title: [Amyloid osteoarthropathy in dialyzed patients: integrated imaging].
abstract: We studied with US both the knees of 32 long-term dialysis patients (mean dialysis age: 69.7 months), 7 of whom exhibited palpable joint swelling. In 29/32 patients, US scans were combined with knee X-ray films, patellar views included. In one case, opaque arthrography was performed too. US demonstrated the presence of fluid collections within both joint space and synovial cavities in 19/32 patients (59%). Their content was transonic or mildly hypoechoic. X-ray films were positive for amyloid bone involvement in 19/29 cases (66%), with evidence of intra-osseous cysts and cortical erosions. There was a good general agreement between the results obtained with the two techniques: therefore, in some cases only one examination was positive. Needle aspiration of synovial fluid was performed in 18/32 patients (56%). The 2 cases of diffusely hypoechoic collections yielded very dense jelly material, that was highly positive for beta-2-microglobulin. US is proposed, combined with conventional X-ray films, as a simple and reliable method for the diagnosis of articular amyloidosis in dialysis patients and for the follow-up of this disease.
authors.affiliation: Istituto di Scienze Radiologiche dell'Università di Milano, Cattedra di Radiologia presso l'Ospedale S. Paolo.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Nessi
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bolzoni
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Brancaccio
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Uslenghi
mesh_terms: D000682:Amyloid; D006801:Humans; D007592:Joint Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D011859:Radiography; D006435:Renal Dialysis; D014463:Ultrasonography
chemical_list: D000682:Amyloid
vernacular_title: Osteoartropatia da amiloide nei pazienti dializzati: imaging integrato.