Hypothesis There is concern regarding the accuracy of 2-dimensional (2D) computed tomography (CT) for measuring glenoid version. Three-dimensional (3D) CT scan reconstructions can properly orient the ...glenoid to the plane of the scapula and have been reported to accurately measure glenoid version in cadaver models. We hypothesized that glenoid version measured by correcting 2D CT scans to the plane of the scapula by 3D reconstruction would be significantly different compared with standard 2D CT scan measurement of the glenoid in a clinical patient population. Materials and methods Thirty-four patients underwent dedicated axial 2D CT scan of the shoulder with 3D reconstruction. The 2D glenoid version was measured on unmodified midglenoid axial cuts, and the 3D glenoid version measurement was corrected to be perpendicular to the plane of the scapula and then measured in the axial plane. Three observers repeated each measurement on 2 different days. Results The difference between the overall average 2D and 3D measurements was not statistically significant ( P = .45). In individual scapulae, 35% of 2D measurements were 5° to 10° different and 12% were greater than 10° different from their corresponding 3D-corrected CT measurement ( P < .001 to P = .045). Reproducibility of both 2D and 3D-corrected measurements was good. Discussion Although 2D and 3D corrected methods showed a high degree of both intraobserver and interobserver reliability in this series, axial 2D images without correction were 5 to 15 degrees different than their 3D-corrected counterparts in 47% of all measurements. Correcting 2D glenoid version by 3D reconstruction to the transverse plane perpendicular to the scapular body allows for an accurate assessment of glenoid version in spite of positioning differences and results in increased accuracy while maintaining high reliability. Conclusions Owing to the variability in scapular position, the axial 2D CT scan measurement was significantly different from 3D-corrected measurement of glenoid version. Averaging the version measurements across patients did not reflect this finding.
The objective of this paper is to explore sources of diagnostic error in musculoskeletal oncology and potential strategies for mitigating them using case examples. As musculoskeletal tumors are often ...obvious, the diagnostic errors in musculoskeletal oncology are frequently cognitive. In our experience, the most encountered cognitive biases in musculoskeletal oncologic imaging are as follows: (1) anchoring bias, (2) premature closure, (3) hindsight bias, (4) availability bias, and (5) alliterative bias. Anchoring bias results from failing to adjust an early impression despite receiving additional contrary information. Premature closure is the cognitive equivalent of “satisfaction of search.” Hindsight bias occurs when we retrospectively overestimate the likelihood of correctly interpreting the examination prospectively. In availability bias, the radiologist judges the probability of a diagnosis based on which diagnosis is most easily recalled. Finally, alliterative bias occurs when a prior radiologist’s impression overly influences the diagnostic thinking of another radiologist on a subsequent exam. In addition to cognitive biases, it is also important for radiologists to acknowledge their feelings when making a diagnosis to recognize positive and negative impact of affect on decision making. While errors decrease with radiologist experience, the lack of application of medical knowledge is often the primary source of error rather than a deficiency of knowledge, emphasizing the need to foster clinical reasoning skills and assist cognition. Possible solutions for reducing error exist at both the individual and the system level and include (1) improvement in knowledge and experience, (2) improvement in clinical reasoning and decision-making skills, and (3) improvement in assisting cognition.
Purpose of Review
The purpose of this paper is to review the distinct clinical and radiographic features that may lead to prompt diagnosis of rapidly progressive osteoarthritis (RPOA) and thus ...obviate unnecessary and costly diagnostic workup.
Recent Findings
RPOA is uncommon but is more frequently seen in practice because of the aging population. RPOA is a destructive arthropathy that occurs most commonly in elderly women but can also be seen in patients that have sustained trauma. The dramatic radiologic manifestations of RPOA can lead to diagnostic confusion with other arthropathies, infection, and osteonecrosis. RPOA was originally described in the hip but may also involve the shoulder. The etiology of RPOA is not well understood, but subchondral fracture probably plays a role in the development of dramatic destruction of the joint that is seen in affected patients. Early diagnosis may reduce the complexity of surgical management.
Summary
RPOA is an uncommon condition that occurs most frequently in elderly woman or in patients who have sustained trauma. Prompt recognition of the clinical and radiologic features of this arthropathy can reduce unnecessary diagnostic workup and complexity of surgical intervention.
On April 13, 2023, the American Board of Radiology (ABR) announced plans to replace the current computer-based diagnostic radiology (DR) certifying examination with a new oral examination, to be ...administered remotely, beginning in 2028. This article describes the planned changes and the process that led to those changes. In keeping with its commitment to continuous improvement, the ABR gathered stakeholder input regarding the DR initial certification process. Respondents generally agreed that the qualifying (core) examination was satisfactory but expressed concerns regarding the current computer-based certifying examination's effectiveness and impact on training. Examination redesign was conducted using input from key stakeholders with a goal of effectively evaluating competence and incentivizing study behaviors that best prepare candidates for radiology practice. Major design elements included: examination structure, breadth and depth of content, and timing. The new oral examination will focus on critical findings as well as common and important diagnoses routinely encountered in all diagnostic specialties, including radiology procedures. Candidates will first be eligible for the examination in the calendar year after residency graduation. Additional details will be finalized and announced in coming years. The ABR will continue to engage with stakeholders throughout the implementation process.
The COVID-19 pandemic had major effects on radiology training programs throughout the country. Many of the challenges were shared, with some variation depending on the size and geographic location of ...each program. While some initial modifications, such as platoon-type scheduling and redeployment, have been abandoned, other changes such as home workstations and the option of remote conferences have become more permanently incorporated. Remote learning tools and virtual teaching are much more frequently used, although there is emphasis by many programs on preserving in-person training. Programs stressed the importance of communication and adaptability, and getting resident and faculty input is key in optimizing the educational experience.
To validate a technique for reproducible measurement of the osteochondroma cartilage cap with computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging and to reevaluate the correlation of the ...thickness of the cartilage cap with pathologic findings to improve noninvasive differentiation of benign osteochondromas from secondary chondrosarcomas.
The institutional review board approved the study and waived the need for informed consent. HIPAA compliance was maintained. After validation of the measurement technique, 101 pathologically confirmed osteochondromas were retrospectively reviewed. Patient demographic data, histologic diagnosis, and chondrosarcoma grade were recorded. Two musculoskeletal radiologists used a standardized technique to independently measure the thicknesses of the cartilage caps on CT and MR images; these measurements were compared for interobserver agreement. Agreement between measurements with CT and MR imaging was also evaluated, as were the sensitivity and specificity of both modalities for differentiation of osteochondromas from chondrosarcomas.
Evaluated were 67 benign osteochondromas (from 49 male patients and 18 female patients; mean age, 23.4 years) and 34 secondary chondrosarcomas (from 27 male patients and seven female patients; mean age, 33.2 years). On the basis of the proposed measuring technique, there was 88% interobserver measurement agreement with MR imaging (95% confidence interval CI: 80%, 94%) and 93% with CT (95% CI: 84%, 98%). The median difference between measurements of cap thickness at CT and MR imaging was 0 cm (25th and 75th percentiles, -3 mm and 1 mm, respectively). With 2 cm used as a cutoff for distinguishing benign osteochondromas from chondrosarcomas, the sensitivities and specificities were 100% and 98% for MR imaging and 100% and 95% for CT, respectively.
The proposed measuring technique allows accurate and reproducible measurement of cartilage cap thickness with both CT and MR imaging. Cap thickness of 2 cm or greater strongly indicated secondary chondrosarcomas.
Benign lipomatous lesions involving soft tissue are common musculoskeletal masses that are classified into nine distinct diagnoses: lipoma, lipomatosis, lipomatosis of nerve, lipoblastoma or ...lipoblastomatosis, angiolipoma, myolipoma of soft tissue, chondroid lipoma, spindle cell lipoma and pleomorphic lipoma, and hibernoma. Soft-tissue lipoma accounts for almost 50% of all soft-tissue tumors. Radiologic evaluation is diagnostic in up to 71% of cases. These lesions are identical to subcutaneous fat on computed tomographic (CT) and magnetic resonance (MR) images and may contain thin septa. Lipomatosis represents a diffuse overgrowth of mature fat affecting either subcutaneous tissue, muscle or nerve, and imaging is needed to evaluate lesion extent. Lipoblastoma is a tumor of immature fat occurring in young children, and imaging features may reveal a mixture of fat and nonadipose tissue. Angiolipoma, myolipoma, and chondroid lipoma are rare lipomatous lesions that are infrequently imaged. Spindle cell and pleomorphic lipoma appear as a subcutaneous lipomatous mass in the posterior neck or shoulder, with frequent nonadipose components. Hibernoma appears as a lipomatous mass with serpentine vascular elements. Benign lipomatous lesions affecting bone, joint, or tendon sheath include intraosseous lipoma, parosteal lipoma, liposclerosing myxofibrous tumor, discrete lipoma of joint or tendon sheath, and lipoma arborescens. Intraosseous and parosteal lipoma have a pathognomonic CT or MR appearance, with fat in the marrow space or on the bone surface, respectively. Liposclerosing myxofibrous tumor is a rare intermixed histologic lesion commonly located in the medullary canal of the intertrochanteric femur. Benign lipomatous lesions may occur focally in a joint or tendon sheath or with diffuse villonodular proliferation in the synovium (lipoma arborescens) and are diagnosed based on location and identification of fat. Understanding the spectrum of appearances of the various benign musculoskeletal lipomatous lesions improves radiologic assessment and is vital for optimal patient management.
Background The literature lacks electromyographic (EMG) examination of subscapularis function in the postoperative period after total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA). The primary purpose of this study ...was to document EMG activity of the subscapularis after TSA and to correlate it with clinical and ultrasound findings. Methods The study included 30 patients who were at least 1 year (average, 2.1 years) from surgery, status post TSA approached through a standard subscapularis tenotomy. Patients returned for a physical examination, ultrasound evaluation, and EMG evaluation. Patients also completed postoperative surveys: the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons questionnaire, the Simple Shoulder Test, and the 12-Item Short Form Health Survey. Results The American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons, Simple Shoulder Test, and physical 12-Item Short Form Health Survey scores improved from preoperatively to postoperatively, respectively, 45.3 to 76.8 ( P = .0002), 3.9 to 9.0 ( P < .0001), and 33.9 to 42.8 ( P = .017). Six patients had a positive lift-off test result, and the belly-press test result was negative in all patients. Two patients had a subscapularis rupture on ultrasound. The postoperative EMG finding was normal in 15 patients; in the other 15 patients, there was evidence of chronic denervation with reinnervation changes: 30% subscapularis, 27% infraspinatus, 20% supraspinatus, 20% teres minor, and 13% rhomboids. Conclusions This is the first study using a comparison EMG evaluation to document subscapularis function after TSA. EMG evaluation showed that active denervation of the subscapularis was not evident in any patient at least 1 year after TSA. However, in half of the patients, there was evidence of chronicdenervation and reinnervation changes across 5 muscle groups. We theorize that surgical exposure, traction, and the use of interscalene regional anesthesia may contribute to these unexpected EMG results.
Abstract Pseudoendocrine sarcoma is a rare, recently described intermediate grade sarcoma of uncertain phenotype that most commonly affects the paraspinal location in older patients with a ...distinctive endocrine/paraganglioma-like morphology and unique CTNNB1 point mutation. While these tumors appear as epithelial or even benign endocrine tumors, these lack markers for such and are highlighted by nuclear expression of beta-catenin. This case is the first among the previously reported only twenty-five cases of this entity, including one original series and a few case reports, to correlate the radiologic imaging with the pathologic features. Furthermore, this case illustrates the oldest-to-date patient with this unique location as a palpable painful chest wall/paraspinal location, with new morphologic observations and, finally, this is only the second case to have this specific CTNNB1 hotspot point mutation for this rare entity.
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