In the last two decades, relevant progress has been made in the diagnosis of musculoskeletal tumors due to the development of new imaging tools, such as diffusion-weighted imaging, diffusion kurtosis ...imaging, magnetic resonance spectroscopy, and diffusion tensor imaging. Another important role has been played by the development of artificial intelligence software based on complex algorithms, which employ computing power in the detection of specific tumor types. The aim of this article is to report the most advanced imaging techniques focusing on their advantages in clinical practice.
Objectives
To update the 2012 European Society of Musculoskeletal Radiology (ESSR) clinical consensus guidelines for musculoskeletal ultrasound referral in Europe.
Methods
Twenty-one musculoskeletal ...imaging experts from the ESSR participated in a consensus study based on a Delphic process. Two independent (non-voting) authors facilitated the procedure and resolved doubtful issues. Updated musculoskeletal ultrasound literature up to July 2017 was scored for shoulder, elbow, wrist/hand, hip, knee, and ankle/foot. Scoring of ultrasound elastography was included. The strength of the recommendation and level of evidence was scored by consensus greater than 67% or considered uncertain when the consensus was consensus less than 67%.
Results
A total of 123 new papers were reviewed. No evidence change was found regarding the shoulder. There were no new relevant articles for the shoulder, 10 new articles for the elbow, 28 for the hand/wrist, 3 for the hip, 7 for the knee, and 4 for the ankle/foot. Four new evidence levels of A were determined, one for the hip (gluteal tendons tears), one for the knee (meniscal cysts), one for the ankle (ankle joint instability), and one for the foot (plantar plate tear). There was no level A evidence for elastography, although for Achilles tendinopathy and lateral epicondylitis evidence level was B with grade 3 indication.
Conclusions
Four new areas of level A evidence were included in the guidelines. Elastography did not reach level A evidence. Whilst ultrasound is of increasing importance in musculoskeletal medical practice, the evidence for elastography remains moderate.
Key Points
• Evidence and expert consensus shows an increase of musculoskeletal ultrasound indications.
• Four new A evidence levels were found for the hip, knee, ankle, and foot.
• There was no level A evidence for elastography.
Objectives
To systematically review the current literature concerning the role of superb microvascular imaging (SMI), a novel Doppler technique that enables detection of fine vessels and slow blood ...flow, in the evaluation of musculoskeletal disorders.
Methods
An online search of the literature was conducted for the period 2013 to April 2019 and included original articles written in English language. A data analysis was performed at the end of the literature search.
Results
Eight original articles with prospective design and one with retrospective design were included in this review: 4 studies focused on rheumatoid arthritis, 2 on rheumatoid and other arthritides, 1 on lateral epicondylosis and 2 on carpal tunnel syndrome. Sample size ranged from 26 to 83 patients. Despite some methodological differences, all studies compared the performance of SMI with that of a conventional Doppler technique such as power and color Doppler and found an improvement in vascularity detection with SMI. The main variations were in sample size, evaluated parameters and vascularity interpretation methods. Inter-observer agreement for SMI ranged from moderate to excellent.
Conclusions
SMI is a promising tool for the diagnosis and treatment planning of different musculoskeletal disorders. Future investigations should include larger samples of patients with long-term follow-up.
The growing interest of medical community about sarcopenia resulted in the production of several clinical practice guidelines (CPGs), with an unavoidable variability in terms of the overall quality ...of those publications. Our aim is to evaluate the quality of CPGs on sarcopenia using the AGREE II instrument.
We performed an online literature search for sarcopenia CPGs using different databases. Four independent reviewers evaluated the quality of CPGs using the AGREE II instrument. To classify the quality of each guideline, we defined specific thresholds of final score: high-quality if five or more domains scored >60%; average-quality if three or four domains scored >60%; low-quality if ≤2 domains scored >60%.
Our literature search yielded 315 articles, and after applying exclusion criteria our final analysis included 19 CPGs. The overall quality of CPGs was remarkable, as 13/19 (68.4%) were considered of "high-quality" CPGs, with more than four domains reached a score higher than 60%. "Scope and Purpose" and "Clarity of Presentations" had the best domain results (78.4% and 73.8%, respectively), while the two domains with the lowest scores were "Rigor of Development" and "Applicability" (61.5% and 58.7%, respectively). Interobserver variability ranged between moderate (0.624) and fair (0.275).
Our study showed that the overall quality of CPGs about sarcopenia was noteworthy, as more than two-third of paper obtained a "high-quality" score. The domain "applicability" had the lowest score, suggesting that emphasis should be put on possible strategies for helping other doctors to implement guideline recommendations in clinical practice.
This study aims to investigate the influence of interobserver manual segmentation variability on the reproducibility of 2D and 3D unenhanced computed tomography (CT)- and magnetic resonance imaging ...(MRI)-based texture analysis. Thirty patients with cartilaginous bone tumors (10 enchondromas, 10 atypical cartilaginous tumors, 10 chondrosarcomas) were retrospectively included. Three radiologists independently performed manual contour-focused segmentation on unenhanced CT and T1-weighted and T2-weighted MRI by drawing both a 2D region of interest (ROI) on the slice showing the largest tumor area and a 3D ROI including the whole tumor volume. Additionally, a marginal erosion was applied to both 2D and 3D segmentations to evaluate the influence of segmentation margins. A total of 783 and 1132 features were extracted from original and filtered 2D and 3D images, respectively. Intraclass correlation coefficient ≥ 0.75 defined feature stability. In 2D vs. 3D contour-focused segmentation, the rates of stable features were 74.71% vs. 86.57% (
p
< 0.001), 77.14% vs. 80.04% (
p
= 0.142), and 95.66% vs. 94.97% (
p
= 0.554) for CT and T1-weighted and T2-weighted images, respectively. Margin shrinkage did not improve 2D (
p
= 0.343) and performed worse than 3D (
p
< 0.001) contour-focused segmentation in terms of feature stability. In 2D vs. 3D contour-focused segmentation, matching stable features derived from CT and MRI were 65.8% vs. 68.7% (
p
= 0.191), and those derived from T1-weighted and T2-weighted images were 76.0% vs. 78.2% (
p
= 0.285). 2D and 3D radiomic features of cartilaginous bone tumors extracted from unenhanced CT and MRI are reproducible, although some degree of interobserver segmentation variability highlights the need for reliability analysis in future studies.
Background
Image-guided interventional procedures around the shoulder are commonly performed in clinical practice, although evidence regarding their effectiveness is scarce. We report the results of ...a Delphi method review of evidence on literature published on image-guided interventional procedures around the shoulder with a list of clinical indications.
Methods
Forty-five experts in image-guided musculoskeletal procedures from the ESSR participated in a consensus study using the Delphic method. Peer-reviewed papers regarding interventional procedures around the shoulder up to September 2018 were scored according to the Oxford Centre for Evidence-based Medicine levels of evidence. Statements on clinical indications were constructed. Consensus was considered as strong if more than 95% of experts agreed and as broad if more than 80% agreed.
Results
A total of 20 statements were drafted, and 5 reached the highest level of evidence. There were 10 statements about tendon procedures, 6 about intra-articular procedures, and 4 about intrabursal injections. Strong consensus was obtained in 16 of them (80%), while 4 received broad consensus (20%).
Conclusions
Literature evidence on image-guided interventional procedures around the shoulder is limited. A strong consensus has been reached for 80% of statements. The ESSR recommends further research to potentially influence treatment options, patient outcomes, and social impact.
Key Points
• Expert consensus produced a list of 20 evidence-based statements on clinical indications of image-guided interventional procedures around the shoulder.
• The highest level of evidence was reached for five statements.
• Strong consensus was obtained for 16 statements (80%), while 4 received broad consensus (20%).
The Achilles tendon is one of the most commonly ruptured tendons in the human body. Minimally invasive and open surgical repairs are commonly undertaken to manage acute Achilles ruptures. This ...article describes the postoperative imaging findings and their evolution after surgery. Ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging provide crucial information regarding the morphology, structure, vascularization and mobility of the Achilles tendon on the surrounding planes. Morphologically, a repaired tendon is physiologically larger and wider than an intact one, with a loss of its fibrillary structure; the presence of surgical material in the context of the tendon is normal after the rupture has been repaired. After surgery, the tendon is more vascularized in power-Doppler imaging. Elastography and diffusion tensor Imaging are innovative tools which allow for the visualization of microstructural abnormalities not apprehensible using conventional imaging techniques. A treated Achilles tendon is unlikely to regain a normal imaging appearance, and the health care professional must distinguish between postoperative findings and actual pathological features. In this context, clinical examination still reigns supreme.
Study design
Prospective multi-center study.
Objective
The study aimed to evaluate the accuracy of pedicle screw placement using a skin marker-based optical surgical navigation system for minimal ...invasive thoraco-lumbar-sacral pedicle screw placement.
Methods
The study was performed in a hybrid Operating Room with a video camera-based navigation system integrated in the imaging hardware. The patient was tracked with non-invasive skin markers while the instrument tracking was via an on-shaft optical marker pattern. The screw placement accuracy assessment was performed by three independent reviewers, using the Gertzbein grading. The screw placement time as well as the staff and patient radiation doses was also measured.
Results
In total, 211 screws in 39 patients were analyzed for screw placement accuracy. Of these 32.7% were in the thoracic region, 59.7% were in the lumbar region, and 7.6% were in the sacral region. An overall accuracy of 98.1% was achieved. No screws were deemed severely misplaced (Gertzbein grading 3). The average time for screw placement was 6 min and 25 secs (± 3 min 33 secs). The average operator radiation dose per subject was 40.3 µSv. The mean patient effective dose (ED) was 11.94 mSv.
Conclusion
Skin marker-based ON can be used to achieve very accurate thoracolumbarsacral pedicle screw placements.
Dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE) imaging is a non-invasive technique used for the evaluation of tissue vascularity features through imaging series acquisition after contrast medium administration. ...Over the years, the study technique and protocols have evolved, seeing a growing application of this method across different imaging modalities for the study of almost all body districts. The main and most consolidated current applications concern MRI imaging for the study of tumors, but an increasing number of studies are evaluating the use of this technique also for inflammatory pathologies and functional studies. Furthermore, the recent advent of artificial intelligence techniques is opening up a vast scenario for the analysis of quantitative information deriving from DCE. The purpose of this article is to provide a comprehensive update on the techniques, protocols, and clinical applications – both established and emerging – of DCE in whole-body imaging.
Purpose
Primary purpose was to assess changes of bone mineral density (BMD) in diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) patients treated with rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and ...prednisone R-CHOP (like) chemotherapy regimen. Secondary purposes were to assess other body composition features changes and to assess the association of pre-therapy values and their changes over time with survival.
Material and methods
Patients selected underwent R-CHOP(like) regimen for DLBCL, and underwent PET-CT before and after treatment. Main clinical data collected included body mass index, date of last follow-up, date of progression, and date of death. From the low-dose CT images, BMD was assessed at the L1 level; the other body composition values, including muscle and fat distribution, were assessed at the L3 level by using a dedicated software. Descriptive statistics were reported as median and interquartile range, or frequencies and percentages. Statistical comparisons of body composition variables between pre- and post-treatment assessments were performed using the Wilcoxon matched pairs signed rank test. Non-normal distribution of variables was tested with the Shapiro–Wilk test. For qualitative variables, the Fisher exact test was used. Log rank test was used to compare survival between different subgroups of the study population defined by specific body composition cutoffs. The significance level was set at
p
< 0.05.
Results
Eighty-two patients were included. The mean follow-up was 37.5 ± 21.4 months. A significant difference was found in mean BMD before and after R-CHOP(like) treatment (
p
< 0.0001). The same trend was observed for mean skeletal muscle area (SMA) (
p
= 0.004) and mean skeletal muscle index (SMI) (
p
= 0.006). No significant association was demonstrated between body composition variables, PFS and OS.
Conclusion
R-CHOP(like) treatment in DLBCL patients was associated with significant reduction of BMD, SMA and SMI.
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