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The purpose of this study is to evaluate the histopathologic diagnostic yield, sample size, procedural time, and dose-length product (DLP) for the biopsy of CT-occult lesions found at MRI or PET or both.A retrospective review of our radiology information system for biopsies of CT-occult lesions using CT guidance from January 1, 2010, through December 31, 2014, was performed and compared with a selection of CT-guided biopsies of CT-evident bone lesions during the same period. The data were then evaluated for diagnostic yield of histopathologic diagnosis, procedural time, use of sedation medication, DLP, and size of specimens obtained.A total of 30 CT-occult biopsies met the inclusion criteria. Twenty-seven of those biopsies had results that were concordant with the patient's primary histopathologic diagnosis, imaging findings, and clinical course. In the CT-evident lesion group, concordant histopathologic abnormalities were identified in 27 of 30 patients. There was a statistically significant increase in number of samples obtained for the CT-evident lesions compared with CT-occult lesions. There was no statistically significant difference in total specimen length, DLP, number of CT scans, procedural time, or use of sedation medication between the CT-occult and CT-evident biopsy groups.Biopsy of CT-occult lesions using anatomic landmarks achieves diagnostic yields similar to those for CT-guided biopsy of CT-evident lesions.

BACKGROUND Few studies exist with regard to the ability of electromyography (EMG) and volumetric magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the infraspinatus muscle to complement the physical assessment of active global shoulder external rotation (GER) in the neonatal brachial plexus palsy (NBPP) population. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationships of EMG and MRI with active GER based on analysis of the infraspinatus muscle. METHODS Seventy-four NBPP patients (mean age, 5 y 1 m; range, 1 y 1 m to 13 y 3 m) who had undergone physical examination of the shoulder, EMG evaluation of the infraspinatus muscle, and shoulder MRI were included in this study. The outcome variable active GER was dichotomized into

Proliferative myositis, a pseudosarcomatous lesion of skeletal muscle, is quite rare in the pediatric population. While benign, it is not always recognized as such, and may be treated with an extensive resection that can result in permanent disfigurement. We report a case of an infant with the diagnosis of proliferative myositis, who to our knowledge is the youngest patient to be evaluated with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Although the MRI findings are non-specific, we highlight the importance of considering proliferative myositis in the differential diagnosis of a soft tissue mass, which ultimately might prevent an overly aggressive resection in a child.

Important to the laser based diagnosis of burn depth is an adequate understanding of the optical properties of thermally coagulated blood. Although the optical properties of photocoagulated blood have been studied in some detail, they are inadequate at completely characterizing the optical properties associated with the thermally coagulated blood of burn injuries. Using a photoacoustic method involving the addition of an absorber to thermally coagulated blood, we obtained data that will be used to derive a spectrum for the optical absorption coefficient, a, of thermally coagulated blood within the wavelength range from 580 to 700 nm. Before implementing this method, the stability of photoacoustic measurements within the diffusion theory realm was tested on two weakly absorbing, highly scattering Intralipid solutions. In addition, the absorber, Chlorazol Black, was tested for resistance to change caused by photobleaching and heating.

Early and accurate determination of burn depth is crucial to monitoring the burn wound and aiding in the precise excision of necrotic tissue. A simplified model of a partial-thickness burn wound can be described as a layer of necrotic dermal tissue, containing thermally coagulated blood, atop a layer of inflamed dermal tissue characterized by the presence of viable (non-coagulated) blood. Using photoacoustic methods it is possible to discriminate between coagulated and non-coagulated blood and, therefore, discriminate between the two layer types. However, the effectiveness of such a photoacoustic method is limited by the thickness of the upper coagulated layer. Sufficient laser energy must be deposited into both layers to create detectable and characteristic signals from those layers. To determine the maximum thickness of the coagulated layer, at which the underlying non-coagulated layer was still able to generate detectable acoustic waves, we performed a Monte Carlo simulation on a human burn wound model with varying depths of the coagulated layer. The depths of the coagulated layer ranged from 100 to 1,100 mm, in 100 mm increments. Our analysis concluded that burn depth measurements can be achieved up to a burn depth of 900 mm with an incident radiant exposure of 0.255 J/cm2 at 543nm and 0.1275 J/cm2 at 633 nm.