BACKGROUND: Although there are several methods for evaluating bone quality, Hounsfield units (HU), a standardized computed tomography (CT) attenuation coefficient, provide a useful tool for estimating focal bone mineral density (BMD). The aim of this study is to investigate the HU for evaluating the degree of osteoporosis in greater tuberosity with regard to anchor positioning. METHODS: Forty patients diagnosed as normal on shoulder CT were included and categorized according to age and gender. Axially sectioned CT images were processed to 3-dimensional models containing information about bone quality using Mimics (14.11 platform v14.1.1.1 Materialise). Three-dimensional anchors were simulated and positioned according to 6 regions of interest (ROI) in the greater tuberosity classified using Tingart's system. Mean HU of intra-anchor volumes in the 6 regions was measured. RESULTS: A significant decrease in HU was observed with increasing age (p=0.0001) and menopause (p<0.001). A significant difference in HU was found between male and female groups with males showing the higher values (p=0.0001). HU of proximal areas of ROI was higher than those of distal areas (p<0.005). However, although mean HU of distal posterior ROI showed the lowest values, no statistically significant difference was found between anterior, middle, and posterior regions (p=0.087). CONCLUSION: Mean HU of ROIs provides a tool for preoperative assessment of focal BMD, which is a factor of suture anchor stability and can be used to aid decision-making regarding secure anchor positioning for rotator cuff repair. Our data support that the most secure point is the proximal regions of ROI.
Bone Density* ; Female ; Humans ; Humerus* ; Male ; Menopause ; Osteoporosis ; Rotator Cuff ; Shoulder ; Suture Anchors

No abstract available.
Humans ; Infant* ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Premature*

BACKGROUND: Although there are several methods for evaluating bone quality, Hounsfield units (HU), a standardized computed tomography (CT) attenuation coefficient, provide a useful tool for estimating focal bone mineral density (BMD). The aim of this study is to investigate the HU for evaluating the degree of osteoporosis in greater tuberosity with regard to anchor positioning. METHODS: Forty patients diagnosed as normal on shoulder CT were included and categorized according to age and gender. Axially sectioned CT images were processed to 3-dimensional models containing information about bone quality using Mimics (14.11 platform v14.1.1.1 Materialise). Three-dimensional anchors were simulated and positioned according to 6 regions of interest (ROI) in the greater tuberosity classified using Tingart's system. Mean HU of intra-anchor volumes in the 6 regions was measured. RESULTS: A significant decrease in HU was observed with increasing age (p=0.0001) and menopause (p<0.001). A significant difference in HU was found between male and female groups with males showing the higher values (p=0.0001). HU of proximal areas of ROI was higher than those of distal areas (p<0.005). However, although mean HU of distal posterior ROI showed the lowest values, no statistically significant difference was found between anterior, middle, and posterior regions (p=0.087). CONCLUSION: Mean HU of ROIs provides a tool for preoperative assessment of focal BMD, which is a factor of suture anchor stability and can be used to aid decision-making regarding secure anchor positioning for rotator cuff repair. Our data support that the most secure point is the proximal regions of ROI.
Bone Density ; Female ; Humans ; Humerus ; Male ; Menopause ; Osteoporosis ; Rotator Cuff ; Shoulder ; Suture Anchors

Rhabdomyosarcoma is a highly malignant soft tissue sarcoma that car arise in any site of the body containing striated muscle or its mesenchymal analgae. It is the most common childhood sarcoma with two peak age frequencies, one at ages 2 to 6, and one in the adolescence. The site, stage and extent of disease, and pathologic characteristics of the tumor contribute to prognostic factors that influence therapeutic decisions. The results of treatment of 52 patients with rhabdomyosarcoma, who were treated at Department of Radiation Oncology. Yonsei University College of Medicine, Yonsei Cancer Center from 1976 to 1987 were retrospectively analyzed. The most frequent clinical group and primary sites were IRS group III(57.7%) and head and neck (42.3%) including orbit (11.5%) and parameningeal region(13.5%). The overall and disease free 5 year survival rate of eligible 41 patients were 31.7%, 29.3%, respectively. The complete remission(CR) rate was 50% in clinical group III and 0% in IV. Primary tumors of the orbit, clinical group I and embryonal subtype had the best prognosis. The survival rate was improved by addition of chemotherapy to operation and radiation therapy.
Adolescent ; Drug Therapy ; Head ; Humans ; Muscle, Striated ; Neck ; Orbit ; Prognosis ; Radiation Oncology ; Retrospective Studies ; Rhabdomyosarcoma* ; Sarcoma ; Survival Rate