Anatomic Coracoclavicular Ligament Reconstruction for the Treatment of Acute Acromioclavicular Joint Dislocation

Background:. The long-term clinical and radiographic outcomes following coracoclavicular (CC) ligament reconstruction for the operative treatment of acute acromioclavicular (AC) joint dislocation remain uncertain. The purpose of the present study was to determine the long-term clinical and radiographic outcomes of CC ligament reconstruction and to identify risk factors for unfavorable outcomes. Methods:. We reviewed 20 cases of AC joint dislocation in 19 patients (18 male and 1 female; mean age, 32.3 years) that were treated with single-bundle reconstruction. The mean duration of follow-up was 12.7 years. We measured the CC vertical distance (CCD) on the anteroposterior view and compared the affected and unaffected sides (CCD ratio). We divided the patients into those with a CCD ratio of <25% (Group 1) and those with a CCD ratio of ≥25% (Group 2). We radiographically investigated the clavicular tunnel anteroposterior (CTAP) angle, clavicular tunnel ratio, and coracoid tunnel orientation on the basis of the entry and exit points at the base of the coracoid. For the coracoid tunnel orientation, we compared center-center orientation and noncenter-center orientation. Results:. Group 1 comprised 17 cases (85%), and Group 2 comprised 3 cases (15%). At the time of the latest follow-up, Group 1 had a significantly higher mean Constant score than Group 2 (98.2 compared with 90.7; p = 0.038). Of the 3 radiographic parameters, only the CTAP angle was significantly different between the 2 groups (p < 0.0001). Two (67%) of the 3 cases in Group 2 were associated with posterior AC joint displacement. Conclusions:. CC ligament reconstruction for the treatment of acute AC joint dislocation resulted in successful long-term clinical and radiographic outcomes. It is important to decrease the CTAP angle and to ensure proper anatomic placement of the clavicular and coracoid tunnels at the time of surgery. Level of Evidence:. Therapeutic Level IV. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence

Base-to-apex gradient pattern of cardiac impairment identified on myocardial T1 mapping in cardiac amyloidosis

Late gadolinium enhancement imaging by cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) is the most reliable method for identifying cardiac involvement in patients with amyloidosis, and myocardial T1 mapping is a novel CMR technique that enables the noninvasive detection and quantification of myocardial amyloid burden. Although, base-to-apex gradient patterns of impairment in patients with cardiac amyloidosis have been reported on myocardial strain analysis using echocardiography, we could not find any other reports to demonstrate that myocardial T1 mapping on CMR can clearly identify a base-to-apex gradient pattern of cardiac impairment in a patient with cardiac amyloidosis. Keywords: Cardiac amyloidosis, Myocardial T1 mapping, Myocardial extracellular volume, Base-to-apex gradien

Advanced parametric imaging for evaluation of Crohn's disease using dual-energy computed tomography enterography

We describe a case of small bowel Crohn's disease in which dual-energy computed tomography enterography using dual-layer spectral detector scanner contributed to quantitative assessment, and provided a higher degree of confidence pertaining to the diagnosis. Dual-layer spectral detector computed tomography enables retrospective analysis including virtual monochromatic imaging, iodine mapping, and determining the effective atomic number Z with routine scan protocols. These advanced parametric dual-energy imaging holds promising potential as an imaging biomarker for diagnosis, risk-stratification, monitoring of disease progression and therapy, and outcome prediction. Keywords: Crohn's disease, CT enterography, Dual-energy C

Basal septal perforator vein mimicking the “late iodine enhancement” in delayed phase cardiac CT for myocardial scar assessment

Delayed-phase cardiac CT is a useful tool for scar detection, based on differences in the volume of distribution of iodine. Although it covers the entire heart, provides uniform, high isotropic spatial resolution, and therefore may be useful for detecting small late iodine enhancement (LIE), we need to correctly differentiate small LIE and pseudo-lesions mimicking LIE. In this case report, we demonstrate basal septal perforator vein mimicking LIE in delayed phase cardiac CT. Left ventricular myocardium includes not only septal vein and artery but also capillaries, arterio- and venoluminal vessels, and sinusoids, etc. which connect to septal veins. To avoid misinterpretations of myocardial LIE on the delayed phase images, we need to understand those anatomical features. Keywords: Delayed iodine CT, Late iodine enhancement, Myocardial infarction, Myocardial scar, Septal perforator vei