MSK Radiology Flashcards
Interventional Radiology
Helps with:
- Biopsy
- Joint Injection
- Vertebral Augmentation
- Epidural Injection
- Nerve Block
- Tendon injection
Radiologic Exampination
a. Need at least 2 orthogonal (90 degree) views of affected bone
i. prefer frontal and lateral view
b. Additional or special views might be needed
i. such as scaphoid view of wrist
ii. axillary view of shoulder
c. Position is important
d. Want to compare views with prior exams
i. Critical to see older pictures to know what baseline and what has changed
What are two extra views that are helpful in the MSK realm?
- Scaphoid view of wrist
2. axillary view of shoulder
Radiographs are the starting point for the musculoskeletal exam
a. Radiographs are the key starting point in the evaluation of the MSK system
b. Radiographs provide information regarding:
- bones
- joints
- muscle
- fat
- neurovascular structures
c. Appropriate technique critical
d. Seek clinical history and mechanism of injury
e. Abnormal soft tissue findings are often indirect signs of subtle fractures or arthritis
One view is NO view
Cannot determine anything with just one view
How can x-rays soft tissue pictures help with diagnosis?
Abnormal soft tissue findings are often indirect signs of subtle fractures or arthritis
Especially when looking at soft tissue around joint and fat pads
Bone Anatomy
a. Describe what type of bone
b. Long Bones:
i. Epiphyseal - end part of the bone
ii. Metaphyseal- between the end of the bone and the middle
iii. Diaphyseal- the middle part of the long bone
When describing a bone abnormality
- Exact anatomic location in bone
- Fracture pattern and alignment
i. describe the distal fragment relative to the proximal fragment
ii. describe in relation to anatomical position
Long Bone wiki
Long bones, especially the femur and tibia, are subjected to most of the load during daily activities and they are crucial for skeletal mobility.
They grow primarily by elongation of the diaphysis, with an epiphysis at each end of the growing bone.
The ends of epiphyses are covered with hyaline cartilage (“articular cartilage”). The longitudinal growth of long bones is a result of endochondral ossification at the epiphyseal plate.
Advanced Imaging Techniques
- Computed Tomography (CT)
i. Excellent spatial resolution
ii. Evaluation of bone structure
iii. Depicts complex bony geometry - Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
i. Excellent soft tissue contrast
ii. Characterzes soft tissue abnormalities - Ultrasound
i. Dynamic evaluation
ii. Characterizes soft tissue abnormalities - Nuclear medicine/PET
i. metabolic information
Computed Tomography (CT)
i. Excellent spatial resolution
- x rays are still better at spatial resolution
ii. Evaluation of bone structure
- good for bone anatomy in compex areas like spine
- also complex area like pelvis
iii. Depicts complex bony geometry
Drawbacks
-not always good for certain soft tissues (like joints and such)
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
i. Excellent soft tissue contrast
- great for menisci, labrums,
- can see sprains and such
ii. Characterizes soft tissue abnormalities
- also use for tissues and infections
Drawback:
i. some people cannot get MRI
ii. takes a long time
$$$$$
Ultrasound
i. Dynamic evaluation
- good for tissues that are closer to surface
- harder to see deeper tissues or stuff behind reflectors
ii. Characterizes soft tissue abnormalities
Nuclear medicine/PET
metabolic information
Cross Sectional Imaging Planes
- Coronal
- will cut front to back - Sagittal
- cut left to right - Axial
- cut superior to inferior