No abstract

No abstract

Measurement of cartilage thickness in vivo is an important indica tor of the status of a joint as the various degenerative and inflamma tory arthritides directly affect the condition of the cartilage. In order to assess the precision of thickness measurements of hyaline articular cartilage, we undertook a pilot study using MR imaging, plain radiography, and ultrasonography (US). We measured the cartilage of the hip and knee joints in 10 persons (4 healthy volun teers and 6 patients). The joints in each patient were examined on two separate occasions using each modality. In the hips as well as the knee joints, the most precise measuring method was plain film radiography. For radiographs of the knees obtained in the standing position, the coefficient of variation was 6.5%; in the hips this figure was 6.34%. US of the knees and MR imaging of the hips were the second best modalities in the measurement of cartilage thickness. In addition, MR imaging enabled the most complete visualization of the joint cartilage.

Femoral arteriovenous fistula is a rare complication of percutaneous transfemoral catheterization. We report the duplex Doppler findings of three such cases. Continuous positive diastolic arterial flow, as well as an abnormal venous flow pattern, was observed in all cases. When present, these Doppler spectral changes support the diagnosis of arteriovenous fistula.

No abstract