we conclude that ultrasonography is useful for determining the normal values of the Insall-Salvati index and femoral cartilaginous sulcus angle in infants from 0 to 24 months. Then, we suggest standardization of this imaging procedure for the early diagnosis of deformities, which might impair the knee in infants within this range of age.

OBJETIVO: Comparar o desempenho das sequências T1, T2, STIR e DWIBS (difusão de corpo inteiro com supressão do sinal de fundo) na identificação de sítios caracterizados como acometidos pelo linfoma de Hodgkin nas cadeias linfonodais, órgãos parenquimatosos e medula óssea, e avaliar a concordância entre os examinadores. MATERIAIS E MÉTODOS: Foram estudados 12 pacientes com diagnóstico confirmado de linfoma de Hodgkin. Os pacientes foram encaminhados para o exame de ressonância magnética, sendo realizadas as sequências ponderadas em T1, T2, STIR e DWIBS. RESULTADOS: O número de sítios linfonodais caracterizados como acometidos nas sequências ponderadas em T1 e T2 apresentaram resultados semelhantes (8 sítios), mas inferiores às sequências STIR e DWIBS (11 e 12 sítios, respectivamente). Quanto ao acometimento da medula óssea, observaram-se os mesmos valores para as sequências T1, T2 e DWIBS (17 lesões), superiores ao valor encontrado na sequência STIR (13 lesões). Quando realizada a comparação entre os examinadores, nota-se que há alta concordância entre as quatro sequências. CONCLUSÃO: As sequências STIR e DWIBS detectaram maior número de linfonodos caracterizados como acometidos. Todas as sequências apresentaram resultados semelhantes na avaliação dos órgãos parenquimatosos e medula óssea. Em todas as sequências analisadas houve alta concordância entre os examinadores.

An ultrasonographic study was carried out in 25 infants (50 knees) with Down syndrome, whose age ranged from zero to 24 months, average being 13.2 months; 13 were males and 12 were females. The ultrasonographic investigation was performed with the knee being in full extension for the transversal view and in 30 degrees flexion for the sagittal view. The Insall-Salvati index and femoral cartilaginous sulcus angle were measured. Insall-Salvati index values ranged from 1.06 to 1.15 (average 1.10), with standard deviation of 0.16. No significant differences were observed with regard to Insall-Salvati index values in normal children. The femoral cartilaginous sulcus angle in infants with Down syndrome ranged from 152.7 to 155.8 degrees (average 154.3) with standard deviation of 7.959. In Down syndrome we noticed significant difference as compared to the normal values. The authors suggest that ultrasonography is useful in Down syndrome for an early diagnosis of instability of the patella.

BackgroundConventional spin-echo (PD-CSE) and fast spin-echo (PD-FSE) techniques are frequently used to detect meniscal tears. However, the time delay for imaging with PD-CSE has resulted in its replacement with faster techniques, such as proton density fast spin-echo (PD-FSE), which has become a frequent tool at most diagnostic centres.Qualitative analysis shows that the PD-CSE technique is more sensitive, but other authors have not found significant differences between the aforementioned techniques. Therefore, we performed a quantitative analysis in this study that aims to measure differences in the quality of the images obtained with both techniques.MethodsWe compared the PD-CSE and PD-FSE techniques by quantitatively analysing the obtained proton density images: the area shown, as well as the brightness and lesion contrast of the obtained image.A set of 100 images from 50 patients thought to contain meniscal tears of the knee were selected. These 100 images were obtained from all individuals using both the PD-CSE and PD-FSE techniques. The images were processed using software developed in Delphi. In addition to these quantifications, three physicians, who are specialists in radiology and capable of analysing magnetic resonance (MR) images of the musculoskeletal system, qualitatively analysed the diagnostic sensitivity of both techniques.ResultsOn average, samples obtained via the PD-CSE technique contained 22% more pixels in the lesion area. The contrast differed by 28%, and the brightness differed by 31%. The two techniques were correlated using Student’s t-test, which showed a statistically significant difference. The specialists detected meniscal tears in 30 of the images obtained via the PD-CSE technique, while only 72% of these cases were detected via the PD-FSE technique.ConclusionsThe PD-CSE technique was shown to be superior to PD-FSE for all of the evaluated properties, making its selection preferable.