Ritchiecates2137
Traditional pedicle screws are currently the gold standard to achieve stable 3-column fixation of the degenerative lumbar spine. However, there are cases in which pedicle screw fixation may not be ideal. Due to their starting point lateral to the pars interarticularis, pedicle screws require a relatively wide dissection along with a medialized trajectory directed toward the centrally located neural elements and prevertebral vasculature. In addition, low bone mineral density remains a major risk factor for pedicle screw loosening, pullout, and pseudarthrosis. The purpose of this article is to review the indications, advantages, disadvantages, and complications associated with posterior fixation techniques of the degenerative lumbar spine beyond the traditional pedicle screws.
Comprehensive literature searches of the PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases were performed for 5 methods of posterior spinal fixation, including (1) cortical bone trajectory (CBT) screws, (2) transfacet screws, (3) translami
CBT and non-pedicular fixation may be preferred in certain lumbar degenerative cases, particularly among patients with osteoporosis. Limitations of non-pedicular techniques include their reliance on intact posterior elements and the lack of 3-column fixation of the spine. As a result, transfacet and translaminar screws are infrequently used as the primary method of fixation. CBT, transfacet, and translaminar screws are effective in augmenting interbody fixation and have been shown to significantly improve fusion rates and clinical outcomes compared with stand-alone anterior lumbar interbody fusion.
Therapeutic Level IV. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
Therapeutic Level IV. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
We present the case of a 45-year-old woman with known adenoid cystic carcinoma of the right parotid gland, postexcision and postoperative radiation therapy. She was followed up on 18F-FDG PET/CT, which revealed minimal local residual disease and bilateral lung nodules, for which chemotherapy was initiated. Postchemotherapy, 18F-FDG PET/CT showed residual lung metastases. As a part of ongoing project, 68Ga-PSMA PET/CT done revealed additional focal uptake in the right cerebellum, missed on FDG PET/CT. The brain lesion was confirmed upon MRI.
We present the case of a 45-year-old woman with known adenoid cystic carcinoma of the right parotid gland, postexcision and postoperative radiation therapy. She was followed up on 18F-FDG PET/CT, which revealed minimal local residual disease and bilateral lung nodules, for which chemotherapy was initiated. Postchemotherapy, 18F-FDG PET/CT showed residual lung metastases. As a part of ongoing project, 68Ga-PSMA PET/CT done revealed additional focal uptake in the right cerebellum, missed on FDG PET/CT. The brain lesion was confirmed upon MRI.
Minimally invasive surgery in the form of laparoscopic and robot-assisted procedures has been widely adopted in the field of prostate cancer. When performing minimally invasive radioguided surgery, conventional rigid laparoscopic gamma probes have limited maneuverability and control due to their form factor, which may hinder detection of radiotracer-avid lesions in anatomically challenging areas. A drop-in gamma probe has been developed to address these limitations. Our group report on the first clinical use of this probe (SENSEI®) as part of an ongoing prospective, international, multicenter clinical trial in primary prostate cancer patients undergoing 99mTc-nanocolloid sentinel lymph node biopsy.
Minimally invasive surgery in the form of laparoscopic and robot-assisted procedures has been widely adopted in the field of prostate cancer. When performing minimally invasive radioguided surgery, conventional rigid laparoscopic gamma probes have limited maneuverability and control due to their form factor, which may hinder detection of radiotracer-avid lesions in anatomically challenging areas. A drop-in gamma probe has been developed to address these limitations. Our group report on the first clinical use of this probe (SENSEI®) as part of an ongoing prospective, international, multicenter clinical trial in primary prostate cancer patients undergoing 99mTc-nanocolloid sentinel lymph node biopsy.
Sclerosing adenosis is a common benign proliferative disorder of the breast. We describe FDG PET/CT findings in a case of sclerosing adenosis showing focal intense FDG uptake mimicking malignancy. This case indicates that sclerosing adenosis should be included in the differential diagnosis of focal breast FDG accumulation along with malignant and nonmalignant conditions.
Sclerosing adenosis is a common benign proliferative disorder of the breast. We describe FDG PET/CT findings in a case of sclerosing adenosis showing focal intense FDG uptake mimicking malignancy. This case indicates that sclerosing adenosis should be included in the differential diagnosis of focal breast FDG accumulation along with malignant and nonmalignant conditions.
Initial disease presentations are often surprising compared with expected clinical trajectories. We present a case of metastatic lung adenocarcinoma where the initial presentation was masquerading as a musculoskeletal soft tissue mass. Initial concern was for a hematoma after light trauma, but due to a pacemaker, MRI was contraindicated. Workup included a 99mTc-MDP bone scan where the lesion demonstrated activity. Further workup imaging was serendipitous, revealing a left upper lobe mass. Biopsy demonstrated poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma of lung origin. Soft tissue metastasis can occur with lung adenocarcinoma, and although it constitutes a less frequent metastatic route, it is nevertheless clinically important.
Initial disease presentations are often surprising compared with expected clinical trajectories. We present a case of metastatic lung adenocarcinoma where the initial presentation was masquerading as a musculoskeletal soft tissue mass. Initial concern was for a hematoma after light trauma, but due to a pacemaker, MRI was contraindicated. Workup included a 99mTc-MDP bone scan where the lesion demonstrated activity. Further workup imaging was serendipitous, revealing a left upper lobe mass. Biopsy demonstrated poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma of lung origin. Soft tissue metastasis can occur with lung adenocarcinoma, and although it constitutes a less frequent metastatic route, it is nevertheless clinically important.
A 57-year-old woman was referred for progressive dyspnea. CT showed a tracheal mass, suspicious of tracheal neoplasm. The lesion was partially resected, and nonspecific granulation tissue was observed on histology. Her symptoms and CT findings worsened. FDG PET/CT showed increased FDG accumulation in the nasal septum and left eustachian tube in addition to the tracheobronchial lesions. Although the patient was ANCA (antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies) negative, a differential diagnosis of granulomatosis with polyangiitis was established and confirmed pathologically. FDG PET/CT was useful for diagnosis of ANCA-negative granulomatosis with polyangiitis, in which tracheobronchial and cartilage lesions were prominent.
A 57-year-old woman was referred for progressive dyspnea. CT showed a tracheal mass, suspicious of tracheal neoplasm. The lesion was partially resected, and nonspecific granulation tissue was observed on histology. Her symptoms and CT findings worsened. FDG PET/CT showed increased FDG accumulation in the nasal septum and left eustachian tube in addition to the tracheobronchial lesions. Although the patient was ANCA (antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies) negative, a differential diagnosis of granulomatosis with polyangiitis was established and confirmed pathologically. FDG PET/CT was useful for diagnosis of ANCA-negative granulomatosis with polyangiitis, in which tracheobronchial and cartilage lesions were prominent.
We present the findings of 68Ga-FAPI-4 PET/CT and 18F-FDG PET/CT of a metastatic malignant melanoma patient with osteoarthritis. A 65-year-old woman with a history of metastatic uveal malignant melanoma was referred to 18F-FDG PET/CT for restaging after enucleation and chemotherapy. 18F-FDG PET/CT imaging showed high radiotracer uptake in liver metastases; additionally mild uptake due to osteoarthritis was observed in both knees. However, although 68Ga-FAPI-4 showed lower uptake in liver lesions, it showed a more prominent uptake in both knee joints compared with 18F-FDG.
We present the findings of 68Ga-FAPI-4 PET/CT and 18F-FDG PET/CT of a metastatic malignant melanoma patient with osteoarthritis. A 65-year-old woman with a history of metastatic uveal malignant melanoma was referred to 18F-FDG PET/CT for restaging after enucleation and chemotherapy. 18F-FDG PET/CT imaging showed high radiotracer uptake in liver metastases; additionally mild uptake due to osteoarthritis was observed in both knees. However, although 68Ga-FAPI-4 showed lower uptake in liver lesions, it showed a more prominent uptake in both knee joints compared with 18F-FDG.
This image demonstrates an unusual presentation of an adrenal metastasis from prostate cancer detected by 68Ga-prostate-specific membrane antigen PET/CT and confirmed by biopsy. A 68-year-old man with prostate cancer persisted with elevated levels of prostate-specific antigen after radical prostatectomy. Imaging identified a single abnormal uptake in the left adrenal gland. A biopsy was performed showing a metastatic prostatic adenocarcinoma. The patient received systemic treatment, and his prostate-specific antigen level decreased significantly. Our objective is to illustrate an unusual and single site of prostate cancer metastasis, in which precise histological diagnosis was essential for correct clinical management of the patient.
This image demonstrates an unusual presentation of an adrenal metastasis from prostate cancer detected by 68Ga-prostate-specific membrane antigen PET/CT and confirmed by biopsy. A 68-year-old man with prostate cancer persisted with elevated levels of prostate-specific antigen after radical prostatectomy. Imaging identified a single abnormal uptake in the left adrenal gland. A biopsy was performed showing a metastatic prostatic adenocarcinoma. The patient received systemic treatment, and his prostate-specific antigen level decreased significantly. Our objective is to illustrate an unusual and single site of prostate cancer metastasis, in which precise histological diagnosis was essential for correct clinical management of the patient.
A 57-year-old man diagnosed with left anterior descending artery chronic total occlusion underwent rest gated 99mTc-MIBI scan showing moderately to markedly decreased perfusion with abnormal wall motion in the apex, anterior, anteroseptal, and apical anterolateral walls. 18F-FDG PET showed a "flip-flop" phenomenon with markedly increased FDG uptake in the hypoperfused regions and absent/markedly decreased uptake in the normally perfused, normokinetic myocardium, presumably due to the predominant use of free fatty acids under normoxic conditions. CD532 After coronary artery bypass grafting, left ventricular motion normalized except for surgery-related paradoxical septal motion and the left ventricular ejection fraction improved from 52% to 68%.
A 57-year-old man diagnosed with left anterior descending artery chronic total occlusion underwent rest gated 99mTc-MIBI scan showing moderately to markedly decreased perfusion with abnormal wall motion in the apex, anterior, anteroseptal, and apical anterolateral walls. 18F-FDG PET showed a "flip-flop" phenomenon with markedly increased FDG uptake in the hypoperfused regions and absent/markedly decreased uptake in the normally perfused, normokinetic myocardium, presumably due to the predominant use of free fatty acids under normoxic conditions.
