Faculty Bibliography

OBJECTIVE: This study determined the frequency and MRI appearance of osseous and ligamentous injuries in midtarsal (Chopart) sprains and their association with ankle sprains after acute ankle injuries. Prospective diagnosis of and interobserver agreement regarding midtarsal injury among musculoskeletal radiologists were also assessed. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Two cohorts with ankle MRIs were identified via a digital PACS search: patients who had undergone MRI within 8 weeks after ankle injury and control subjects who had not sustained ankle trauma. Studies were retrospectively reviewed in consensus as well as independently, assessing ligamentous and osseous injury to the Chopart joint (calcaneocuboid and talonavicular joints) and associated lateral collateral and deltoid ligamentous injury. Interobserver agreement was calculated, and prospective radiology reports were reviewed to determine the musculoskeletal radiologist's familiarity with Chopart joint injury. RESULTS: MR images of control subjects (n = 16) and patients with ankle injury (n = 47) were reviewed. The normal dorsal calcaneocuboid and calcaneocuboid component of bifurcate ligaments were variably visualized; the remaining normal ligaments were always seen. Eleven patients (23%) had midtarsal ligamentous and osseous injury consistent with midtarsal sprain (eight acute or subacute, one probable, and two old). Six (75%) of eight acute or subacute cases had coexisting lateral collateral ligament injury. Eighty-nine percent of osseous injuries were reported prospectively, but 83% of ligamentous injuries were missed. Substantial interobserver agreement was achieved regarding diagnosis of midtarsal sprain. CONCLUSION: Midtarsal sprains are commonly associated with acute ankle injury and with ankle sprains. Presently, midtarsal sprains may be underrecognized by radiologists; thus, greater familiarity with the MRI spectrum of ligamentous and osseous injuries at the Chopart joint is important for accurate diagnosis and clinical management.

PURPOSE: To correlate shoulder ultrasound and radiography with F-FDG PET-CT to establish FDG uptake and therefore range of metabolic activity, as defined by SUV analysis, in various symptomatic shoulder pathologies. METHODS: Retrospective database query was performed for shoulder ultrasound and PET-CT scans between January 2012 and January 2017. Patients who had both studies within 1 year were included. Age- and sex-matched control patients with PET-CT scans only were also included. Retrospective image review determined shoulder pathology, and F-FDG SUVmax was measured using regions of interest placed at the glenohumeral joint, rotator cuff/bursa, and bicipital groove. Glenohumeral and acromioclavicular osteoarthrosis was assessed by radiography using the Kellgren-Lawrence classification system. RESULTS: Thirty-three patients had both imaging studies within 1 year. Ten patients (11 cases) were included, ranging in age from 56 to 90 years (mean, 67.9 years). Control subjects were selected among patients receiving PET-CT within 1 week of symptomatic patients. Glenohumeral osteoarthrosis was mild in 3 (27%), moderate in 2 (18%), and severe in 2 (18%). Six full-thickness rotator cuff tears (55%) were identified. SUVmax means were compared between the pathologic and control groups and were significantly higher in the former: glenohumeral joint (1.96 vs 1.32; P = 0.016), rotator cuff/bursa (2.80 vs 2.0; P = 0.005), and bicipital groove (2.19 vs 1.48; P = 0.007). The highest values were seen in full-thickness rotator cuff tear and severe biceps tenosynovitis. CONCLUSIONS: Increased metabolic activity about the shoulder is associated with a spectrum of rotator cuff, glenohumeral joint, and other soft tissue pathology that can be correlated with diagnostic ultrasound findings.

OBJECTIVE: To describe a 4-year clinical experience with ultrasound-guided therapeutic perineural injections of peripheral nerves about the foot and ankle. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retrospective analysis of foot and ankle perineural injections performed between January 2012 and August 2016. Demographics, clinical indications, presence of structural pathology, immediate and interval pain relief, as well as complications were recorded. RESULTS: Fifty-nine therapeutic injections were performed among 46 patients, accounting for multiple injections in a single visit or multiple visits [mean age = 43 years (range 18-75), 31 female (67%) and 15 male (33%)]. Most commonly, perineural injections involved the hallux branch of the medial plantar nerve (n = 17, 22%). Least commonly, perineural injections involved the saphenous nerve (n = 3, 4%). Other injections in our series include sural (10), superficial (11) and deep (7) peroneal, medial (5) and lateral (3) plantar nerves, and the posterior tibial nerve (3). Ultrasound evaluation revealed structural abnormality associated with the nerve in 30 cases (51%)-most commonly thickening with perineural scarring (n = 14). Of 45 injections with complete documentation, immediate relief of symptoms was reported in 43 (96%) cases. Interval symptom relief was achieved in 23 injections [short term (n = 12), intermediate (n = 6), and long term (n = 5)] out of 38 for which follow-up was available (61%). Complications are rare, occurring in only one case. CONCLUSION: Ultrasound-guided perineural injections about the foot and ankle are safe and provide lasting symptomatic relief for many indications. Concomitant sonographic evaluation identifies structural abnormalities that may contribute to neuropathic symptoms, allowing targeting of injection or clinical therapy.

BACKGROUND:The aim of this study is to demonstrate the usefulness of adding 3-dimensional (3D) ultrasound in evaluation of renal transplant vasculature compared to 2-dimensional (2D) Duplex ultrasound. METHODS:One hundred thirteen consecutive renal transplant 2D and 3D ultrasound examinations were performed and retrospectively reviewed by 2 board-certified radiologists and a radiology resident individually; each reviewed 2D and then 3D images, including color and spectral Doppler. They recorded ability to visualize the surgical anastomosis and rated visualization on a subjective scale. Interobserver agreement was evaluated. Variant anastomosis anatomy was recorded. Tortuosity or stenosis was evaluated if localized Doppler velocity elevation was present. RESULTS:The reviewers directly visualized the anastomosis more often with 3D ultrasound ((Equation is included in full-text article.)=97.5%) compared with 2D ((Equation is included in full-text article.)=54.5%) [difference in means (DM) = 43% (95% confidence interval (CI) = 36%-50%) (P < 0.001)]. The reviewers visualized the anastomosis more clearly with 3D ultrasound (P < 0.001) [difference in medians = 0.5, 1.0, and 1.0, (95% CI = 0.5-1.0, 0.5-1.0, and 1.0-1.5)]. Detection of variant anatomy improved with 3D ultrasound by 2 reviewers [DM = 7.1% and 8.9% (95% CI = 1%-13% and 4%-14%, respectively) (P < 0.05)]. There was high interobserver agreement [(Equation is included in full-text article.)= 95.3%, (95% CI = 91.9%-98.7%) regarding anastomosis visualization among reviewers with wide-ranging experience. CONCLUSIONS:Direct visualization of the entire anastomosis was improved with 3D ultrasound. Three-dimensional evaluation improved detection of anatomic variants and identified tortuosity as the likely cause of borderline localized elevation in Doppler velocity. The data added by 3D ultrasound may obviate confirmatory testing with magnetic resonance angiography or computed tomographic angiography after equivocal 2D ultrasound results.

Purpose: Determine the frequency and pattern of Chopart joint injury in acute ankle injuries and assess familiarity of the interpreting radiologists with this injury. To the best of our knowledge this clinically difficult diagnosis has barely been reported in the radiology literature, yet may be important for diagnosis and treatment of calcaneocuboid joint instability. Materials and Methods: Normal Chopart joint: 25 MRIs in 25 patients without clinical or MRI evidence of ankle ligamentous pathology were reviewed to establish normal MRI appearance of the calcanocuboid and talonavicular joints, with attention to the dorsal calcaneocuboid, bifurcate, spring, short and long plantar, and talonavicular ligaments. Chopart joint injury: A digital search for ankle MRIs obtained within 8 weeks of clinical history of acute ankle injury was performed (2/2014-8/2016). The studies were retrospectively reviewed for ligamentous and osseous pathology at Chopart joint. Other relevant findings were recorded: Lateral collateral ligament injury, plantar talar marrow edema, and extensor digitorum brevis (E