Retinoid-induced ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament

Vitamin A and its synthetic congeners are known to produce a variety of skeletal abnormalities in patients on prolonged treatment with these medications. Two patients are described who developed posterior longitudinal ligament ossification following treatment with the synthetic retinoid 13-cis-retinoic acid. In both cases, this finding became apparent after other retinoid-induced skeletal abnormalities were observed and was less marked than the ossification of the anterior longitudinal ligament. Although spinal cord compression did not occur in our patients, patients on long-term retinoid therapy should be carefully observed for this complication.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/46779/1/256_2004_Article_BF00355561.pd

Computed tomography of cortical desmoid

The diagnosis of cortical desmoid in the typical case is easily established using conventional radiography. In atypical cases, the use of computed tomography (CT) may be helpful in diagnosis. We report the use of computed tomography in two patients with cortical desmoids. In one case plain radiographic findings were not diagnostic and the use of CT obviated biopsy. The finding of a desmoid in an atypical location, the insertion site of the medial head of the gastrocnemius tendon, is discussed.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/46775/1/256_2004_Article_BF00373175.pd

Carpal ligamentous laxity with bilateral perilunate dislocation in Marfan syndrome

A case of persistent bilateral perilunate dislocation unrelated to trauma in a patient with Marfan syndrome is discussed. This finding is believed to be a manifestation of the generalized ligamentous laxity occurring in this disorder. Radiographs of eight additional Marfan syndrome patients failed to demonstrate similar carpal instability. Because some carpal derangements are dynamic events, stress views or wrist fluoroscopy may be necessary to demonstrate unsuspected carpal instability in Marfan patients.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/46776/1/256_2004_Article_BF00349097.pd

Sonographic identification of an unusual complication of midtrimester pregnancy termination: Unrecognized intra-abdominal extrusion of fetal parts

No Abstract.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/38190/1/1870160210_ftp.pd

CT evaluation of mediastinal masses

CT is an important modality for imaging mediastinal masses, and certain CT attenuation features (fat, calcium, or water attenuation, contrast enhancement) are well known to suggest specific diagnoses. In a series of 132 consecutive patients with tissue-proven mediastinal masses, these specific CT features were present in only 16. We evaluated the ability of CT to differentiate soft tissue mediastinal masses based on morphology and distribution of disease. Metastatic disease and lymphoma accounted for 69% of masses in this series, and CT could not generally differentiate them. However, CT was helpful in differential diagnosis in certain settings. CT demonstration of multiple mediastinal masses when conventional radiographs showed a single mass generally excluded diagnoses such as thymoma and teratoma. CT demonstration of a single middle mediastinal mass, frequently missed by conventional radiography, made metastatic disease a much more likely diagnosis than lymphoma. Finally, CT demonstration of certain ancillary findings strongly favored a diagnosis of lymphoma (axillary adenopathy) or metastatic disease (solitary pulmonary mass, focal liver lesions, bone lesions).Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/26707/1/0000257.pd