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Introduction: Osteopetrosis is an uncommon skeletal disorder characterized by generalized sclerosis of bones due to defective osteoclast function. A wide variation in clinical severity of the disease has been observed. Radiographic features and genetic testing are commonly used to diagnose the condition. Case Presentation: In the present study, we present a case of an extremely rare, atypical and genetically- undetermined form of Osteopetrosis. Conclusion: This patient had some clinical and radiological features of craniometaphyseal dysplasia along with atypical radiological signs of osteopetrosis.

Background Sciatica of extraspinal origin represents both a diagnostic and a therapeutic challenge for spine specialists. Among these, quadratus femoris muscle (QF) is often overlooked as a pain-generator. Reported case A 62-year old man was referred from general practitioner for isolated sciatica in the left leg, refractory to conservative treatments. Plain x-rays of the spine did not show any pathological finding nor did magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). MRI and CT showed QF with unusual morphologic features and agenesis of the contralateral QF. Ultrasonography-guided injection in the muscle was performed with mepivacaine and methylprednisolone obtaining relief of the symptoms. Discussion Leg pain can be very disabling and, when combined with a normal MRI of the spine, diagnosis can be tricky. Several causes of sciatica of extraspinal origin have been described, some of them originating from the so-called "deep gluteal space". Anecdotal communications on anatomical variations of the quadratus femoris muscle are reported in literature. Conclusions Differential diagnosis of sciatica of extraspinal origin must rule out sacroiliac and hip joint so as deep gluteal space structures. Among these, quadratus femoris muscle is often overlooked as a pain-generator. Ultrasonography-guided intramuscular injections and a program of stretching and strengthening exercises can achieve durable control on the symptoms.

Background:There are few published studies with very long-term follow-up of combined intra- and extra-articular anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction.Purpose:To analyze clinical and radiographic outcomes of over-the-top ACL reconstruction plus extra-articular lateral tenodesis with autologous hamstrings at minimum 20-year follow-up.Study Design:Case series; Level of evidence, 4.Methods:Of 60 originally eligible patients who underwent over-the-top ACL reconstruction with double-stranded hamstring tendon (leaving intact graft tibial insertions) and extra-articular lateral plasty (performed with the remnant part of tendons), 52 were prospectively evaluated at a minimum 20-year follow-up (mean follow-up, 24 years; 41 men, 11 women; mean age at time of surgery, 25.5 ± 7.6 years). Twenty-nine patients were available for prospective evaluations: clinical (Lysholm, Tegner, and objective International Knee Documentation Committee [IKDC]), instrumented (KT-2000), and radiographic (standard, long-standing, and Merchant views). Subjective KOOS (Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score) and objective inertial sensor pivot-shift analysis (KiRA) were carried out at final follow-up. Twenty-three patients were investigated by phone interview for subjective Tegner score and documented complications, rerupture, or revision surgery.Results:At final follow-up, mean Lysholm score was 85.7 ± 14.6; median Tegner score, 4 (range, 3-5); sport activity resumption, 86.2%; and objective IKDC score, good or excellent in 86% of patients (31%, A; 55%, B). Only 3 of 26 patients (12%) had >5-mm manual maximum KT-2000 side-to-side difference. KiRA system documented positive pivot-shift (>0.9-m/s2tibial acceleration side-to-side difference) in these 3 of 26 patients (12%). Statistically significant changes were as follows: decrease in Tegner score from 7 (range, 6-8) at 5-year follow-up to 4 (range, 3-5) at 10 years ( P < .0001) and decrease in Lysholm score from 96.1 ± 7.3 at 10-year follow-up to 85.7 ± 14.6 at 20 years ( P = .0003). Radiographic evaluation demonstrated significant difference of medial joint space between injured and healthy knees in patients with concomitant medial meniscectomy (n = 8, 3.2 ± 0.6 vs 5.0 ± 1.8 mm, P = .0114). No significant differences were reported regarding lateral or patellofemoral joint space. One patient (2%) experienced rerupture, with 3 of 52 (5.8%) having a contralateral ACL injury (excluded from KT-2000 and radiographic evaluations). Overall, 4 of 29 clinical failures (objective IKDC, KT-2000) and 1 rerupture among 52 patients were registered at final follow-up.Conclusion:Studied surgical technique demonstrated good results in laxity control at 20-year minimum follow-up. The lateral extra-articular plasty associated with ACL reconstruction did not generate lateral knee or patellofemoral osteoarthritis. The factor increasing osteoarthritis was meniscectomy.

Angiomatoid fibrous histiocytoma is a rarely metastasizing soft-tissue tumor of low-grade malignancy. Here we report a case of angiomatoid fibrous histiocytoma located in the leg of a 15-year-old female. This case is of particular interest due to its radiological features that led to raise two questions concerning the nature of the disease (is it reactive or tumoral?) and its site of origin (within soft tissues or the tibial periosteum?). Here we describe ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging, computed tomography scan and positron emission tomography findings that helped answer these questions, understand the real nature of the disease and its appropriate treatment. This case shows that a single type of imaging technique may not be sufficient to understand the real nature of a musculoskeletal lesion and that it is necessary to combine all information derived from various imaging techniques in order to correctly diagnose and treat the disease.

Background: We performed a retrospective evaluation of histological and imaging results of patients submitted to computed tomography (CT)-guided biopsy for vertebral fractures (VFs) of unknown etiology to evaluate the pathological causes of fractures and also to observe the diagnostic results of imaging studies available. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed all the CT-guided vertebral biopsies performed in our institution in the last 2 years, selecting patients with VF of unknown etiology. We reviewed clinical records, imaging studies, and histological examination results. We compared diagnostic performance of the 2 most sensitive imaging modalities for detection of malignancy on the collapsed vertebral body: magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and positron emission tomography-CT (PET-CT). Anatomopathological results have been considered the gold standard to assess the diagnostic performance of imaging studies. Age stratification has been performed to understand the distribution of different anatomopathological diagnoses in age groups. Results: Among 282 CT-guided vertebral biopsies, 36 (12.8%) have been performed to diagnose the etiology of VF of unknown origin. In 26/32 (81.3%), the vertebral biopsy was diagnostic: 8 osteopenia, 6 multiple myelomas, 4 osteomyelitis, 2 eosinophilic granuloma, 3 metastases, 1 mastocytosis, 1 Paget9s disease, and 1 dysmielopoiesis. In 6 cases, the anatomopathological diagnosis was normal bone structure, most likely excluding malignancy. There were no statistically significance differences between MRI and PET-CT results (P = 1.0000). Conclusions: Multiple myeloma and osteopenia represent the most frequent causes of this condition in adult patients, while eosinophilic granuloma and osteomyelitis in pediatric patients. Computed tomography-guided biopsy permits one to reach diagnosis in most of cases. Both PET and MRI could be insufficient to discriminate benign from malignant causes of fractures. Computed tomography-guided biopsy is needed when the etiology of fracture remains unclear.

This review summarizes current concepts in the diagnosis and management of the patients with eosinophilic granuloma. Given the benign biology, the clinical course, and the pediatric group of patients that this condition more commonly affects, a treatment approach that carries a lower risk of complications while ensuring a successful cure is desirable. Variable treatment options have been reported with satisfactory results and a recurrence rate of less than 20 %. In this setting, symptomatic lesions that are accessible in the spine or the extremities may be treated with intralesional methylprednisolone injection after tissue biopsy for histological diagnosis.

CT is the recommended technique for the detection of pulmonary metastases in patients affected by osteosarcoma, though claimed to show several limits compared to manual palpation. We retrospectively analyzed CT features of suspected lesions submitted to surgery to address its current accuracy and to investigate criteria for predicting histology.CT scans of 70 patients submitted to thoracotomy between 2007-2013 were reviewed. Overall, 123 thoracotomies were performed and 283 lesions seen on CT were resected. Shape, size, presence and type of calcification, evolution of each lesion were analyzed. Number and histology of nodules detected at thoracotomy were recorded and compared to CT data.234/283--82.7% Lesions were metastases; 143--61.1% were calcified; most metastases were nodular (201/234--85.9%), but in 33/234--14.1% other findings were detected (striae, consolidations, pleural plaques/masses, cavitations, ground glass opacities, irregular shapes, halo sign). Malignant lesions were more frequently calcified, larger, with progression over time--p0.0001. Manual palpation identified 314 lesions, 248 metastatic--79.0%: CT missed 31/314--9.9% lesions, whereof 14/31--45.2% were metastases.Though most lesions are nodular and calcified, up to 40% are not calcified and atypical findings are not uncommon (14.1%). The identification of the atypical radiological presentation of metastases could be the key for improving CT accuracy.

To describe the clinical and ultrasonography (US) findings of soft tissue hemangiomas, and to compare with the results of histologic diagnosis after US-guided biopsy. We retrospectively studied the files of 97 patients (48 female, 49 male; mean age, 34 years; range 4–84 years) with soft tissue hemangiomas diagnosed from 2004 to 2011. Mean follow-up was 9 years (range 7–13 years). Clinical presentation included intermittent mild pain associated with a soft tissue swelling/palpable mass in all patients, chronic pain and increased local heat in 29 patients, local swelling and decreased range of motion of the adjacent joint in 45 patients, and all the above symptoms in 23 patients. B-mode and color Doppler US evaluation included the site, location, size, shape, margins, presence of calcifications, echo structure and echogenicity. All patients had US-guided biopsy for histologic analysis. US-guided biopsy and histology confirmed the diagnosis of soft tissue hemangioma in 92 of the 97 lesions (94.8%). Histologic examination of the remaining five lesions showed nodular fasciitis (two lesions), endometriosis (one lesion), hemangioendothelioma (two lesions); US of these lesions showed variable size, irregular margins, and deep-seated location. Histologically documented soft tissue hemangiomas were most commonly superficial (74 lesions) and arteriovenous (45 lesions). Shape was most commonly oval (fusiform), margins were most commonly not well defined (irregular, hazing but circumscribed), phleboliths were more common in deep-seated lesions, echo structure was heterogeneous, and echogenicity was most commonly hyperechogen and involuting. Clinical presentation and typical B-mode and color Doppler US findings are adequate for the diagnosis of soft tissue hemangiomas without the need for biopsy and histologic analysis. If any clinical or US doubt, an US-guided biopsy should be performed.

In patients with relapsed osteosarcoma, the surgical excision of all metastases, defined as second complete remission (CR-2), is the factor that mainly influences post-relapse survival (PRS). Currently a validated follow-up policy for osteosarcoma is not available, both chest X-ray and computed tomography (CT) are suggested for lung surveillance. The purpose of this study is to evaluate whether the type of imaging technique used for chest surveillance, chest X-ray or CT, influenced the rate of CR-2 and prognosis in patients with recurrent osteosarcoma.Patients up to 40 years with extremity osteosarcoma enrolled in consecutive clinical trials and treated at the Rizzoli Institute from 1986 to 2009 were identified. Only patients who had lung metastases alone as first pattern of recurrence were considered for the analysis. The rate of CR-2, overall survival (OS) and PRS were the end-points of the study.The median follow-up was 47 months (1-300), 215 patients were eligible. Lung metastases were detected by chest X-ray in 100 (47%) patients, by CT in 112 (52%) and by symptoms in 3 (1%). CR-2 rate was 60% for patients followed by X-rays and 88% for those followed by CT (p .0001). 5-year PRS was 30% (95% CI 21-39) in the X-ray group and 49% (95% CI 39-59) in the CT group (p = .0004). 5-year OS was 35% (95% CI 26-44) in the X-ray group and 60% (95% CI 51-70) in the CT group (p = .004).A follow-up strategy with chest CT leads to a higher rate of CR-2 and significantly improves PRS and OS in osteosarcoma, compared to chest X-ray.

To evaluate the outcome of selective arterial embolization with N-2-butyl-cyanoacrylate for aneurysmal bone cysts. We retrospectively studied 102 patients (72 male, 30 female; mean age, 16 years; range, 3–60 years) with aneurysmal bone cysts treated with embolization with N-2-butyl-cyanoacrylate. Mean follow-up was seven years (range, 3–13 years); no patient was lost to follow-up. We evaluated healing and recurrences of the lesions, complications and cost of the procedures, and recurrences with respect to age and gender of the patients, and size and location of the lesions. Embolization was feasible in 88 patients (86.3%), and not feasible in 14 patients (13.6%) because feeding arteries were not identified or the spinal artery of Adamkiewicz was recognized at the embolization field. Seventy two patients (81.8%) experienced complete healing of their lesions after a single (50 patients, 56.8%), a second (17 patients, 19.3%) or a third embolization (5 patients, 5.7%). Sixteen patients (18.2%) experienced recurrence within four months (range, 3–9 months) after embolization; these patients underwent surgical treatment. Recurrences were more common in patients younger than 15 years of age and cysts larger than 6 cm, without any difference with respect to gender and location. Four patients (4.5%) experienced a complication including skin necrosis, sciatic nerve paresthesias, and femoral artery pseudoaneurysm. The cost estimate was 3000 euro per procedure. Embolization of aneurysmal bone cysts with N-2-butyl-cyanoacrylate is associated with good results and low complication rates, however, experience, technical skills, and knowledge of the vascular anatomy of the area is necessary.

The aim of this review is to report and discuss recent literature about low back pain (LBP) aethiology and appropriateness of imaging modalities in the elderly. Imaging in LBP is usually inappropriate because pain is non-specific, resolving spontaneously within 4 weeks. Imaging target is to detect the 5% of cases in which serious pathologies underly patient symptoms. For this reason, several guidelines report red flags as signal alarms to screen for these conditions in patient with low back pain. Main indications for radiographs, CT, MRI, and Nuclear Medicine investigations are reported with a focus on new imaging strategies. Chronic LBP in older people is a clinical syndrome with a multifactorial pathogenesis. Advanced imaging is reserved to those patients with symptoms persisting after six weeks and not responding to treatment unless LBP is associated to red flags for vertebral fractures or malignancies or in patients with symptoms of infection or cauda equina syndrome.

The aim of this paper is to provide an overview of the hip after joint replacement and to illustrate imaging modalities and findings in the evaluation of hip arthroplasty and related complications, introducing recent diagnostic approaches. Radiography is still central and fundamental in the postoperative evaluation and follow-up. All imaging techniques play a role in the diagnosis and characterization of complications, with CT and MRI providing the most relevant recent progresses, especially focused on artifact reduction. Hip arthroplasty is a common orthopedic procedure in elderly patients, and this is increasing in parallel to the aging of the population. Radiologists have to be familiar with surgical technique and normal postoperative findings, as well as with abnormal and pathologic conditions since several complications may occur. A correct imaging acquisition of the hip after replacement is also extremely important. This review covers imaging aspects related to the hip after joint replacement.

BACKGROUND: HYPOTHESIS: pulsed electromagnetic fields treatment might improve symptoms in the early stage of spontaneous osteonecrosis of the knee. METHODS: Twenty-eight patients (19M/9F, age 49.8±16.4 years) suffering from symptomatic (pain) Koshino stage I spontaneous osteonecrosis of the knee, confirmed by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were treated with local pulsed electromagnetic fields therapy (6 h daily for 90 days). Clinical evaluation: baseline, 6- and 24-month follow-up by VAS for pain, knee society score (KSS), Tegner and EQ-5D scales. MRI evaluation: baseline and 6-month follow-up, measuring bone marrow lesion's areas and grading these lesions by WORMS score. Failures: patients undergoing knee arthroplasty. RESULTS: Pain significantly reduced at 6 months (from 73.2±20.7 to 29.6±21.3, p

Metastatic disease is a major cause of pain and decreased quality of life in patients with cancer. Autopsy studies have shown that up to 85% of patients who die from breast, prostate or lung cancer have histological evidence of bone metastases at the time of death. In Europe, the number of new cases of bone metastases per year is approximately 1 in 100,000. Worsening of patients’ quality of life is due to associated symptoms such as intractable pain, pathological fractures, spinal cord compression, hypercalcemia and reduction of movement and performance status.

The question is not classic: which signs suggest a possible malignancy when faced with a solitary bone lesion? Usually radiologists try to identify the leave me alone lesions, for which nothing is needed. Here we consider the suspicious lesions. Clinical and radiological indicators are proposed, leading to a probability. Nowadays, a biopsy is nevertheless always requested before treating a malignant lesion, even if suspicion is very high. But histology should integrate with the radiological signs.

[No abstract available]

Despite advances in diagnostic imaging, the evolution of neoadjuvant chemotherapy and the refinements in limb-salvage surgery, the progression-free survival rate remains poor for patients with metastatic, recurrent or unresectable osteosarcoma. Different therapeutic strategies for these subgroups of patients have been employed to control disease and prolong survival. Treatment options are limited and controversial, including systemic and localized therapies. Surgical resection, whenever feasible, is still the standard treatment in advanced osteosarcoma. The role of chemotherapy is unclear while the use of radiotherapy, embolization and thermal ablation is increasing. New therapeutic experimental approaches and novel target therapies are needed to improve the outcome of these subgroups of patients.

Purpose. The aim of this paper is to describe the sonographic (US) features of post traumatic myositis ossificans (PTMO). Methods. Fifteen patients with histopathological diagnosis of PTMO were included. The following US parameters were evaluated: presence of a mass, calcifications, power Doppler signals, and relationship with adjacent structures. Results. Five patients (33.3%) were diagnosed as early PTMO and 10 (66.6%) as mature PTMO. In both early and mature PTMO, US showed an oval hypoechoic mass, without infiltrative borders, located in a muscular belly. In the early phase, a center of less echogenicity was observed, associated with an outer sheet-like hyperechoic peripheral rim, while, in the mature phase, peripheral calcification created more reflections and distal acoustic shadowing was observed. Conclusions. US is highly sensitive in the detection of PTMO, helps differentiate between PTMO and malignant soft tissue tumors, and can be used for follow-up of the lesions. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Ultrasound, 2011

Malalignment causes abnormal forces that may lead to loosening after knee replacement. Whether a computer-assisted technique can improve the precision of implant positioning guaranteeing good long-term results in total knee arthroplasty, this is a matter of discussion. The authors evaluate the alignment accuracy of 20 primary total knee arthroplasties, performed using an image-free computer navigation systems, with standardized CT protocol and three-dimensional digital model reconstruction. The results of this study demonstrate that the image-free navigation system is able to improve accuracy in axial limb alignment and positioning of the components in the majority of cases; moreover, the difference between the mean mechanical axis value of the navigation system (179.7° ± 1.7°) and the median mean value obtained during the post-operative evaluation (180.3° ± 1.9°) is not statistically significant (P = 0.28).

Malrotation of prosthetic components have been widely recognised as a cause of knee prostheses failure. In the present study, we hypothesised that an algorithm including clinical and radiographic evaluation, as well as a computed tomography analysis with defined values, could be reliable for the preoperative diagnosis of knee prosthesis malrotation in order to advise our treatment. For this purpose, current parameters and related literature were taken into account. We analysed 44 patients with anterior knee pain after total knee arthroplasty. Among them, 24 patients (17 females and seven males), aged 43 to 78 years (mean 67 years) were evaluated with computed helicoidal tomography, and subsequently treated in a different way according to severity of their problem. Eight patients with components rotation in the normal range and patients with mild combined external rotation of the prosthesis underwent patella arthroplasty; other 16 patients with malposition in internal rotation or more severe external rotation, underwent complete prosthetic revision. After an average follow-up of 32 months (range 12 to 120 months) results assessed according to the Knee Society rating system showed excellent or good clinical outcome in 87% (21 out of 24 patients) and functionally in 75% (18 out of 24 patients) of cases surgically treated. The malposition of knee prosthetic components on the axial plane is an emerging problem, difficult to interpret, which provides various surgical options such as resurfacing of the patella in mild cases until the complete revision of the implant.

This study was done to evaluate the variability of semiautomated volume measurements of solid pulmonary nodules between two different versions of the same volumetric software.The volumes of 100 solid intraparenchymal nodules (mean volume 88.10 mm(3); range 7.36-595.25 mm(3)) studied with the same multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) protocol were determined using two different versions of the same volumetric software (LungCARE 2006G and LungCARE 2007S). The 2006G version is based on a single-segmentation algorithm, whereas the newer version features two algorithms: SmallSizeNodule and AllSizeNodule. The results obtained with the 2006G version were compared with those of the 2007S version with the SmallSizeNodule algorithm, as recommended by the user manual. In addition, we compared the volumetric measurements obtained by the two different algorithms of the 2007S version.The 2006G version and the 2007S version with the SmallSizeNodule algorithm agreed in only two of 100 cases and showed a mean variability of 1.66% (range 0%-8.78%). A more significant volumetric discrepancy was observed between the two different algorithms of the 2007S version, with the AllSizeNodule algorithm providing on average larger volumes (mean variability 71.08%; range 6.02%-218.80%) than SmallSizeNodule. Volume discrepancies were more pronounced in the subgroups of smaller nodules in all comparisons.There is variability also in the results provided by different versions of the same volumetric software, and this may affect the calculation of the nodule-doubling time. Computer-aided assessment of the growth of lung nodules should always be performed using the same version of volumetric software and the same segmentation algorithm.

Aneurysmal bone cyst (ABC) is a lytic benign bone lesion representing about 1% of all primary bone tumors. The lesion causes pain and swelling, which are generally present for less than 3 months. From April 2003 to April 2008 36 patients affected by aneurysmal bone cysts were treated by selective arterial embolization with N-2-butyl cyanoacrylate. The study population comprised 20 male and 16 female patients with an age range of 3.3–60.8 years. Nine lesions were localized in the appendicular skeleton (1 in the upper and 8 in the lower limb), 4 in the thoracic cage (1 rib lesion and 3 scapular lesions), 17 in the pelvis and 6 in the spine (1 thoracic and 5 sacral localizations). A total of 55 embolizations were performed: in 22 cases (61%) only one embolization was needed, whilst two embolizations were necessary in 9 cases (25%) and 3 in the remaining 5 patients (14%). The treatment was effective in 32 patients (94% ): follow-up was 0.9–5 years. In one patient, previously surgically treated, only the cyanoacrylate embolization turned out to be useful for healing the lesion. Another 7 patients underwent surgery during the study period. In the 55 procedures we performed we had 3 complications (5%): 2 cases of skin necrosis and 1 of transient paresis. Arterial embolization with cyanoacrylate may be the treatment of choice for aneurysmal bone cysts. Embolization is a less invasive, lower cost, simpler procedure than surgery and is easily repeatable.

Absence of the fibula after harvesting to reconstruct an upper-limb segment increases loads on the donor-side tibia and thereby provides a unique opportunity to analyze the bone adaptation process in humans. We therefore quantified densitometric and morphologic changes of the donor-side tibia in three young patients (ages 8, 13, 16 years), on the basis of computed tomography (CT) examinations of both legs (one preoperatively and two postoperatively). The range of final followup was 27–43 months. Three-dimensional models of shank bones were generated from CT data and used to measure cross-sectional area, diaphyseal cortical thickness, and cross-sectional moment of inertia. In addition, density of the newly formed bone was evaluated. The donor-side tibia showed morphologic and density adaptation with time. New bone was deposited predominantly in the interosseous space and almost replaced the bone area lost by excision of the fibula. The second moment of area grew more in the donor-side tibia than in the intact one, without fully recovering the contralateral tibia-fibula complex values, and the principal axes rotated toward the preoperative direction. Thus, while considerable adaptation had occurred by 27–43 months in these young patients, the adaptation was incomplete; the mineral density of the newly formed bone recovered normal cortical bone values only in the patient with the longest followup (43 months). Level of Evidence: Level IV, therapeutic study. See the Guidelines for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Objective To evaluate the prevalence of osteoporotic vertebral fractures in patients undergoing multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) of the chest and/or abdomen. Materials and methods 323 consecutive patients (196 males, 127 females) with a mean age of 62.6 years (range 20–88) who had undergone chest and/or abdominal MDCT were evaluated. Sagittal reformats of the spine obtained from thin section datasets were reviewed by two radiologists and assessed for vertebral fractures. Morphometric analysis using electronic calipers was performed on vertebral bodies which appeared abnormal upon visual inspection. A vertebral body height loss of 15% or more was considered a fracture and graded as mild (15–24%), moderate (25–49%) or severe (more than 50%). Official radiology reports were reviewed and whether the vertebral fractures had been reported or not was noted. Results 31 out of 323 patients (9.5%) had at least 1 vertebral fracture and 7 of those patients had multiple fractures for a total of 41 fractures. Morphometric grading revealed 10 mild, 16 moderate and 15 severe fractures. Prevalence was higher in women (14.1%) than men (6.6%) and increased with patients age with a 17.1% prevalence in post-menopausal women. Only 6 out 41 vertebral fractures (14.6%) had been noted in the radiology final report while the remaining 35 (85.45) had not. Conclusion although vertebral fractures represent frequent incidental findings on multidetector CT studies and may be easily identified on sagittal reformats, they are often underreported by radiologists, most likely because of unawareness of their clinical importance.

SUMMARY Chondrosarcoma (CHS) is the third most frequent primary malignant tumour of bone exceeded only by myeloma and osteosarcoma. It usually occurs in the trunk bones (pelvic girdle, shoulder, ribs) followed by the femur and humerus and is very rare in the spine accounting for about 5% of all CHSs. The majority of patients affected are over 50 years old. We report a case of a 22-year-old woman with a 2-month history of pain on the right side of the upper thoracic spine. Complete imaging work-up with radiographs, CT, MRI and digital subtraction angiography showed an osteolytic lesion of the right transverse process of T5 with extension into the ipsilateral rib and enhancing extracompartmental tissue involving the paraspinal muscles. Both CT-guided core needle biopsy and excisional biopsy were consistent with grade I central CHS with myxoid change and focal areas of Grade II CHS.

Bone sarcomas are a variety of non-epithelial, malignant neoplasms of bone. The most common bone sarcomas are osteosarcoma, Ewing's sarcoma, and chondrosarcoma. The approach to a patient with a suspected bone sarcoma from initial examination to the histological diagnosis and classification is staging. Staging is of critical importance, in order to classify different treatment options and point out which combination of them is more suitable depending on the severity of the tumor in every individual patient. Staging should include medical history, physical and imaging examination, and biopsy. This article presents the current approach for staging, principles of biopsy, tumor classification, treatment, and follow-up of patients with bone sarcomas.

585 Biopsy refers to tissue sampling for histological examination, diagnosis, classification, and grading of a tumor. The goal of biopsy is to obtain a diagnostic tissue sample without complications, tumor spread, and compromise of future treatments.1,2 As a rule, all lesions should be biopsied as if they were malignant,2,3 and all soft tissue masses 3 cm or larger in diameter or growing lesions should be biopsied.2,4 Biopsy for musculoskeletal tumors can be closed (percutaneous) or open (incisional or excisional). Closed biopsy can be performed with a fine needle (fine-needle aspiration biopsy) or a core needle, and can be imaging guided or not. This editorial discusses the techniques, principles, and errors of biopsies for musculoskeletal tumors from radiologists’ and orthopedic surgeons’ perspectives.

Objective: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the reliability of scout CT (sCT) lateral radiograph, in terms of diagnostic accuracy and intra- and interobserver agreement in the detection of vertebral fractures (VFs). Methods: 300 CT examinations of the thoracic and/or lumbar spine were collected and independently analysed by 3 musculoskeletal radiologists in 2 different sessions. A semi-quantitative approach was used for VF assessment on sCT, and morphometric analysis was performed when a VF was suspected. Results of multiplanar sagittal CT reconstructions interpreted by the most expert radiologist were considered as gold standard. Arthrosiswas also scored.Only vertebral bodies assessable by both sCT and gold standard were considered for the analysis. Area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC), Cohen’s kappa statistic and linear-by-linear association were used for statistical analysis. Results: 1522 vertebrae were considered (130 males and 170 females; ages, 73.062.8 years). 73 of 1522 (4.8%) VFs were identified in 34/300 patients (11.3%). In the detection of VFs, the sensitivity and specificity of sCT were 98.7% and 99.7%, respectively. Accuracy (AUROC50.99260.008), as well as interobserver agreement (k50.96860.008), was excellent. Intra-observer agreement was perfect (k51.000). Performance of this method was independent of arthrosis, vertebral level and type and grade of VFs. Conclusion: sCT is a simple but very accurate method for the detection of VFs. It should be introduced as a spine evaluation tool for the detection of VFs in examinations that are performed for other diagnostic purposes. Advances in knowledge: sCT lateral radiograph is an accurate tool for the detection of VFs. This technique may be used with several advantages in clinical practice.

BACKGROUND: The prognosis of patients with metastatic, recurrent, and/or unresectable osteosarcoma is poor. Aggressive local and medical treatments are available for palliation. Palliative treatments include isolated limb perfusion, radiation therapy, embolization, chemoembolization, thermal ablation, and cryoablation. Their aim is pain relief and tumor size reduction with minimum complications. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We present 19 patients with metastatic, recurrent, and/or unresectable osteosarcoma of the pelvis and lower lumbar spine treated with palliative selective embolization using N-2-butyl cyanoacrylate. All patients had chemotherapy. At the time of embolization, they experienced severe pain refractory to analgesics. Diagnostic angiography was performed pre-embolization to determine the vascular mapping and hemodynamic status of the tumor. Post-embolization angiography was done to evaluate for complete occlusion of the pathological vessels. Mean follow-up was 18 months. Local pain, tumor necrosis and size, and complications were recorded. RESULTS: In all patients, pre-embolization angiography showed hypervascularity of the tumor from extensive neovascularization. Five patients had repeat embolization. All patients experienced pain relief at a mean of 3 days post-embolization. No patient had recurrent pain with the intensity of that before embolization. Variable tumor necrosis was observed in follow-up imaging, and reduction in tumor size was minimum. All patients experienced pain at the site of embolization, which resolved completely 1-5 days after embolization. Four patients with pelvic osteosarcomas experienced paraesthesias at the distribution of the sciatic nerve. CONCLUSION: Selective arterial embolization is a useful local palliative treatment for patients with advanced osteosarcoma for pain relief.

This study was done to evaluate embolisation for palliative and/or adjuvant treatment of bone metastases from renal cell carcinoma and discuss the clinical and imaging results. We retrospectively studied 107 patients with bone metastases from renal cell carcinoma treated from December 2002 to January 2011 with 163 embolisations using N-2-butyl cyanoacrylate (NBCA). Mean tumour diameter before embolisation was 8.8 cm and mean follow-up 4 years. Clinical and imaging effects of treatment were evaluated at follow-up examinations with a pain score scale, analgesic use, hypoattenuating areas, tumour size and ossification. A clinical response was achieved in 157 (96%) and no response in six embolisations of sacroiliac metastases. Mean duration of clinical response was 10 (range 1-12) months. Hypoattenuating areas resembling tumour necrosis were observed in all patients. Variable ossification appeared in 41 patients. Mean maximal tumour diameter after embolisation was 4.0 cm. One patient had intraprocedural tear of the left L3 artery and iliopsoas haemorrhage and was treated with occlusion of the bleeding vessel with NBCA. All patients had variable ischaemic pain that recovered completely within 2-4 days. Postembolisation syndrome was diagnosed after 15 embolisations (9.2%). Transient paraesthesias in the lower extremities were observed after 25 embolisations (25%) of pelvis and sacrum metastatic lesions. Embolisation with NBCA is recommended as primary or palliative treatment of bone metastases from renal cell carcinoma. Strict adherence to the principles of transcatheter embolisation is important to avoid complications.

Managing patients with advanced bone sarcomas - namely, recurrent, unresectable and metastatic - is mostly aimed at palliation. The role of embolisation for pain relief for these patients has not been previously reported. We therefore performed this study to emphasise the palliative role of embolisation for pain relief of advanced bone sarcoma patients.We retrospectively studied 43 patients with advanced bone sarcomas treated with palliative embolisation with N-2-butyl-cyanoacrylate from 2004 to 2011. All patients had primary treatments including chemotherapy, radiation therapy, radiofrequency thermal ablation, and/or surgery for their advanced sarcomas and were referred for embolisation as end-stage treatment for continuous severe local pain. The effect of embolisation was evaluated with a pain score scale and analgesic use. Mean follow-up was 7 (range, 1-19) months); all patients were dead at the last follow-up.In all patients, angiography showed increased pathological vascularisation of the sarcomas; three to six feeding vessels were embolised in each procedure. Almost complete pain relief and50% reduction in analgesic use was experienced by 36 patients with highly hypervascular sarcomas and sarcomas in the pelvis and shoulder girdle. Moderate pain relief and 50% reduction in analgesic use was experienced by seven patients with spinal and sacral lesions. Within the available follow-up, no patient had recurrent pain with the same intensity as before embolisation. All patients experienced ischaemic pain at the site of embolisation that resolved completely with analgesics. Six patients with advanced pelvic bone sarcomas experienced paraesthesias at the distribution of the sciatic nerve that resolved completely with methylprednisolone.Embolisation is a safe and effective local palliative treatment for patients with advanced sarcomas, providing optimum pain relief with the least discomfort and the possibility of minor complications only.

Introduction.Peripheral de-differentiated chondrosarcomas are among the rarest malignant mesenchymal tumors. This tumor’s descriptive radiographic characteristics are reported but objective quantification does not exist. This investigation surveyed imaging of peripheral de-differentiated chondrosarcomas to facilitate better recognition of these uncommon tumors.Methods.Database interrogation for peripheral de-differentiated chondrosarcomas was performed; 23 patients were identified and imaging for 18 was reviewed. A musculoskeletal radiologist reviewed all studies for mineralization characteristics; presence of pre-existing osteochondromas; preserved corticomedullary continuity; adjacent cortical obliteration; soft-tissue mass; tumor necrosis; and presence of a cartilage cap. Tumor luminance was measured with computer software.Results.Mineralization was present in 17 tumors. Pre-existing exostoses were evident in nine cases, corticomedullary continuity was preserved in three cases. There was no difference in mineralization or other characteristics based on tumor location. Mean tumor luminance was 94.9 candela/m2.Conclusions.The imaging characteristics described for central de-differentiated chondrosarcomas are similar to the peripheral form of this tumor. Peripheral mineralization with a bimorphic pattern on CT scan and the presence of a soft-tissue mass should be considered worrisome for a peripheral de-differentiated chondrosarcoma, particularly in the setting of multiple hereditary exostoses.

no abstract available

Background: Patellar tumors are rare; only a few series have been described in the literature and radiographic diagnosis can be challenging. We reviewed all patellar tumors at one institution and reviewed the literature. Materials and methods: In an evaluation of the database at one institution from 1916 to 2009, 23,000 bone tumors were found. Of these, 41 involved the patella. All had imaging studies and microscopic diagnostic confirmation. All medical records, imaging studies, and pathology were reviewed. Results: There were 15 females and 26 males, ranging from 8 to 68 years old (average 30). There were 30 benign tumors; eight giant cell tumors, eight chondroblastomas, seven osteoid osteomas, two aneurysmal bone cysts, two ganglions, one each of chondroma, exostosis, and hemangioma. There were 11 malignant tumors: five hemangioendotheliomas, three metastases, one lymphoma, one plasmacytoma, and one angiosarcoma. Conclusion: Patellar tumors are rare and usually benign. As the patella is an apophysis, the most frequent lesions are giant cell tumor in the adult and chondroblastoma in children. Osteoid osteomas were frequent in our series and easily diagnosed. Metastases are the most frequent malignant diagnoses in the literature; in our series malignant vascular tumors were more common. These lesions are often easily analyzed on radiographs. CT and MR define better the cortex, soft tissue extension, and fluid levels. This study presents the imaging patterns of the more common patellar tumors in order to help the radiologist when confronted with a lesion in this location. © 2011 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

We present an 8-year-old girl with evolution of an aneurysmal bone cyst of the proximal fibula after intralesional surgery, treated successfully with one selective transfemoral embolization with N-2-butyl-cyanoacrylate. By the first 5 days, the patient experienced complete pain relief. Post-embolization imaging follow-up showed progressive homogenous trabecular bone formation and gradual reduction of the size of the lesion. These findings canceled our initial consideration for surgical treatment. Three years after the embolization, healing of the lesion and remodeling of the proximal fibula were observed without evidence of recurrence. Our successful results with excellent response seen 3 years after embolization are in favor and should increase the awareness of surgeons regarding embolization for aneurysmal bone cysts in difficult anatomic locations such as the proximal fibula. © 2012 Springer-Verlag.

Intralesional surgery is most commonly used for aneurysmal bone cysts. Rarely is en bloc resection used for active, aggressive, recurrent lesions and those located in expendable bones. However, persistence or recurrence of aneurysmal bone cysts is common. The clinical behavior of aneurysmal bone cysts is more aggressive in younger patients. Selective embolization is used as the primary treatment for aneurysmal bone cysts in surgically difficult anatomical locations and as an adjuvant to surgical treatment to reduce intraoperative blood loss and facilitate curettage. This article describes a 3-year-old boy with an aggressive aneurysmal bone cyst of the pelvis involving the right ischiopubic rami that achieved curative treatment with 3 embolizations with N-2-butyl-cyanoacrylate. Biopsy was diagnostic; however, the clinical course was misleading. Twenty days after the first embolization, despite complete occlusion of the feeding vessels, the patient experienced severe pain, increased size of the lesion, and lateral subluxation of the right hip. Based on the imaging and histological diagnosis, intralesional hemorrhage was assumed, and repeat embolization was performed. After the second embolization, the patient experienced perineal skin necrosis from normal vessel embolization; it was treated with wound dressing changes and healed uneventfully. A third embolization was performed because of a persistent lesion. Six years after treatment, the patient was symptom free, and imaging showed complete ossification of the cyst. Selective catheterization and occlusion of the feeding arteries with the appropriate embolic agent provide tumor devascularization, size reduction, pain relief, and induction of new bone formation. Multiple procedures are often necessary, and complications may occur.

To present the results of biopsy and computed tomography (CT) guided radiofrequency ablation (RFA) for non-spinal osteoid osteomas, and compare the results before and after procedural modifications. We retrospectively studied 557 patients with non-spinal osteoid osteomas treated with biopsy and CT-guided RFA. In 68 patients we used 3-mm CT at 2-mm intervals, 19 G/5-mm active tip electrodes, and one 4-minute ablation at 90–93°C. In 489 patients we used contiguous 1-mm CT, 20 G/5-15-mm electrodes, ablation maintaining 60°C for 2 min followed by 14–15 min at 90–93°C, and multiple ablations in the same session for large and multiform lesions. 533/557 patients (96%) remained asymptomatic and 24/557 (4%) had recurrence; repeat RFA was successful in 22/24 patients (92%). Biopsy was non-diagnostic in 82%. With the modifications performed, success improved from 79% to 98%, recurrences reduced from 21% to 2% and complications from 5.9% to 0.2% (p

We retrospectively studied 31 patients with painful bone (15 patients) and soft-tissue (16 patients) hemangiomas treated with 39 embolizations using N-2-butyl cyanoacrylate from 2003 to 2010. The mean tumor size before embolization was 6 cm for bone and 7 cm for soft-tissue hemangiomas. The technique of embolization was the same for bone and soft-tissue lesions. Preoperative embolization was done in six patients, while the remaining patients had embolization as only treatment. The mean follow-up was 47 months (11–89 months). The clinical and imaging effect of treatment was evaluated at follow-up with a pain score scale, tumor size, and ossification. In four patients, embolization was not feasible because of the inability to catheterize and low blood flow of the feeding vessels. Nine patients with bone and 10 with soft-tissue hemangiomas experienced complete pain relief. Four patients with bone and four with soft-tissue hemangiomas experienced recurrence of pain and were treated with repeat embolization. Re-recurrences were not observed in any of the patients with soft-tissue hemangiomas until the period of this study. Ossification and tumor size reduction were higher for bone hemangiomas. Embolization-related complications were more common for soft-tissue hemangiomas.

Sarcomas are a heterogeneous group of rare connective tissue tumors, representing 1% of adult and 15% of childhood cancers for which biological and pathological information is still incomplete. In bone tumors patients with metastatic disease at onset, those who relapse and those with post-surgical secondary lesions still have a dismal outcome because of poor response to current therapies. Different molecular biology approaches have identified activated cell signalling pathways or specific molecular endpoints that may be considered potential drug targets or markers useful for diagnosis/prognosis in musculoskeletal pathology. Recently, advances in the field of molecular imaging allow visualization of cell and metabolic functions with the use of targets that include cell membrane receptors, enzymes of intracellular transport. Moreover advanced non-invasive newer imaging techniques like 18-FDG PET, quantitative dynamic-contrast MR imaging, diffusion weighted imaging have all shown a potential in distinguish malignant from benign lesions, in revealing the efficacy of therapy in tumors, the onset of recurrence and a good reliability in reckoning the percentage of necrosis in Ewing sarcoma and osteosarcoma. Thus, in vivo detection of imaging cancer biomarkers may be useful to better characterize those complex pathologic processes, such as apoptosis, proliferation and angiogenesis that determine tumor aggressiveness, providing not only complementary information of prognostic metabolic indicators, but also data in real-time on the efficacy of the treatment through the modulation of the cell metabolism.

Background: Meniscal allograft transplantation is a viable option for subtotally meniscectomized and totally meniscectomized symptomatic patients and potentially results in pain relief and increased function. Hypothesis: The use of a single tibial tunnel arthroscopic technique without bone plugs will reduce symptoms (pain) and improve knee function at a minimum 3-year follow-up. Study Design: Case series; Level of evidence, 4. Methods: Thirty-two meniscal transplantations (16 medial, 16 lateral; 23 men, 9 women) were prospectively evaluated at a minimum of 36 months (mean, 40.4 ± 6.90 months; range, 36-66 months) after surgery. The average age at the time of surgery was 35.6 ± 10.3 years (range, 15-55 years). The transplantation was performed using an arthroscopic bone plug–free technique with a single tibial tunnel plus “all-inside” meniscal sutures. The anterior meniscal horn was sutured to the capsule. Follow-up included a visual analog scale (VAS) score for knee pain and subjective and objective International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC), Lysholm, Tegner, and SF-36 scores. All patients underwent radiographic and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) evaluation of the involved knee before the surgery and at the final follow-up. The MRI outcomes were evaluated with the modified Yulish score. Results: Regarding clinical evaluation, there was a significant improvement in scores at follow-up compared with preoperatively: the VAS score decreased from 70.6 ± 21.7 to 25.2 ± 22.7 ( P < .0001), the SF-36 physical component score increased from 37.31 ± 7.2 to 49.69 ± 8.3 ( P < .0001), the SF-36 mental component score increased from 49.69 ± 10.8 to 53.53 ± 7.5 ( P = .0032), the Tegner activity score increased from 3 (range, 3-5) to 5 (range, 3-6) ( P < .0121), the Lysholm score increased from 59.78 ± 18.25 to 84.84 ± 14.4 ( P < .0001), the subjective IKDC score increased from 47.44 ± 20.60 to 77.20 ± 15.57 ( P < .0001), and the objective IKDC score changed from 1 A, 21 B, 6 C, and 4 D to 22 A, 9 B, and 1 C ( P < .0001). No significant difference was found in this study between patients who received medial allografts and patients who received lateral allografts. There was no significant difference between outcomes of patients with isolated and combined procedures. The MRI findings showed 69% extruded allografts (8 medial and 14 lateral). In detail, we found 50% of the medial allografts and 87% of the lateral allografts extruded. No significant difference in clinical outcomes and modified Yulish score was found between patients with extruded allografts and with in situ allografts. The MRI results also showed a significant decrease of the modified Yulish score from baseline to 3-year minimum follow-up ( P < .0001 for femur and P < .0001 for tibia). Only one patient underwent arthroscopic selective meniscectomy because of a medial posterior horn retear of the graft. One patient developed lack of flexion and underwent an arthroscopic arthrolysis. These 2 patients did not draw benefit from allografting and therefore were considered failures. In all remaining cases (94%), meniscal allograft transplantation was able to reduce symptoms (pain measured by VAS) and improve knee function (as measured by IKDC and Lysholm scores). Conclusion: This study found that a single tibial tunnel arthroscopic technique without bone plugs for meniscal allograft transplantation significantly reduced pain and improved knee function in 94% of patients at a minimum 3-year follow-up.

Spine infections require a multidisciplinary approach to be treated and solved. A guide line to drive physicians in the deep complexity of such a disease is extremely helpful. SIMP suggests a flow-chart built up on clear concepts such as right and well managed antibiotic therapy, sound stability of the spine, correct and smart use of the standard and functional imaging techniques, such as f18 FDG PET/CT. In 16 months a total of 41 patients have been treated for spondylodiscitis, discitis and vertebral osteomyelitis by our team of physicians and 25 patients have been enrolled in a prospective study whose target is the assessment of the SIMP flow-chart and of every single aspect that characterize it.

Observation and immobilization is adequate for most patients with spinal eosinophilic granuloma; however, in patients with symptomatic lesions, treatment other than simple observation or biopsy alone is recommended. In view of the benign clinical course of eosinophilic granuloma, a simple, minimally invasive, outpatient treatment with a low complication rate such as computed tomography (CT)-guided intralesional corticosteroid injection may be considered the treatment of choice. This article presents a case of a 21-year-old man with a symptomatic bifocal eosinophilic granuloma at the vertebral body of the L3 vertebra and the left T5 costovertebral joint treated effectively by CT-guided intralesional methylprednisolone injection. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case of successful treatment of a bifocal eosinophilic granuloma with CT-guided corticosteroid injection. Under general anesthesia and CT guidance, the lesion was located through the right transpedicular approach for the L3 lesion and the left posterolateral approach for the T5 lesion using a biopsy trocar. Tissue sample was retrieved and frozen section biopsy showed eosinophilic granuloma. One intralesional CT-guided injection of 80 mg (2 mL) of methylprednisolone acetate was performed in each lesion. Complications related to the procedure were not observed. The patient was admitted postprocedural for overnight medical evaluation and was discharged from the hospital the next day. Complete resolution of pain was observed 72 hours after the procedure. At 5 years after diagnosis and treatment, the patient is asymptomatic; imaging showed healing of both lesions.

Aneurysmal bone cysts are rarely located in the scapula and are especially rare in the acromion. We present an 8-year-old boy with a large aneurysmal bone cyst of the acromion that achieved curative treatment with one selective transcatheter arterial embolization. Five years after the procedure, healing of the lesion and remodeling of the acromion was observed without any evidence of recurrence.

Objectives: The study aims to present the indications and emphasise the role of embolisation for vascular injuries in orthopaedic surgery. Methods: Thirty-one patients with vascular injuries complicating elective orthopaedic surgery had embolisation from 2003 to 2010. N-2-butyl cyano-acrylate (NBCA) was used as embolic agent in 28 patients, gelatin sponge in three and coil embolisation in addition to NBCA or gelatin sponge in two patients. The mean follow-up period was 37 months (range, 4-96 months). Results: The most common orthopaedic operations associated with vascular injuries amenable to embolisation were hip-joint procedures; and the most common injuries were arterial tears of branch vessels or non-critical axial vessels, most commonly of the superior glutaeal artery. In all cases, angiography showed the bleeding point, and a single embolisation session effectively stopped bleeding. Embolisation-related complications were not observed. Conclusions: Embolisation should be considered the treatment of choice for vascular injuries of branch vessels or non-critical axial vessels following elective orthopaedic surgery because of the advantages of minimally invasive therapy and the lack of complications. © 2011, Elsevier Taiwan LLC. All rights reserved.

Purpose To evaluate the clinical and imaging effect of selective embolization using N -butyl cyanoacrylate (NBCA) as palliation for bone metastases. Materials and Methods The procedures and effect of 309 embolizations performed in 243 patients were retrospectively analyzed; 56 patients had repeat embolization at the same location at 1–3 months; 197 patients had embolization for progressive bone metastases after radiation therapy. The mean tumor diameter before embolization was 7.8 cm (range 5–30 cm). In all patients, embolizations were performed under local anesthesia through transfemoral catheterization using NBCA in 33% ethiodized oil. The technical success of embolization was evaluated by angiography after completion of the procedure. The clinical and imaging effect was evaluated at follow-up examinations with a pain score scale and use of analgesics, hypoattenuating areas, tumor size, and ossification. Results In all 309 embolizations, postprocedural angiography showed complete occlusion of metastatic blood supply and greater than 80% devascularization of the lesions. Greater than 50% reduction of pain score and analgesic doses was achieved in 97% of procedures. The mean duration of pain relief was 8.1 months (range 1–12 months). The mean maximal tumor diameter after embolization was 5.5 cm (range 2–20 cm). Variable ossification appeared in 65 patients. Postembolization syndrome, ischemic pain at the site of embolization, paresthesias, skin breakdown, and subcutaneous necrosis were observed in 87 patients. Conclusions Selective embolization with NBCA is a safe and effective palliative treatment for metastatic bone lesions of various primary cancers; pain relief is temporary.

The authors present the experience of a single institution with selective arterial embolisation for primary and metastatic bone tumours. A total of 365 patients were treated with 454 embolisation procedures from December 2002 to April 2010. Embolisation was the primary treatment for benign bone tumours, adjuvant treatment to surgery for benign and malignant bone tumours and palliative treatment for bone sarcomas and metastases. Indications for repeat embolisation included pain or imaging evidence of progressive disease: 105 patients had repeat embolisation at the same location at an interval of 1-3 months; 260 patients had one embolisation, 78 had two and 29 had three or more. In all patients, N-2-butyl cyanoacrylate (NBCA) in 33% lipiodol was the embolic agent used. A total of 419 of the 454 embolisations (93%) were technically successful. In 35 cases, embolisation was not feasible because of poor lesion vascularisation (21 patients with bone metastases and two with aneurysmal bone cysts), origin of the Adamkiewicz artery in the embolisation field (four patients with bone metastases and one with aneurysmal bone cyst), atheromatosis and arteriosclerosis (five patients with bone metastases) and anatomical and technical problems such as small-calibre vessels, many branches and acute vessel angles (two patients with bone metastases). A clinical response was achieved in 406 of the 419 procedures (97%), and no response in 13 procedures in patients with pelvis and sacrum tumours. Complications included postembolisation syndrome in 81 patients (22%), transient paraesthesias in 41 (11%), skin breakdown and subcutaneous necrosis at the shoulder and pelvis in five (1.4%) and paresis of the sciatic nerve in one (0.3%). We recommend embolisation as primary or palliative treatment or an adjunct to surgery for tumours of variable histology. Strict adherence to the principles of transcatheter embolisation is important. Arteries feeding the tumour and collaterals must be evaluated carefully and catheterised superselectively to protect the normal tissues. NBCA is considered the most appropriate embolic agent for small-vessel occlusion without major complications.