Fat tissue is a unique component of the soft tissue, and this fat tissue lies primarily in the spaces beneath the normal subcutaneous tissue, and within or around the organs. An entire lesion, or just a part of it, can be composed of these fat tissues. Therefore, it plays an important role in the diagnostic workup of suspected musculoskeletal diseases as well as in the differentiation between them. Fat tissue is shown as low density on plain radiographs, decreased attenuation on CT images, high signal intensity on T1-weighted images and it is hypoechoic on sonography. Because of its distinctive features, fat tissue is easy to verify on various modalities.?In addition, recent image studies like fat-suppressed imaging and STIR imaging provide more precise information of the lesion that involve fat tissue. In this article, we have reviewed the differentiation of musculoskeletal diseases, including the various tumorous lesion and tumor-like lesions involving the fat tissue.
Diagnosis* ; Musculoskeletal Diseases ; Subcutaneous Tissue

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the test-retest reliability of Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire in nurses and to provide supplementary data for evaluating the reliability of the questionnaire in different occupational populations.

METHODSNordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire was translated into Chinese according to the Guidelines for the process of cross-cultural adaptation of self-report measures. We carried out a study to examine the reliability of Chinese-version Nordic Questionnaire among Chinese nurses. This study was conducted in 120 nurses recruited from our hospital, who underwent questionnaire survey twice within one week. The test-retest reliability of questionnaire was analyzed.

RESULTSThe Chinese-version Nordic Questionnaire showed a high test-retest reliability, with a Kappa coefficient of 0.72∼1.00.

CONCLUSIONThe Chinese-version Nordic Questionnaire has a high test-retest reliability in nurses, so it can be used for the screening and epidemiological investigation of musculoskeletal disorders in this population.

In this article, I would like to define "oops lesions" as soft tissue mass-like lesions that involve surprise or embarrassment for radiologists following the final diagnosis. Examples of "oops lesions" include malignant tumors that appear benign, malignancy-mimicking benign tumors, incorrect identification of epidermal inclusion cysts, and soft tissue pseudotumors. Ultrasonography (US) findings are very helpful in the diagnosis of soft tissue tumors; however, the diagnosis of soft tissue tumors on the basis of US findings alone has some limitations. Therefore, clinical findings, laboratory data, findings from additional imaging modalities, and demographic data of patients should be considered together with US findings.
Diagnosis ; Humans ; Musculoskeletal Diseases ; Soft Tissue Neoplasms ; Ultrasonography*

Almost 50% of patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) exhibit at least one extra-intestinal manifestation in their lifetime. Extra-intestinal manifestations of IBD are often associated with the intestinal disease activity, reducing the quality of life of the patient but rarely leading to fatal complications. Musculoskeletal involvement is the most frequent extra-intestinal manifestation of patients with IBD but this rarely occurs before IBD is diagnosed. They are manifested in various forms, such as arthropathy, fibromyalgia, and osteoporosis. Therefore, a multidisciplinary team approach including gastroenterologists and rheumatologists are necessary for optimal treatment. This review focuses on the diagnosis and treatment of musculoskeletal manifestations of IBD from the perspectives of rheumatologists who can assist gastroenterologists.
Diagnosis ; Fibromyalgia ; Humans ; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases ; Intestinal Diseases ; Joint Diseases ; Musculoskeletal Diseases ; Osteoporosis ; Quality of Life

Almost 50% of patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) exhibit at least one extra-intestinal manifestation in their lifetime. Extra-intestinal manifestations of IBD are often associated with the intestinal disease activity, reducing the quality of life of the patient but rarely leading to fatal complications. Musculoskeletal involvement is the most frequent extra-intestinal manifestation of patients with IBD but this rarely occurs before IBD is diagnosed. They are manifested in various forms, such as arthropathy, fibromyalgia, and osteoporosis. Therefore, a multidisciplinary team approach including gastroenterologists and rheumatologists are necessary for optimal treatment. This review focuses on the diagnosis and treatment of musculoskeletal manifestations of IBD from the perspectives of rheumatologists who can assist gastroenterologists.
Diagnosis ; Fibromyalgia ; Humans ; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases ; Intestinal Diseases ; Joint Diseases ; Musculoskeletal Diseases ; Osteoporosis ; Quality of Life

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to know the usefulness of ultrasonographic evaluation in the musculoskeletal disease. METHOD: Thirty-nine cases with musculoskeletal pain were evaluated by physical examination, Cyriax selective tension technique, simple X-ray, electromyography, arthrography, Computed tomography, Magnetic resonance image and the high-resolution realtime ultrasonography to define the location of pain. The ultasonographic results were compared to other diagnostic methods. RESULTS: The ultrasonographic findings are as follow; 22 tendinitis, 7 entrapment neuropathies, 6 bursitis, 2 ligament injuries, and 2 rotator cuff injuries. Clinical diagnosis were matched with ultrasonographic findings in 30 cases out of 39. The most common ultrasonographic findings in 22 tendinitis cases were hypoechogenicity in affected tendon. Ultrasonographic findings in 7 entrapment neuropathies were 6 nerve swellings and 1 nerve flattening. CONCLUSION: The ultrasonography can provide detailed images of musculoskeletal system, including tendons, nerves and subcutaneous tissue. Therefore the ultrasonography is very useful in diagnosis and treatment of some musculoskeletal diseases such as tendinitis and entrapment neuropathy.
Arthrography ; Bursitis ; Diagnosis ; Electromyography ; Ligaments ; Musculoskeletal Diseases* ; Musculoskeletal Pain ; Musculoskeletal System ; Nerve Compression Syndromes ; Physical Examination ; Rotator Cuff ; Subcutaneous Tissue ; Tendinopathy ; Tendons ; Ultrasonography

Tumor-mimicking lesions in the musculoskeletal system can be defined as lesions mistaken as tumors due to the presence of palpation upon physical examination or a tumor-like appearance upon radiological examination. Moreover, tumor-mimicking lesions show diverse etiologies and anatomic locations. We illustrated the various tumor-mimicking lesions involving bone and soft tissue. In this review, the tumor-mimicking lesions were classified into those based on clinical examination and those based on radiological examination in musculoskeletal radiology. Awareness of the various causes of tumor-mimicking lesions, correctly obtaining clinical information, and the proper selection of imaging modality are important for the differentiation of tumor-mimicking lesions from true neoplasms.
Bone Neoplasms/diagnosis ; Diagnosis, Differential ; *Diagnostic Imaging ; Humans ; Muscle Neoplasms/diagnosis ; Musculoskeletal Diseases/*diagnosis ; Physical Examination ; Soft Tissue Neoplasms/diagnosis

Peptic ulcer disease is one of the most commonly encountered diseases in gastroenterology clinics. After the discovery of Helicobacter pylori by Warren and Marshall, it has been identified as the most important cause of peptic ulcer. Eradication of H. pylori markedly reduces the post-treatment recurrence rate of peptic ulcer. However, as human populations age, the incidence of cardiovascular and musculoskeletal diseases increases and consequent use of aspirin and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs increases. Thus causes and presenting patterns of peptic ulcer have changed. In this review, I describe new diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for peptic ulcer disease and explore future perspectives.
Aspirin ; Diagnosis* ; Gastroenterology ; Helicobacter pylori ; Humans ; Incidence ; Musculoskeletal Diseases ; Peptic Ulcer* ; Recurrence

OBJECTIVES: The sudden increase in work-related musculoskeletal disease is caused by sociopsychological factors and ergonomic risk factors of the work process. This study evaluates the relationship between the symptoms of musculoskeletal disease and the sociopsychological factors. METHODS: A questionnaire survey and ergonomic evaluation were administered to workers of a shipyard company with a high incidence rate of musculoskeletal disease. To quantify the pain score associated with a diagnosis of musculoskeletal disease, the pain degree(1~5points), frequency (1~4 points) and duration (1~4 points) were multiplied to give a maximum score of 80. A score above 64 points on the pain score was defined as 'severe pain group'. This 'severe pain group' was chosen as the dependent variable and the sociopsychological factors were evaluated as independent variables with structural equation modeling based on a decision tree of exhaustive CHAID. RESULTS: The standardized regression weights value with reference to the REBA score(0.54) had the largest value by the type of company, followed in order by joining and acting labor union(.313), job demand(.172), senior support(-.095), insufficient sleep (.092), and colleague support (.061). CONCLUSION: The symptoms of musculoskeletal disease were greatly affected by sociopsychological factors such as whether joining and acting labor union, job demand, and senior or colleague support.
Decision Trees ; Diagnosis ; Incidence ; Labor Unions ; Musculoskeletal Diseases* ; Questionnaires ; Risk Factors ; Weights and Measures

The early and accurate antenatal diagnosis of fetal musculoskeletal malfomations with a poor outcome has important implications for the management of a pregnancy. Careful ultrasonographic examination of a fetus helps detect such anomalies, and a number of characteristic features may suggest possible differential diagnoses. During the last five years, we have encountered 39 cases of such anomalies, and the typical prenatal ultrasonographic and pathologic findings of a number of those are described in this article.
Chondrodysplasia Punctata/diagnosis ; Female ; Fetal Diseases/*diagnosis ; Human ; Musculoskeletal Abnormalities/*diagnosis/radiography/ultrasonography ; Osteogenesis Imperfecta/diagnosis ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Outcome ; *Prenatal Diagnosis ; Thanatophoric Dysplasia/diagnosis ; *Ultrasonography, Prenatal