- Imaging Psoas Sign in Lumbar Spinal Infections: Evaluation of Diagnostic Accuracy and Comparison with Established Imaging Characteristics
In this retrospective case-control study, the authors evaluated lumbar spine MR imagings during a 30-month period that were requested for the evaluation of discitis-osteomyelitis. Fifty age-matched control patients were compared with 51 biopsy-proved or clinically diagnosed patients with discitis-osteomyelitis. The investigators assessed the randomly organized MR imaging examinations for abnormalities of the psoas musculature, vertebral bodies, discs, and epidural space. Psoas T2 hyperintensity demonstrated high sensitivity (92%), specificity (92%), and positive likelihood ratio (11.5). They conclude that psoas T2 hyperintensity, the imaging psoas sign, is highly correlated with discitis-osteomyelitis.
- Using Body Mass Index to Predict Needle Length in Fluoroscopy-Guided Lumbar Punctures
The authors evaluated patients who underwent oblique interlaminar-approach fluoroscopy-guided lumbar punctures and had cross-sectional imaging of the lumbar spine within 1 year of the lumbar puncture to devise a formula for the appropriate needle length based on BMI. They determined the formula to predict the needle length as Skin-Canal Distance (inches) = 0.077 x BMI + 0.88.
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