Hip fracture risk increases almost immediately following orchiectomy and the excess risk persists for at least 15 years. This side effect should be considered when assessing the merits of androgen deprivation therapy, particularly in symptom-free men diagnosed with localized prostate cancer. Measures to prevent osteoporosis should be considered in men undergoing androgen deprivation therapy.

A total of 63 women who had an operation for a fracture of the hip was randomly allocated to one year of treatment either with anabolic steroids, vitamin D and calcium (anabolic group) or with calcium only (control group). The thigh muscle volume was measured by quantitative CT. The bone mineral density of the hip, femur and tibia was assessed by quantitative CT and dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry and of the heel by quantitative ultrasound. Quantitative CT showed that the anabolic group did not lose muscle volume during the first 12 months whereas the control group did (p<0.01). There was less bone loss in the proximal tibia in the anabolic group than in the control group. The speed of gait and the Harris hip score were significantly better in the anabolic group after six and 12 months. Anabolic steroids, even in this moderate dose, given in combination with vitamin D and calcium had a beneficial effect on muscle volume, bone mineral density and clinical function in this group of elderly women.

For evaluation of lymphedema and its mixed forms, an axial T2-weighted SPIR sequence in conjunction with a coronal T1 SE sequence are sufficient.

Computed tomography-guided transsternal biopsy was successful in 10 anterior mediastinal masses in 10 patients, with use of a coaxial length-matched bone biopsy system comprising an outer cannula and an inner eccentric drill bit. No complications occurred in nine of 10 biopsies (eight performed with an automatic cutting needle, two with a fine needle), with less discomfort than was caused by injection of anesthetic.

Thirty-seven consecutive bone biopsies guided with computed tomography were performed in 32 patients by use of three different techniques to penetrate cortical bone and gain access to the lesion. The following instruments were used: a thin bone biopsy needle (12 biopsies), a conventional drill with an outer cannula (six biopsies), and a coaxial biopsy system that consists of a drill with an eccentric tip and an outer cannula (19 biopsies). This eccentric drill makes a hole in the bone larger than the diameter of the cannula and thereby makes it easy to advance the cannula over the drill until the cannula is anchored in the bone. One can then obtain multiple samples through the cannula. The thin bone biopsy needle could not penetrate thick (8 mm thick) cortical bone. The outer cannula was not anchored in the bone when the conventional drill was used. In 16 biopsies, the new coaxial biopsy system penetrated cortical bone with a thickness of 1-8 mm and was anchored there, and lesion samples were obtained through the anchored cannula.