The periosteal sunburst reaction to bone metastases. A literature review and report of 20 additional cases

The periosteal sunburst reaction is an unusual response to metastatic bone tumours. Fifty such cases are reported in the literature, and 20 additional cases are reported in this study. The most common primary tumour showing this response is prostatic carcinoma, and the majority of cases are associated with osteoblastic metastases. Twenty percent of sunburst metastases occur in bones distal to the elbow and knee, a much higher prevalence than is found overall in bone metastases.

Spondylolysis in the upper lumbar spine. A study of 32 patients

Reports of spondylolysis in vertebrae other than those of the lower lumbar spine are rare. We report 32 patients with upper lumbar spondylolysis who have been studied clinically, radiologically and scintigraphically. Twenty patients had bilateral lesions, and seven of those with unilateral lesions had structural changes or anomalies in the opposite posterior arch. Positive scans were found to be associated with a short clinical history, and indicated stress-related lesions. Our findings suggest that mechanical factors may play a role in the aetiology of spondylolysis in the upper lumbar spine similar to that which they play in the lower lumbar spine, and that local structural anomalies may contribute to abnormal loading of these vertebrae.

Metastatic tumours of bones of the hand and foot. A comparative review and report of 43 additional cases

Metastases in the bones of the hands and feet are rare. The literature relating to these tumours has been reviewed, and 43 new cases are reported. In the cumulative total of cases, metastases to the hand outnumber those to the foot 2:1 (196 cases as against 94). Bronchial carcinoma is the most common neoplasm metastasising to the hand. Subdiaphragmatic neoplasms such as gastrointestinal, vesical, renal and uterine malignancies, metastasize more frequently to the foot. A possible explanation for this latter finding is the retrograde spread of tumour emboli from the vertebral venous plexus down incompetent leg veins.

Mediastinal lymph node metastases from gastrointestinal carcinoma

Mediastinal and hilar lymphadenopathy secondary to gastrointestinal metastases rarely have been reported and have been considered to occur only in conjunction with lymphangitic lung spread. The current report is of 15 cases of hilar and mediastinal metastases secondary to pancreatic, gastric, and colonic primary tumors. In only three of these cases was lymphangitic lung involvement noted. Possible pathways of spread of these tumors to the mediastinal lymph nodes are discussed.

The assimilated os sustentaculi

The assimilated os sustentaculi is a projection of bone from the medial aspect of the sustentaculum tali which is surmounted by a similar projection from the medial tubercle of the talus. The accessory joint so formed may develop secondary osteoarthritis changes. This congenital anomaly is very rare. The present report is of 2 additional cases.

Granulocytic sarcoma (chloroma) of bone: the CT appearance

Granulocytic sarcoma (chloroma) is an unusual tumour usually seen in cases of myelogenous leukemia. The tumour is most commonly located in the skull, orbits and sinuses. Extracranial tumours occur mainly in the soft tissues of the body and bone involvement is uncommonly seen and is almost invariably lytic in nature. We describe the first case of CT demonstration of bone involvement by such a tumour. A mixed sclerotic and lytic pattern was seen.

Relationship of psoas width to osteoporosis

We have related the radiographic width of the psoas muscle to age, degree of osteoporosis, height, and weight, and to constitution in 234 subjects. The psoas width correlated well with age. When the subjects were grouped according to age, an association was observed between narrowing psoas width and increasing osteoporosis. Narrowing of the psoas was evident some years prior to radiographic evidence of osteoporosis.

Preventing osteoporosis: current practices and problems

A lateral x-ray of the thoracic and lumbar spine should be part of the routine examination of any woman aged 40 or older. Similarly, an anteroposterior x-ray of the hand as a first assessment may suggest a need for further investigation for osteoporosis. Estrogen treatment reduces the incidence of vertebral compression and has proven protective against central as well as peripheral bone loss. However, rapid bone loss after termination of estrogen therapy implies that the protective effect may last no longer than 2 to 3 years.

Evaluation of the excretory urogram in adult enuresis

Excretory urograms in 216 primary enuretic adult males aged between 18 and 20 years were retrospectively evaluated. In no patient was there a finding considered relevant to the complaint. It is considered that, in the absence of urinary infection or other urological complaint in a patient with normal neurological status, excretory urography is a non-contributory examination in the investigation of adult male enuresis.

Renal sonography in American Burkitt lymphoma

Renal involvement is a common finding at necropsy in patients with American Burkitt lymphoma, but its in vivo sonographic features have received little attention in the literature. Of 29 patients with American Burkitt lymphoma who underwent sonography, 10 were found to have renal involvement. The 10 patients demonstrated a range of abnormalities, notably renomegaly (nine patients), diffuse increase in cortical echogenicity (six), and focal renal masses (three). The focal infiltrations were, unexplicably, hypoechoic in two patients and hyperechoic in one. Hydronephrosis was seen in five patients. One patient had evidence of calcium phosphate renal stones. Response to therapy can be assessed by changes in renal size and cortical echogenicity, as well as disappearance of focal lesions.

Hypertrophic osteoarthropathy and primary intestinal lymphoma

Hypertrophic osteoarthropathy (HOA) in association with primary bowel disease is rare, but is usually seen in patients with chronic diarrheal states, such as Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. We record the first case of HOA associated with primary intestinal lymphoma in a patient who presented with chronic diarrhea.

Prevalence of Paget's disease of bone in hospital patients in Jerusalem: an epidemiologic study

Epidemiological studies have revealed the widely varied prevalence of Paget's disease of bone. The highest rates have been found in parts of England. The disease has been reported only infrequently in Jews and no previous studies of prevalence have been performed in the Middle East or Asia. In the present study an age- and sex-standardized rate of 1% was found among Jews, which is similar to that in many southern European populations. No case of Paget's disease of bone was found among Arabs in this study.

Calcified mucinous adenocarcinoma of the stomach--the CT appearances

The CT appearances of calcified mucinous adenocarcinoma of the stomach have not been previously reported. This is a rare tumour with a high propensity to calcify, the calcifications typically are small and spiculated. A case is described where the condition was suspected in the plain films of the abdomen and confirmed by CT examination of the stomach.

Complete ureteral triplication with ectopia

A case of complete ureteral triplication is reported and a brief review of the literature is presented.

Seeding of cholangiocarcinoma along T-tube tracts

A fungating cutaneous tumor arising at the site of exit of a T-tube is described. The tube had been inserted to bypass an adenocarcinoma of the common bile duct. The tumor arose 30 months after operation and is the first such case recorded. Multiple percutaneous changes of the T-tube may be the causative factors.

Oral cholecystosonography: a method for facilitating the diagnosis of cholesterol gallstones

During the past two years, floating stones within the gallbladder have been demonstrated in five patients, by both oral cholecystography and sonography. We suggest coupling administration of an oral cholecystographic contrast agent with ultrasound examination in cases of equivocal sonographic findings. The combined study--oral cholecystosonography--can facilitate the demonstration of small cholesterol stones by inducing the phenomenon of layering.

Scoliosis in young men with spondylolysis or spondylolisthesis. A comparative study in symptomatic and asymptomatic subjects

While an increased incidence of scoliosis in symptomatic spondylolysis and spondylolisthesis has been established previously, a comparison of its occurrence in symptomatic and asymptomatic individuals has not been performed. The present study is a comparison of symptomatic and asymptomatic young men with analysis as to the incidence of scoliosis. Idiopathic scoliosis was not found and all cases were due to spasm scoliosis or olisthetic scoliosis with the spasm type being much more common. Scoliotic curves were divided into mild (0-9 degrees) and moderate (10-20 degrees). No case of a curve greater than 20 degrees was seen. Scoliosis incidence in asymptomatic individuals without a pars break was 6.65%. In the groups of: (1) asymptomatic unilateral spondylolysis, (2) asymptomatic bilateral spondylolysis, (3) symptomatic bilateral spondylolysis, and (4) asymptomatic spondylolisthesis the scoliosis incidence was similar, ranging from 13.3-23.8%. These figures are significantly higher than those seen in the asymptomatic subjects without a pars break, but they are in the same range as in symptomatic patients without a pars break, suggesting that muscle spasm is the principal cause of the scoliosis.

Soft-tissue thickness of the wrist

Increase in the soft-tissue thickness of the wrist is said to be a sensitive indicator of early oedema due to generalised or local arthritic disease. No normal values are available. Measurement of the soft-tissue thickness opposite the radial and ulnar styloid processes in a random population demonstrated a large normal range which was not related to obesity. This large normal variation calls into question the accuracy of radiological evaluation of early wrist oedema.

Oblique lumbar spine radiographs: importance in young patients

Spondylolysis is a direct precursor of spondylolisthesis and can lead to crippling back pain. Of 1,743 patients surveyed, including 936 who were asymptomatic and 807 with back pain, 165 (including 91 who were asymptomatic and 74 with back pain) had spondylolysis, which was seen only on oblique lumbar views in 20% of cases. Because of the high false-negative rate of AP and lateral views, oblique views are essential in children and young adults. As spondylolysis is rare above L3, radiographs can be limited to L3-S1. Significantly less spondylolysis was seen in persons older than 30, with back pain usually caused by disk degeneration; thus routine oblique views could be safely omitted in older patients.

Bile duct tumours: prolonged survival by radiological management of T-tubes

Carcinoma of the common bile duct is generally a slow-growing tumour which causes death by hepatic failure and ascending cholangitis secondary to obstruction. Internal drainage by surgical placement of a T-tube bypassing the tumour is widely employed, but survival times are generally short, averaging 9.9 months. The interventional radiologist can offer considerable prolongation of life with reduced hospitalization by means of percutaneous tube cleaning and catheter replacement. A case is presented where survival has been prolonged to 37 months by routine radiological catheter care.

Sigmoid-appendiceal fistula in diverticular disease

Sigmoid-appendiceal fistulae are unusual. A case in which such a fistula occurred secondary to diverticulitis is reported.

The prevalence of ankylosing hyperostosis in a Jerusalem population--with description of a method of grading the extent of the disease

The prevalence of ankylosing hyperostosis in a Jewish hospital population is presented. In individuals over the age of 40 years the overall prevalence was 22.4% in males and 13.4% in females. The prevalence increased with age to a maximum of 46% in males and 30% in females over the age of 80 years. A method of grading the disease according to extent is described. The most extensive grade III is seen almost exclusively in males.

Bilateral symmetrical clavicular periosteal reactions in a child

A case of bilateral symmetrical periosteal reactions of the lateral halves of the clavicles in a child with subacute sclerosing panencephalitis is presented. The appearances correspond with no previously recorded condition. The differential diagnosis most likely lies between aborted Salmonella osteomyelitis or a form fruste of subacute symmetrical osteomyelitis.