Distribution of spinal damage in patients with axial spondyloarthritis as assessed by MRI: a prospective and blinded study.

Background: Axial spondyloarthritis (SpA) leads to structural bone lesions in every part of the vertebral column. These lesions are only partially visualized on conventional radiographs, omitting posterior parts of the vertebral column and the thoracic spine, that may nevertheless contribute to impaired spinal mobility and function in patients with axial SpA.

Methods: In this prospective and blinded investigation, we assessed the distribution of structural spinal lesions using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the whole spine in 55 patients with axial SpA classified according to the Assessment in Spondyloarthritis International Society (ASAS) criteria.

The value of MRI compared to conventional radiography in analysing morphologic changes in the spine in axial spondyloarthritis.

Background: Imaging of morphologic changes in the vertebral spine in axial spondyloarthritis (SpA) is routinely performed with conventional radiography limited by superposition in the thoracic segments and radiation exposure. The objective was to assess the reliability of MRI compared to conventional radiography in depicting morphologic vertebral lesions in patients with axial SpA. Forty patients diagnosed with axial SpA were included in this cross-sectional study.

Amoebic liver abscess in travellers: indication for image-guided puncture?

Although amoebic liver abscess due to Entamoeba histolytica is one of the most common parasitic infections worldwide, invasive disease remains uncommon in industrialized countries. Metronidazole is the standard of care for complicated and uncomplicated invasive amoebiasis. Puncture of amebic liver abscesses is a treatment option primarily for complicated abscesses (localized in left lobe, multiple, and/or pyogenic abscesses).

Pneumatosis coli--an underrecognized lesion mimicking neoplastic disease.

Pneumatosis (cystoides) intestinalis is defined as the presence of gas in the bowel wall and can be found anywhere in the gastrointestinal tract. It may be harmless or life-threatening, depending on the etiology which includes infectious and drug-induced colitis, bowel ischemia and necrotizing enterocolitis. The lesion has additionally been described following endoscopy.

Clinical significance of periportal tracking as an extrarenal manifestation of acute pyelonephritis.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether hepatic periportal tracking (PPT) in patients with acute pyelonephritis correlates with the severity of pyelonephritis.

Material And Methods: A database search was conducted of patients with clinically suspected acute pyelonephritis who underwent abdominal computed tomography (CT) between January 2004 and June 2009 for disease evaluation. The final study group consisted of 274 patients (221 women, 53 men) with a mean age of 43 ± 20 years.