Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to A Scheurecker.
Nowadays, due to its high diagnostic accuracy, MR imaging is the method of choice for the evaluation of knee joint disorders pre- and postoperatively. Accurate diagnosis is sometimes possible only if the reporting radiologist has knowledge of the therapeutic procedures and the surgical report. Frequently, further therapeutic management is strongly influenced by MR examinations and radiological reports.
PURPOSE: To analyze data at the time of diagnosis of breast cancer in three radiology practices in Austria in the setting of opportunistic screening. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In 529 women (ages 31 - 89, mean age 61.1) with breast cancer, the mode of diagnosis (detected clinically or by opportunistic screening), the local tumor stages, and intervals between screening examinations were assessed. RESULTS: In 33.6 % (178 of 529) of the cases, the breast cancer was detected clinically, and in 66.4 % (351 of 529) of the cases, the cancer was detected by opportunistic screening. Cancers in prognostically favorable stages (in situ carcinomas, pT1 a, pT1 b, pT1c) were detected by opportunistic screening in 79.9 % of the cases. The clinically detected cancers were in locally advanced stages (pT2, pT3) in 58.4 % of the cases. In the majority of clinically detected cases (75 %), the women had never had a mammogram before or had not had a recent one. In 13 % of the cases detected by opportunistic screening, diagnosis was made during the first exam, in 40 % of the cases, the period since the last mammogram was less than 24 months, and in 47 % of the cases, this period was greater than 24 months. CONCLUSION: In our patients the majority of breast cancers were detected in early stages by opportunistic screening. The use of an organized system with exams at regular intervals may further reduce the number of advanced cancers.
The Legg-Calve-Perthes disease is an idiopathic avascular necrosis of the hip during early childhood. It is characterized by different stages with the main risk of persisting hip deformation, dysfunction of the joint movement, and the potential for early osteoarthritis. For the evaluation of prognosis and therapy planning patients age and extent of the necrotic area of the epiphysis are important factors. For an early diagnosis and sufficient therapy all radiological efforts have to be performed. MR imaging is an ideal method for the assessment of osteonecrotic changes of the Morbus Perthes. Compared to plain radiography by MR imaging pathologic alterations can be detected earlier and with higher specificity. However, conventional radiograms have to be still used as basic imaging modality. Nowadays x-rays and MR imaging should be the main methods for the evaluation of children suffering from Perthes disease.
Cystic and cyst-like lesions of bone are very common. They can be of primary origin or secondarily caused by several diseases. For exact diagnosis or at least narrow differential diagnosis the assessment of radiological findings is important. However, patient data, clinical symptoms, laboratory parameters, and site of the lesion have to be included for a reasonable final diagnosis or differential diagnosis.
The knee, the largest joint in the human body, is composed of the distal femur, the proximal tibia, the patella, and a complex arrangement of ligaments and menisci. This joint is particularly vulnerable because of its anatomic, functional, and mechanical characteristics. Depending on the severity and the specific mechanism of the trauma, injuries of soft tissue structures or bony elements or even a combination of both may be present. In case of severe pain caused by traumatic events clinical tests may be insufficient for exact diagnosis and radiological examinations are mandatory for an effective planing of the therapeutic management.
MRI has demonstrated high diagnostic value in the assessment of musculoskeletal disease. Pathological joint changes, especially in the osteochondral region, are an important orthopedic problem because the signs and symptoms are vague and unspecific. Therefore, in early disease their extent and severity are difficult to ascertain clinically. Early diagnosis and exact staging are recommended for sufficient therapeutic management. MR imaging has proved to be the method of choice in the evaluation of osteochondral lesions and helps to prevent late-stage disease and joint damage.