PURPOSE: To evaluate the differential features of complete and partial- thickness tears of the posterior cruciate ligament(PCL) and to describe associated knee injuries at magnetic resonance imaging(MRI). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-four subjects were studied, including 15 with complete PCL tears and 9 with partial PCL tears. The PCL status was determined at arthroscopy in all cases. Knee MRI were perfomed at 1.0 Tesla using a dedicated knee surface coil. Two radiologists retrospectively reviewed MR images and correlated MRI findings to results of arthroscopy. RESULTS: There was no statistically significant difference between complete tears and partial tears with regard to thickness, margination, and signal intensity of the PCL. However, complete tears were more likely to show focal areas of ligamentous discontinuity(13/15:3/9, p=0.0073). Associated knee injuries were seen in 22 (92%) patients and were seen more frequently in patients with complete PCL tears, which were bony injuries (n=16, 67%), tears of the medial collateral ligament(n=12, 50%) and menisci(n--11, 46%), and stage III joint effusion(n=17, 71%). CONCLUSION: The most useful MRI criteria for distinguishing complete from partial PCL tear is focal area of ligamentous discontinuity, that is, complete tears are more likely to show focal areas of discontinuity, whereas partial tears are more likely to show at least some intact fibers.
Arthroscopy ; Humans ; Joints ; Knee ; Knee Injuries ; Ligaments ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Posterior Cruciate Ligament* ; Retrospective Studies

PURPOSE:To describe the features of displaced bucket-handle tears of the menisci on magnetic resonance (MR) images and to assess associated knee injuries. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed coronal and sagittal MR images in 21 bucket-handle tears. The subjects were patients who had underwent preoperative MR evaluations of the knee and were identified from the arthroscopic surgical records as bucket-handle tear. We also described patterns of associated injuries. RESULTS:On coronal MR images, (a) in all cases, peripheral portion of the meniscus(bucket) had the appearance of a truncated or altered wedge;(b) central fragments(handle) were observed to be sitting in the intercondylar notch(16 cases) or located between the fernoral condyle and tibial plateau (5 cases). On sequential sagittal MR images, (c) the bow-tie appearance of the body of the meniscus was not seen (13 cases);(d) the bow-tie appearance of the displaced inner fragment was seen at the intercondylar notch level (9 cases);(e) "double posterior cruciate ligament" sign was presented (7 cases). Associated joint abnormalities included anterior cruciate ligament tears(l 1), contralateral meniscal tears(l 1), posterior cruciate ligament tears(3), medial collateral ligament tears(3), osteoarthritis(1), and Baker's cyst(l). CONCLUSION:Awareness of these characteristic MR findings(a-e) may increase the sensitivity of MR imaging in the diagnosis of displaced bucket-handle tears, and the MRI may be helpful to correctly characterize the displaced fragment and patterns of associated injury, providing arthroscopists a guide to appropriate surgical plans.
Anterior Cruciate Ligament ; Collateral Ligaments ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Joints ; Knee ; Knee Injuries ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Posterior Cruciate Ligament ; Retrospective Studies

PURPOSE: To determine the effect of degenerative disease of the lumbar spine on bone mineral density in the lumbar spine and femoral neck. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed radiographs and dual energy x-ray absorptiometry scans of the lumbar spine and hip in 305 Caucasian women with suspected osteoporosis. One hundred and eighty-six patients remained after excluding women less than 40 years of age (n = 18) and those with hip osteoarthritis, scoliosis, lumbar spine fractures, lumbar spinal instrumentation, hip arthroplasty, metabolic bone disease other than osteoporosis, or medications known to influence bone metabolism (n = 101). On the basis of lumbar spine radiographs, those with absent/mild degenerative disease were assigned to the control group and those with moderate/severe degenerative disease to the degenerative group. Spine radiographs were evaluated for degenerative disease by two radiologists working independently; discrepant evaluations were resolved by consensus. Lumbar spine and femoral neck bone mineral density was compared between the two groups. RESULTS: Forty-five (24%) of 186 women were assigned to the degenerative group and 141 (76%) to the control group. In the degenerative group, mean bone mineral density measured 1.075 g/cm in the spine and 0.788 g/cm in the femoral neck, while for controls the corresponding figures were 0.989 g/cm and 0.765 g/cm Adjusted for age, weight and height by means of analysis of variance, degenerative disease of the lumbar spine was a significant predictor of increased bone mineral density in the spine (p = 0.0001) and femoral neck (p = 0.0287). CONCLUSION: Our results indicate a positive relationship between degenerative disease of the lumbar spine and bone mineral density in the lumbar spine and femoral neck, and suggest that degenerative disease in that region, which leads to an intrinsic increase in bone mineral density in the femoral neck, may be a good negative predictor of osteoporotic hip fractures.
Absorptiometry, Photon ; Arthroplasty ; Bone Density* ; Bone Diseases, Metabolic ; Consensus ; Female ; Femur Neck* ; Hip ; Hip Fractures ; Humans ; Metabolism ; Osteoarthritis, Hip ; Osteoporosis ; Scoliosis ; Spine*

An antrochoanal polyp is a solitary polypoid mass that arises from the maxillary sinus, and protrudes through the natural ostium into the middle meatus, and reaches the choana, The polyp does not differ histologically from an ordinary nasal polyp, which is composed of edematous, hyperplastic submucosal connective tissue stroma, and is relatively hypocellular, In this sequence of events. Its computed tomographic(CT)findings are characteristic. We retrospectively analyzed CT studies of nine cases, all of which showed similar CT findings; a solitary, homogeneous, hypodense mass without bony destruction that extends from the maxillary sinus through the widened ostium into the choana.
Connective Tissue ; Maxillary Sinus ; Nasal Polyps ; Polyps* ; Retrospective Studies

We decribe the CT findings in a case of mediastinal hemangioma. Precontrast enhanced CT demonstrated a homogeneous soft tissue mass with weveral nodular calcifications indicating phleboliths. Contrast enhanced CT revealed some areas of enhancement similar to that of adjacent vascular structures. Hemangiomas of the mediastinum, although rare, should be included in the differential diagnosis of enhancing mediastinal masses.
Diagnosis, Differential ; Hemangioma* ; Mediastinum

No abstract available.
Synovitis, Pigmented Villonodular*

PURPOSE: We reported the CT and MR findings of 2 cases with Sturge-Weber syndrome which were not accompanied by facial nevi. MATERIALS AND METHODS: They were examined with both CT and MR in one case and with MR only in the other case. RESULTS: CT was better than MR in the demonstration of the characteristic cortical calcification. MR was superior to CT in the depiction of the abnormalities of the surrounding parenchyma and the intense enhancement of pial angiomatosis with Gd-DTPA enhancement. CONCLUSION: Gd-DTPA enhanced MR imaging could be useful in the demonstration of the presence and extent of pial angiomatosis in patients with suspected Sturge-Weber syndrome.
Angiomatosis ; Gadolinium DTPA ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Nevus* ; Sturge-Weber Syndrome*

Superior mediastinal widening, as seen on chest radiographs of traumatized patients, has been considered the hallmark of mediastinal injury. The usual causes of superior mediastinal widening are rupture of the aorta, esophagus or trachea, and hematoma as a result of spinal fracture. Posterior dislocation of the sternoclavicular joint is rarely a cause. We report a case of superior mediastinal widening resulting from traumatic posterior dislocation of the stern-oclavicular joint, and describe the CT findings, including those of 3-D imaging.
Aorta ; Dislocations* ; Esophagus ; Hematoma ; Humans ; Imaging, Three-Dimensional ; Joints ; Radiography, Thoracic ; Rupture ; Spinal Fractures ; Sternoclavicular Joint* ; Trachea

MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) is widely applied to diagnose sport-related injuries including bone and soft-tissue injuries. Because the MR characteristics of hydrogen nuclei depend upon on their local tissue environment, soft tissue structures of similar density may exhibit difference in signal intensity (brightness on image). This enables MRI to get high soft-tissue contrast resolution superior to other imaging modalities such as computed tomography (CT). Advantages of MRI are its capacity to depict occult bone trauma or bone bruise and ligamentous or tendinous injuries that are not visible on conventional radiographs. MRI does not expose the patient to radiation dose, so it can be used safely for pediatric patients. In this review, we will discuss on the osseousand soft-tissue injuries of the extremities which could be helpful from MRI in various clinical situations.
Athletic Injuries ; Contusions ; Extremities ; Humans ; Hydrogen ; Ligaments ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Magnetics ; Magnets ; Sports

Ultrasonography is a very useul diagnostic modality for the evaluation of clinically suspicious abdominalmasses in infants and children, especially in assessing their existence, size,location, origin and internalconsistency. Authors analyzed and present ultrasonographic findings of 92 pathologically and/or clinically provenpediatric abdominal masses that were studied and treated in Chonnam University Hospital during recent 4 years. Theresults were as follows: 1. The most common originating site was kidney(26 cases: 28.3%), followed bygastrointestinal tract (21 cases: 22.8%), genital organ(17 cases: 18.5%), non-renal retroperitoneum (13cases:18.5%), hepatobilary tract (12 cases:13.0%), and anterior abdominal wall (3 cases: 3.3%) in ordre offrequency. 2. The most common mass was hydonephrosis(18 cases: 19.6%). Neuroblastoma(7 cases:7.6%),hepatoblastoma, ovarian teratoma, periappendiceal abscess and abdominal tuberculosis(6 cases: 6.5%, respectively),Wilms tumor(5 cases: 5.4%) were next in order of frequency. 3. The sex distribution is rather similar, that is ,male 42(45.7%) and female 50(54.3%), but characteristically choledochal cyst(2 cases) and genital mass(17 cases)were found only in females. Considering age distribution, 78 cases(84.8%) were found within the range of one to 15years of age. The rest, 14 cases(15.2%), were under the age of one year. 4. With ultrasonography, the diagnosis ofhydronephrosis could be made easily in every case and we could evaluate its severity and level of obstruction withhigh accuracy. 5. All Wilms tumor were large, round or oval, sharply marginated and relatively homogenous solidmasses. 6. All neuroblastomas were irregular shaped, poorly defined, heterogeneous solid masses. Tumorcalcification and extension across the midline were noted in 6 cases(85.7%) and 5 cases(71.4%), respectively. 7.All periappendiceal abscesses had irregular thickened wall and posterior acoustic enhancement: 4 cases (66.7%)among them were mixed echo pattern and 2 cases(33.3%) ehco free. 8. Among the 6 abdominal tuberculoses, 2 wereseen as irregularly defined solid masses, 1 as conglomeration of multiple hypoechoic nodulles and 3 as mixedpatterns. 9. All hepatoblastomas were seen to be poorly marginated solid masses with more echogenicity thanadjacent normal hepatic echo in 5 cases except one. 10. Among the 6 ovarian teraomas, 4 cases were cystic and 2cases solid. Acoutic shadowing was seen in 3 cases. 11. Choledochal cyst (2 cases), hydrops of gallbladder(1cases) and cyst of pancreas head(1 cases) had similar ultrasonic appearance as a large elliptical systic mass,but, it was important in differential diagnosis to ascertain the existence of gallblader and the connectionbetween the cyst and bile duct.
Abdominal Wall ; Abscess ; Acoustics ; Age Distribution ; Bile Ducts ; Child ; Choledochal Cyst ; Diagnosis ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Edema ; Female ; Hepatoblastoma ; Humans ; Infant ; Jeollanam-do ; Male ; Neuroblastoma ; Pancreas ; Sex Distribution ; Shadowing (Histology) ; Teratoma ; Tuberculosis ; Ultrasonics ; Ultrasonography ; Wilms Tumor