Spectrum of Injury to Posterior Glenoid Labral Complex With Emphasis on Diffuse Labral Tears

The posterior glenoid labrum has numerous surrounding structures and any of them can undergo derangement. It is prudent to consider the posterior glenoid labrum complex (PGLC) as a whole rather than simply the labral tissue in isolation when evaluating magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the shoulder. The PGLC contains the posterior capsulolabral junction, posterior capsule (posteroinferiorly , the posterior band of the inferior glenohumeral ligament), posterior chondro-osseous junction, posterior chondrolabral junction, posterior glenoid bone, posterior glenoid subchondral bone, posterior glenoid cartilage, posterior labrum, synovial fold (variably seen), and posterior glenoid periosteum (or periosteal sleeve). Noninvasive MRI techniques are the mainstay in evaluating PGLC injury with or without the use of intra-articular gadolinium contrast agents. When using the PGLC model, a spectrum of pathology can be stratified.

New tools in detecting early cartilage breakdown before morphologic changes

Recent advances in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) allow detection of changes in molecular matrix of cartilage and thus allow the earliest detection of its breakdown. These MRI techniques are collectively referred to as "cartilage mapping," which attempts to designate a qualitative assessment of cartilage at each given location on the cartilage surface. These qualitative abnormalities can occur even in the setting of normal cartilage thickness and morphology. This article introduces the molecular biology behind this new technique, discusses some potential clinical applications, and discusses value added over traditional MRI cartilage evaluation.

Acute brain MRI findings in 120 Malawian children with cerebral malaria: new insights into an ancient disease

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

There have been few neuroimaging studies of pediatric CM, a common often fatal tropical condition. We undertook a prospective study of pediatric CM to better characterize the MRI features of this syndrome, comparing findings in children meeting a stringent definition of CM with those in a control group who were infected with malaria but who were likely to have a nonmalarial cause of coma.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Consecutive children admitted with traditionally defined CM (parasitemia, coma, and no other coma etiology evident) were eligible for this study. The presence or absence of malaria retinopathy was determined. MRI findings in children with ret+ CM (patients) were compared with those with ret- CM (controls). Two radiologists blinded to retinopathy status jointly developed a scoring procedure for image interpretation and provided independent reviews. MRI findings were compared between patients with and without retinopathy, to assess the specificity of changes for patients with very strictly defined CM.

RESULTS

Of 152 children with clinically defined CM, 120 were ret+, and 32 were ret-. Abnormalities much more common in the patients with ret+ CM were markedly increased brain volume; abnormal T2 signal intensity; and DWI abnormalities in the cortical, deep gray, and white matter structures. Focal abnormalities rarely respected arterial vascular distributions. Most of the findings in the more clinically heterogeneous ret- group were normal, and none of the abnormalities noted were more prevalent in controls.

CONCLUSIONS

Distinctive MRI findings present in patients meeting a stringent definition of CM may offer insights into disease pathogenesis and treatment.