Calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate (CPPD) crystal deposition disease is characterized by chondrocalcinosis, which mainly affects the knees, wrists, pelvis, and rarely, the spine. According to previous reports, CPPD crystal deposits display heterogeneous enhancement on MRI. When combined with inflammation of the surrounding soft tissue, strong enhancement by CPPD crystal deposition may appear similar to imaging features of other conditions such as infectious spondylitis. In these conditions, CT plays an important role in differential diagnosis. Here, we present a case of CPPD crystal deposition disease in the ligamentum flavum of the cervical spine that showed intense enhancement on MRI.

The spine and sacroiliac joint are involved in most cases of axial spondyloarthritis. Several pathologic findings from a radiography involving the spine and sacroiliac joint are the diagnostic hallmarks of axial spondyloarthritis. However, these radiographic changes reflect structural damage rather than active inflammation, which may delay diagnosis by several years. Nowadays, the Assessment of SpondyloArthritis international Society (ASAS) has focused on the reassessment of existing classification criteria and the development and validation of diagnostic tools to facilitate early diagnosis and assessment of treatment response. Magnetic resonance (MR) findings are the most remarkable changes with respect to the previously established classification criteria. Familiarity with typical MRI findings of axial spondyloarthritis and differential diseases is important in order to correctly interpret the findings and avoid misdiagnosis.
Classification ; Diagnosis ; Diagnosis, Differential* ; Diagnostic Errors ; Early Diagnosis ; Inflammation ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Radiography ; Recognition (Psychology) ; Sacroiliac Joint* ; Spine*

Purpose: We aimed to investigate the difference in the surgical outcome based on whether the assistant overcame the mirror image in laparoscopic colorectal surgery. Methods: Three hundred patients who underwent laparoscopic colorectal surgery performed by single operator were divided into 2 groups. Based on the assistants’ experience, patients who underwent surgery involving 1 of 6 residents with an experience of fewer than 30 surgeries each were classified into group 1. Patients who underwent surgery involving a single fellow as an assistant with an experience of over 1,000 surgeries were classified into group 2. According to the type of surgery, patients were divided into left and right colon resection groups and the surgical outcome of groups 1 and 2 was investigated. Results: Group 2 exhibited shorter operation time, less bleeding, shorter postoperative hospital stay, lower open conversion, and anastomotic leakage rate than group 1. In right colon resection, the operation time was shorter in group 2. In left colon resection, group 2 exhibited shorter operation time, less bleeding, shorter postoperative hospital stay, and lower anastomotic leakage rate. In the multivariate analysis, the assistant was a factor affecting the operation time in the entire surgery. Conclusion Assistants’ reverse alignment surgical skill proficiency was a factor affecting the operation time.

Bertolotti’s syndrome is the part of lumbosacral transitional vertebra and is a congenital anomaly of the axial spine. The syndrome is associated with changes in the sacrum or iliac crest and secondary arthritis and is often mistaken for ankylosing spondylitis (AS). The mechanism of pain in this disease is unclear, and treatments have not been accurately established. Here, we report two cases of Bertolotti’s syndrome in patients with severe back pain who were initially suspected to have AS and required interventional procedures. The two young adult patients developed symptoms similar to those of inflammatory back pain, and their symptoms did not improve with conventional treatment alone. Both patients underwent interventional management, and the symptoms improved. It may be clinically helpful to confirm the presence of Bertolotti’s syndrome in patients with suspected AS, and interventional therapy may be required in some cases.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) plays an important role in diagnosing and classifying axial spondyloarthritis (SpA) and is also useful for appropriate evaluation of disease status owing to its ability to detect inflammation early and reveal structural changes.However, dedicated MRI for the anterior chest wall (ACW) is not routinely considered despite relatively frequent presence of ACW lesions. To date, no study has investigated the imaging findings and clinical features of ACW involvement in Korean SpA patients. Thus, we aimed to show ACW involvement in SpA patients using ACW lesions found by MRI. We describe 20 cases of ACW involvement in which MRI-detected manubriosternal joint lesions. The lesion types included subchondral bone marrow edema, marginal or central bone erosions, subchondral fat infiltration or deposition, and ankylosis, with erosions being the most prevalent finding. We also provide the literature review results describing MRI findings of ACW lesions in SpA patients.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) plays an important role in diagnosing and classifying axial spondyloarthritis (SpA) and is also useful for appropriate evaluation of disease status owing to its ability to detect inflammation early and reveal structural changes.However, dedicated MRI for the anterior chest wall (ACW) is not routinely considered despite relatively frequent presence of ACW lesions. To date, no study has investigated the imaging findings and clinical features of ACW involvement in Korean SpA patients. Thus, we aimed to show ACW involvement in SpA patients using ACW lesions found by MRI. We describe 20 cases of ACW involvement in which MRI-detected manubriosternal joint lesions. The lesion types included subchondral bone marrow edema, marginal or central bone erosions, subchondral fat infiltration or deposition, and ankylosis, with erosions being the most prevalent finding. We also provide the literature review results describing MRI findings of ACW lesions in SpA patients.

Heterotopic calcification following head and neck irradiation has rarely been reported. It usually develops as a late complication of radiotherapy in patients with malignancies, including breast cancer, lymphoma, and genitourinary malignancies. The occurrence of heterotopic calcification in the prevertebral space of the cervical spine has not been described as a late complication of irradiation. Here, we report a case of prevertebral heterotopic calcification in a patient with history of chemotherapy and radiotherapy for tonsil cancer 21 years ago.
Aged ; Calcinosis/*etiology/pathology/radiography ; *Cervical Vertebrae/radiography ; Female ; Humans ; Ossification, Heterotopic/*etiology/radiography ; Radiation Injuries/complications ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Tonsillar Neoplasms/*radiotherapy

No abstract available.
Antiphospholipid Syndrome* ; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic* ; Spine* ; Venous Thrombosis*

No abstract available.
Antiphospholipid Syndrome* ; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic* ; Spine* ; Venous Thrombosis*